Every year on Father’s Day we celebrate American fathers and their unique contributions to family and society. But every year, more and more children, particularly black children, grow up in fatherless households, deprived of paternal guidance. Why is this happening? And does it matter?
In the video that follows, author, columnist, and talk show host Larry Elder explains how welfare laws created during President Johnson’s “War on Poverty” have actually encouraged unmarried women to have children, and fathers to ignore their parental responsibilities, trapping children and families in a cycle of poverty.
Elder highlights the depressing statistics, including the fact that children who grow up without a father are 20 times more likely to end up in prison. Watch the video here and learn how even the best-intentioned government policies can have devastating effects on individuals, families and society. And, if you’re lucky enough to have grown up with a father, take time this week to thank him.