ABSTRACT
African-American fathers in low-income urban communities often have been characterized as invisible, irresponsible dads who are marginalized in their families and contribute little economically to the well-being of their children (Allen & Doherty, 1996; Burton & Snyder, 1998; Gadsen, 1999; Hamer, 1997; Marsiglio, Amato, Day, & Lamb, 2000). Over the past four decades, this perception of African-American fathers has been heatedly contested in academic, public, and policy arenas with both supporters and critics of this image framing their arguments in culture of poverty perspectives (Baca Zinn, 1989; Corcoran, Duncan, & Gurin, 1985; Ellwood & Bane, 1987; Moynihan, 1965; Rainwater, 1970), the underclass debate (Auletta, 1982; Darity & Meyers, 1984; Joe, 1984; Mead,
1986; Murray, 1984; Staples, 1985; Williams, 1978; Wilson, 1987; see also Jarrett, 1994, for an overview of the debate), and more recently, child support and welfare reform policies (Garfinkel, McLanahan, Meyer, & Seltzer, 1998; McLanahan & Sandefur, 1994; Mincy & Pouncy, 1997; Roy, 1999a). Further, those involved in this discourse have supported their arguments with data from nationally representative surveys (see Eggebeen, Chap. 8); journalistic accounts of “ghetto” fathers (Dash, 1989; Kotlowitz, 1991; Lemann, 1986) and to a lesser degree, qualitative and ethnographic studies on urban African-American family life (Martin & Martin, 1978; Stack, 1974).
