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Kai McGowan
Black Single Mothers
December 2, 2014
JOMC 220-02

Broken homes in the Black community are a surprise to no one, but

few probably know just how broken our families really are. Seventy-two
percent of Black children are now born to single mothers, says a
representative of the NC Department of Health and Services.
Todays media is inundated with stories of black single mothers, child
support cases, and so-called welfare queens, says African American studies
student Joshua Mootes.
The African-American community at large has clapped back at
criticism from Don Lemon, Rush Limbaugh, Fox News reporter Ben Carson,
and even Black leaders like Bill Cosby and President Barack Obama.
Dominique Abram is the mother to 2 youngsters, an 8 year-old boy
named Dayvione, and a 6 year-old girl named Dione. Dominique has been a
single mother for a year. She was with her childrens father for 6 years
before they split, and the changes that she have experienced are only fit for
a strong black woman. In the beginning, Dominique had help, but she didnt
have to do half of what she does now, alone. She was, in an away, forced to
be a mother and a father to her two children. Dominique also expressed to

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me that even though she had to change her parenting lifestyle; it didnt
mean she wanted to disturb the lives of her children. Dione and Dayvion are
both involved in sports and dance, and she didnt want to take that away
from them. She also said that some people think being a single mother is
easy when, in fact, it isnt. Dominique does not view herself or any other
single black mother as a welfare queen. Even if one is on welfare, how you
provide for your child or children should never be questioned.
The second mother I interviewed goes by the name of Kari Johnson.
Unlike Dominique, Kari has been a single mother prior to the birth of her one
year-old daughter Dallas. Following this event, every day for 4 months Kari
sat in a hospital with her pre-mature daughter worrying about she will
provide for Dallas upon release. Karis story is not that different form many
other women in todays world. She endured so much with having a
premature child, single, and jobless. In addition, a year later, Kari is still
currently single but also providing a great life for her child.
Both women are phenomenal and exceptional in many ways. Neither
of these families are broken nor have broken homes. Dominique is raising
two children, both of different sexes, and Kari is raising a premature baby
girl. Neither one is on welfare or blaming their children for their situation. In

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conclusion, people that lacks media literacy will never really know what the
single black mother stands for until they open their eyes and see that they
are not all the same.