NEWS^e Charlotte ^
Thursday, September 21,2006
Marriage critical to black families
Continued from page 1A
households are more likely to
marry have a higher income
as adults and iiave less births
out of wediock-
“Overall, black men benefit
from marriage more than
women do,” said Malone-
Colon at the Sept. 12 confer
ence at the Friday Coiter.
The rate of black marriage
is at a crisis level, accordir^
to statistics fiom the Afiican
American Healthy Marriage
Initiative- In 2003, 68 percent
of black births were to
unmarried women, compared
to 29 percent for whites and
44 percent for Hispanics.
‘T believe we are at a critical
• moment in the history of peo
ple of African- American
descent in this coimtry,”
Malone-Colon said. “One of
the most pressing issues we
are facing is the breakdown
of the black family”
Another myth is that slav
ery and racism are soldy to
blame for the currait low
rates of marriage among
blacks.
Alan Inman, who served as
national director of the
Institute for Responsible
Fatherhood, said that mar
riage right after slavery was
at a rate hi^a- than it was in
the 1970s and ‘80s. He asked
the panel how can blacks
raise the issue of racism and
give it such an emotional
Ministry helps ex-offenders adjust
Continued from page 1A
istries.”
Today that is where
Jennings, and FAVAR,
Fathers Against Violence and
Repeat Offenders, come in.
Jennings has partnered with
several organizations to pro
vide money food, clothing,
and shdter to ex-offenders
when they re-enter society
FAVAR also works with the
families of inmates to help
prepare them for when their
Family member is released.
“We know we can’t make
anyone do somethii^ they
don’t want to, but we try to
advise them,” Jennings said.
“Mainly we try to teU them to
give them a positive atmos
phere to return to.”
The “we” includes
Executive Director Geno
Dudley who served 10 1/2
years in prison.
“I heard him over the
radio,” said Dudley “I called
him the same momir^ and
met with him that same day
Hearing someone who had
been through the same
things I went throiogh and
understood where I was com
ing from; it’s like God
ordained for us to meet and
work together.”
Dudley has been a part of
FAVAR Ministries for about
seven months, ministering
and aiding Jennings with
upcoming programs He said
the most important thing
they can do is help others.
“We both had someone to
help us get on om* feet when
we got out,” said Dudley
“Sixty to 70 percent of ex-
offendere end up going back
to jail becaxise there is no
physical help for them. It’s
good to give spiritual hdp,
but what if someone needs
shoes or a biscuit that’s when
they need physical hdp; so
they won’t fall back into what
they know, and end up back
in trouble.”
In addition to working with
Mecklenburg ' for
Opportunities of Re-entry
Network, or MOORN, to pro
vide clothing, transportation,
and food, Jennings coordinat
ed a job fair specifically for ex
offenders.
“They don’t have to worry
about lying about having
been in prison,” said
Jennings,” because everyone
already knows they have
beai.” It’s an opportunity for
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embrace as an issue when
tha’e was such a drive of
Afiican Americans in the
post-bellum South to get
married.
Robert Franklin PhD, a
professor of sodal ethics at
Emory University .in Atlanta,
them to get in the door, when
most doors are automatically
shut.”
Next up is FAVAR Day on
Sept. 30 at the Sugar Creek
Park and Recreation Facility
This event is designed to help
prepare families mentally
and physically for the return
of their family members, as
well as, how to cope during
their absence. For these pro
grams, Jennings is really tar
geting duldren.
“It’s mainly the kids that get
hooked up in gangs, start act
ing up in schools... and are
raised in tire streets,” he said.
For more information or to vol
unteer, visit www.favannin-
istriesjorg.
FAVAR
Ministries
founder John
Jennings,
(center) with
Geno Dudley
(left) at
Lee’Andre
Carrington at a
job expo
Wednesday at
Grady Cole
Center.
“Suddenly there was this
rush to embrace that which
had been forbidden,” he said.
Pastor Melvin Hitchens,
author of the book “The Black
Family and Marriage, com
mented on the issue of
racism.
“Ifs one of the entities that
must be looked at, but it can’t
be used as a scapegoat for the
black community not to take
owne:ship of the issue,” he
said.
For information or to read the
study, go to www.healthymar-
riageinfovrg.
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