The Challenge to Raise Boys to Men. - Brief Article - Review - book review

Black sons, despite their parents' love and best hopes, are "endangered" in a world that sees them through a false lens of stereotypes and racism, write the authors of "Boys into Men: Raising our African American Teenage Sons." The husband-and-wife duo of A.J. Franklin and Nancy Boyd-Franklin tackle the issues involved in raising African American teenage boys and successfully bringing them to manhood.

Parenting black males is one of today's "greatest challenges," especially in a society that tries to make them "invisible." Establishing a strong racial identity is crucial, the co-authors write. "No matter what our beliefs and attitudes toward racism are, as parents we cannot afford to be naive. It is still a potent force in the lives of African Americans." The authors add, "We must teach our sons the ropes for surviving without self-destruction in the midst of personal and institutional racism," and build a sense of individual responsibility to avoid the victim mentality trap.

The parents of three adult children and one teenage boy, the Franklins are also psychologists and family therapists, each with more than 25 years of experience counseling black families. "The challenge as black parents," they write, "is to get our sons through this period of life without a mine, such as drugs, alcohol, violence, gangs, or school failure, blowing up in their faces."

That requires community involvement and mentoring, the authors stress. "In the words of the African proverb that has now become a political cliche, 'It takes a whole village to raise a child."' The authors, who reside in Princeton, N.J., add, "Our sons need time, individual attention, and personal care," noting, "Today it requires a variety of people--many of whom are simply caring strangers."

"Boys into Men: Raising our African American Teenage Sons," is published by Dutton in New York City.

COPYRIGHT 2001 Community Renewal Society
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group