Black Family Structure

What does it mean to be a black family? In todays society a typical black family would be described as a single parent home, drug and/or alcohol abuse, or being on welfare (Stereotypes of African Americans). However, not all black families are structured as such. I believe every black family is different. For instance, my mom’s family, the Turners, have different patterns, values, beliefs, and traditions than my dad’s family, the Jeffries.

The Turners The Turner family began in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The Turners are a multigenerational family. Therefore meaning there are 4 generations that provide support and care for each other (Martin & Martin). The first generation consists of my great grandmother and great grandfather when they

Although 3 out of the 11 grandchildren resided in Washington, DC,

FAMILY ANALYSIS the cousins still had a bond that was outstanding. The DC kids would get sent down south almost every summer to spend summer vacation with their grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins that they don’t see on the regular. Although the grandparents didn’t have much the cousins still enjoyed spending time together. For instance, they would oddly enjoy packing up in Granddad’s car during the summer. Although he would drive really slow. To this day they laugh about having to do that. Followed by the third generation was the fourth generation (my generation), which consists of 12 great grandchildren. Of the twelve I was the only one who didn’t reside in South Carolina. Although sometimes I felt as though that would affect my relationship with my cousins it didn’t. With that being said new traditions were created, such as spending holidays down south and family trips. Not to mention just like the previous generation I would spend a lot of my summers down

As for the other 7 they have good jobs or went to trade school. On a count of only 3 of us went to college out of ten we enforce school on to the fourth generation. The fourth generation as of right now has six great grandchildren. Although they are all pretty young right now the previous generations take their schooling very serious.

FAMILY ANALYSIS

Conclusion

Although both sides of my families are different they also have similarities. For instance, both families finding their bonding time during the traditional trips that we take. With that being said the patterns, traditions, beliefs that has been passed down for generation to generation in the Turners and Jeffries families I will pass down to my own family. The most important thing my family has taught me is no matter how far or what we go through during life we will all always be there for each other. Isn’t that what’s family all