Character of Atticus/African-American Fathers
             As a parent, there is no doubt that supporting a family is difficult, and this is shown through Harper Lee's novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, and in the past years of our history. A single father raising two children, Atticus Finch is a good example of how parents should be, and has proper ways of teaching his kids. He is a man of conscience who tries his best to instill good values and morals in his children. However, many factors cause breakdowns in families, especially in black households. The crisis of African-American families is mainly due to the absence of the father. Atticus is an ideal father who teaches moral lessons that his kids benefit from, but unfortunately, black children don't receive such principles due to the lack of responsibility of African-American fathers.
             Due to different factors, the breakdown in black families in the last half-century has risen, which lead to the absence of African-American fathers. The roots of the problems lie in the legacy of slavery, declining unemployment and discrimination in education. Slavery in the United States had a great impact on African-American males. The white Americans reduced black slaves to non-human status or to "chattels"(Moynihan). Dehumanization caused them to be unable to develop into strong black leadership figures. As well, black unemployment has persisted "at [disastrous] levels"(Moynihan). As jobs become more difficult to find, the stability of the family become more difficult to maintain. Husbands are absent or divorced in 22.9% of non-white families, and such marriage problems have profound effects on the quality of life for black kids. Over 50% of black children receive AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) benefits at some point during their childhood years. There is evidence that broken homes hinder education achievement, and that boys, in particular, experience greater acad...