Education should be inclusive and it should be balanced. Typically, the social sciences literature is very unbalanced as it pertains to Black families.

Two models are most commonly used---the weak family model and the strong family model, with nothing in between. However it was the weak family model that dominated the social sciences literature until the mid 1980's. More recently, noteworthy scholars have contributed to the shifting of a paradigm that changes the way Black families are viewed. Today, empirical research and scholarly writings give another perspective on how to consider Black families.

From the past to the future, we have seen hopes soar and dwindle. The need to understand the economic situations, cultural patterns, and socialization practices of Black families is even greater now than it has been in the past. Significant changes have occurred in the lives of Black families across the United States during the past decade. However, concerns still exist (and rightfully so) about the digital divide that separates us. There is a much greater divide known as the "economic divide" that further separates the haves from the have-nots. This separation occurs educationally, financially, with the accessibility to opportunities in terms of housing, professional opportunities and political involvement. These variables impact the lives of Black families politically, socially and personally.

Self-empowerment is an area of significant concern within the Black infrastructure. How can Blacks contribute to their own sustainability? African families are clearly a strong and viable people, who had the strength, coping and survival skills to sustain them through the vestiges of slavery. Black culture is alive and well. What can we do as an ethnicity to address the negative forces that call into question our existence as a viable part of communities as well as society?

Unfortunately, this type of education is not always included as part of mainstream education. Black students can go through twelve years of education and not learn anything about the cultural contributions of Black pioneers, scholars/educators, inventors, and authors. Inclusion of this type of education may cause us to rewrite and re-right history.

Strong African traditions of respecting the elders of the family and community are traditions that cannot be lost. What is means to give back to the community are rich legacies that need to be reaffirmed within the Black family.

With this in mind, the Black Family Studies Program at Philander Smith College in Arkansas was developed. The first courses, offered in the fall of 1998, were Introduction to Black Family Studies. Fifty-one students enrolled the first semester in these two courses. Subject matter included in the introductory course includes but is not limited to, historical and cultural patterns of African families, family life before and after slavery, classic writings from W.E.D. DuBois, E. Franklin Frazier, and Gunnar Mydral. More recent writings include scholars such as Peters, Billingsley, Staples, McAdoo, Murry, Hill, Scanzoni, and Wilson (this list is not by any means exhaustive).

A brief synopsis will describe each course:

Socialization of the Black Child

A historical and social perspective of the development of Black youth in American society is included in this course. Childhood attitudes from the colonial, modern and postindustrial periods are examined. A study of West African culture is also included. Parenting strategies, disciplinary attitudes are also addressed.

Social and Political Issues for the Black Family

Economic and cultural dynamics impacting the Black family are examined in this course. Current political issues are addressed with the hopes of inspiring the students to become more actively involved in the political process. This course is also designed to enlighten the students as to how social and public policy is framed. Community groups that work directly with the issues are invited into the classroom. As a result of this collaboration, hopefully internships or field placements can be made for students especially when they get to the practicum phase of the curriculum.