The State of the Black Family in America
By Samuel Carter
Length2h 32m
About this audiobook
This in-depth study examines the transformation of the Black family over the past six decades, combining historical context with up-to-date statistics through 2023. Using data from trusted national sources, it breaks down marriage and divorce trends, cohabitation patterns, single-parent household growth, and the economic and educational impacts tied to family structure. Charts and tables make complex shifts easy to understand, while real-life examples show the human side of the numbers. The book closes with practical recommendations aimed at strengthening families and improving outcomes for future generations.
Audiobook details
GenreHistory
Length2 hrs 32 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateAug 9, 2025
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction: A Century of Change in the Black Family 9
2A Decade-by-Decade Shift 10
3Table 1: Black Children in Single-Parent Households, 1900–2020s 12
4Table 2: Marriage and Poverty Rates in Black Families, 1960–2020 12
5What This Book Will Explore 13
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6Author’s Note 14
7Chapter 1: Historical Context of Black Families 14
8The Early 20th Century: Strength Amid Segregation 15
9The 1930s and the Great Depression 16
10The Post-War Shift 16
11A Closer Look: Household Composition, 1900–1960 17
12Cultural Values and Social Expectations 17
13Seeds of Change 18
14Chapter 2: Post-War America and Family Dynamics 18
15Veterans Return Home 19
16Migration Continues 19
17Marriage and Family in the 1950s 20
18Urban Housing and Segregation 20
19Table 1: Black Family Structure and Economic Status, 1950–1965 21
20Early Signs of Change 21
21Cultural Continuity Amid Transition 22
22Chapter 4: Economic Factors and Family Structure 23
23Employment Opportunities and Barriers 23
24The Decline of Manufacturing 24
25Table 1: Black Male Unemployment Rates by Decade 24
26Wage Disparities and Economic Inequality 25
27Housing and Wealth-Building Obstacles 26
28The Role of Economic Policy 26
29Incarceration and Economic Disruption 27
30The Economic-Family Structure Connection 27
31Chapter 5: The Role of Industrialization 28
32The Great Migration and Urban Employment 28
33Gender Roles in the Industrial Era 29
34Residential Segregation and the Industrial City 29
35Table 1: Black Employment in Manufacturing, 1910–1970 30
36Unionization and Wages 30
37The Fragility of Industrial Prosperity 31
38Cultural Impact of Industrial Life 31
39Table 2: Median Black Male Income (Manufacturing vs. Non-Manufacturing), 1950–1980 32
40Lasting Legacy 32
41Chapter 6: Urbanization and Migration 33
42The First Wave of the Great Migration 33
43Shifts in Family Life 34
44Housing Challenges 34
45Table 1: Migration Patterns of African Americans, 1910–1970 35
46The Second Wave 35
47Cultural Transformation 36
48Education and Opportunity 36
49Table 2: Black Urban Population Growth, Selected Cities, 1910–1970 37
50The Double-Edged Sword of Urbanization 37
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