During a recent public safety hearing, Rep. Glenn Grossman (R-Wis.) challenged top lawmakers in Washington, D.C. by questioning what the city was doing to address the rate of children born with disabilities. This line of questioning has brought attention to critical yet often overlooked racial disparities in the capital.
Reflecting on my time in the city’s Gun Violence Prevention Office, I’ve seen similar dynamics at play. A stark reality is that nearly 80% of babies in Wards 7 and 8 are born to parents who aren’t married, which ties in with the fact that 60% of the city’s murders occur there. In contrast, areas like the Second and Third Wards, which see much lower gun violence, have 88% of infants born to married parents.
This disparity leads to a significant difference in life trajectories for black and white children in D.C., a reflection of broader national trends. Currently, around 70% of black children are born to unmarried parents, with 44% living with a single mother. It’s striking to realize that most black children in America today aren’t being raised in married households.
It’s disheartening to see that many officials in D.C. and across the country feel powerless to strengthen families. Yet, that perspective is misguided.
More than 60 years ago, Daniel Patrick Moynihan’s notable report urged the federal government to tackle the disintegration of black families. My recent report, “Beyond Moynihan: A new blueprint for reviving marriage and rebuilding black families,” suggests that key societal institutions, including elected officials, can foster a culture of marriage and strong families.
The first crucial step is recognizing that a child’s future is largely shaped by their family setting, rather than political agendas.
For instance, the poverty rate for black couples has consistently remained in single digits. In stark contrast, the poverty rate for black single mothers is at 31 percent.
This striking connection between family dynamics and economic stability is encouraging, yet sadly only 28% of black households are made up of married couples, compared to a national average of 47%. Furthermore, children with married birth parents are more likely to pursue higher education and experience lower incarceration rates in adulthood.
Local leaders can utilize their platforms to emphasize the link between family structure and social outcomes. In 2013, New York City’s Mayor Bloomberg initiated a campaign aimed at reducing teen pregnancies by advising young people to follow a three-step path: “Graduate high school, secure a job, and marry before having children,” promising this route would help them avoid poverty. Any modern leader could implement a similar initiative.
The government’s responsibility to nurture families extends beyond local leaders. For instance, a federal grant affords $35 million for marriage education programs, which local churches could use for marriage workshops aimed at cohabiting couples with kids. Participants who complete these programs could potentially tie the knot by the end.
While such initiatives may spark debate, they are grounded in two fundamental truths: every child deserves the love, guidance, and safety provided by both parents, and ideally, this should occur in a stable home with married biological parents.
Currently, programs in D.C. like Strong Family, Strong Future provide low-income mothers with $7,500 annually. This illustrates a prevailing definition of “family” that’s often limited to single mothers and their offspring in impoverished neighborhoods. This serves as a clear indication of why incorporating family structure into public discourse, data analysis, policy evaluations, and program priorities could dramatically shift how cities operate.
If 80% of black children in D.C. faced a serious health issue, while only 10% of white children did, tackling that disparity would undoubtedly be a top concern. Similarly, the significant number of black children lacking the support of married parents should prompt an equal response.
In many communities, young people lack any rationale to prioritize marriage over parenthood. This gap exists because no one, including their leaders, has ever conveyed that message throughout their lives. But it’s not too late for change, yet it demands a renewed commitment to the marriage culture and family structures that were once commonplace.
Delano Squires is a research fellow at the Heritage Foundation’s Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Human Thriving.
