by Efua Debra Fields
Fatherhood, as an institution, is on the path to becoming extinct in America.

With each generation, fatherhood becomes less of an enduring organized structure influencing development of the individual and individuality through underlying principles and values, according to which many social and cultural practices are organized.

More than one fourth of children born in America are living in single female-headed households.

We can talk about the disproportionate number of Black males being incarcerated, we can talk about the high number of Black male homicides and gang violence or the drugs, or a woman’s right to have and raise a child without a man or the high rate of divorce in America, any number of things that contribute to this problem.

Those things, however, are not the problem. The problem is the absence of responsible father figures in the lives of too many of our children.

A growing number of African American children don’t know their fathers, have no relationship with them or have a relationship that’s having a negative influence.

The casualties of absent responsible fathers are today’s walking dead. As a community educator, I see and hear the same concerns being expressed. Young men are developing their identity and individuality from the streets, television, videos and music.

This type of manhood training is teaching them that abuse is acceptable and even encouraged. Abuse of themselves, each other, the women in their lives and even their children earn them some misguided badge of honor.

The way African Americans have traditionally raised children has its roots in African philosophy, "It takes a village to raise a child." Most African people understand the value of children, which is why training of young men into adulthood, by the older men in the clan, is an integral part of the family and societal structure.

In traditional African societies, fatherhood is a rite of passage. This training, beginning as early as 11 years of age, instructs young men on how to protect and provide for the family, and equally important, how to be good husbands and good fathers.

This instruction provides the child with identity, character, protection and future security. Once a young man has come of age, marries and is expecting his first child, then he is considered a mature adult.

Fatherhood is not taken lightly in the land of our ancestors, there is too much at stake and the consequences are too high.

I have been blessed to see the training of African children in the motherland and saddened to witness the influence of the modern world on some of them.

Africa could also begin to see the extinction of fatherhood, as they know it, which is why great efforts have been taken to ensure that the young are taught the old ways.

There’s a lot to be said for the old ways, even if those ways originated with people we never knew, in a land far away. The renewed acceptance and practice of some traditions could ensure that fatherhood will not become extinct.

In 2006, this Father’s Day, let each of us resolve to strengthen fatherhood. Men, be a part of your children’s lives. Love and nurture them, protect them, help them understand who they are, help build their character and help them to understand what their ancestors and ultimately they mean to the world.

This sister and many others will have your back.