ABSTRACT
Black 1 families have been the focus of research and policy discussions since the 1950s. Considerable attention in these discussions has centered on the impact of social isolation and poverty experienced by many Black families, the resulting violence and despair, and the implications of intergenerational hardship for child and family welfare. Most noticeable is the rarity with which studies focus on middle-class Black families. Because many Black families have structures and exhibit patterns different from those of Whites, they have been criticized for deviating in culture and practices rather than being examined as equally valuable models to explore the meaning of family and nature of family development.
