This text which is rooted in basic research is designed to critique Black family scientific scholarships, and provide the field with a much needed set of guidelines for understanding the strengths, weaknesses, capabilities and inabilities of science and research in relations to the Black family. Indeed the text gives us that initial license and authority to approach the task of questioning the questions, critiquing the critiques and interpreting the interpretation from a Black cultural perspective. Understanding the Black Family serves as an important instrument in correcting the misconception and misinformation about Black family life. The authors argue cogently that continued use of non-Black oriented scholarship and techniques to understand black reality will only result in the continued reinforcement of the belief that the Black family is an imperfect form of family functioning.

ISBN: 0-939205-00-9                                                 To order contact: Ayanna Nobles- Email: ayn@iasbflc.org Phone 10 517-7321
$15.00

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TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Foreword   I

Acknowledgements   iii

Introductory Remarks   vi

1. Brief History of Black Scholarship   1

2. Science and the Black Family   11

3. Theoretical Orientations and Conceptualizations   33

4. Black Family Research: Towards a Method of Critique and Analysis   47

5. Confronting Black Family Research   71

6. Toward Authenticity in Black Family Research   99

7. Black Family Research, Public Policy and the Role of Black Institutions   109

Glossary   125

Bibliography   111

Author’s Index   145

Subject Index   151