McCUBBIN, Hamilton I, Elizabeth A. THOMPSON, Anne I. THOMPSON and Jo A. FUTRELL, editors, RESILIENCY IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN FAMILIES

Abstract

McCUBBIN, Hamilton I, Elizabeth A. THOMPSON, Anne I. THOMPSON and Jo A. FUTRELL, editors, RESILIENCY IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN FAMILIES. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1998, 357pp., $28.95 softcover / $59.95 hardcover. in African-American is one edited book of three volumes on in Series produced by the Center for Excellence in Family Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The research aim is to focus on the power of families, in all forms, to recover from adversity. The editors argue that much emphasis has already been placed on African-American families as passive and dysfunctional, instead it is important to study the resources families have and/or develop under adverse circumstances. As such, ecological models are primarily utilized by the included studies. The book has fifteen chapters and is divided into two topical sections: first, and Communities, and second, and Relationships. The book begins with Alex Kotlowitz', a journalist, keynote address at the Resiliency in Families conference. His book, There Are No Children Here, about two young African American mates lived experiences in public housing in Chicago, provides a harsh community context, yet the author also argues for a sense of optimism for the community resident's future. Next, Harriet Pipes McAdoo's article builds on the theme of resiliency by providing a more evident academic framework by discussing coping strategies of resilient Black families, then gives an overview of relevant topical areas, such as marital structures, and children in single-parent homes. The and Communities connections continues by the inclusion of studies about peer, housing and neighborhood, religious-church, and prenatal care, as well as the following. Michael C. Thornton investigated the role of caregiver among Black family members, finding that whether immediate or extended, Blacks are very attached to their families in ways that cannot be assessed conventionally. Hamilton I. McCubbin conducted a large, empirical study on a neglected segment of the military population that found even under the stress of military life on foreign ground, AfricanAmerican families adapted and proved resilient. The second section focuses on and Relationships, here, relations between marital partners, perceptions of young fathers on the meaning of fatherhood, mother and daughter interactions, and at-risk youth's success with a twelve month treatment program are explored; as well as the following. Velma McBride Murry found that most adolescent females have successfilily avoided pregnancy, a small percentage had obtained abortions, and more Black females had become adolescent mothers than Hispanics or Whites. …