1. { Resiliency of the African-American Family Crystal D. Clay Social Work 3510 Dr. Sharonlyn Harrison

2. “Indigenous Systems within the African American Community” Aretha Faye Marbley and Leon Rouson “Doing the Lords Work: African American Elders’ Civic Engagement” Iris Carlton-LaNey Research

3. The Studies The article authored by Marbley and Rouson gleaned information from various studies, statistics, and personal stories from African- Americans, regarding their family experiences of survival. The information combined produces a narrative of the African- American family’s resiliency against insurmountable obstacles in managing to carry out societal functions. The article by Iris Carlton-LaNey, gathers information from various scholarly writings. Her research focuses on African- American Elders and civic engagement. The research coveys African-American civic commitment as fostered by the principles of the Black Church and strengthened by the history of mutual support. Marbley, A. f., & Rouson, L. (2011). Indigenous Systems within the African-American Community. Multicultural Education, 18 (4), p2-9,8p,9. Carlton-LaNey, I. (2006/2007). Doing the Lord's Work: African-American Elders' Civic Engagement. Generations, 30 (4), p47-50,4p. Carlton-LaNey, I. (2006/2007). Doing the Lord's Work: African- American Elders' Civic Engagement. Generations, 30 (4), p47-50,4p.

4. Importance of Topic The purpose of Marbley and Rouson’s research is in rebuttal to David Popenoe’s 1993 thesis on the decline of the American family. Popenoe’s research views the loss of traditional family structure, function, social power and authority over family as the reasoning for the decline. However, Marbley and Rouson find Popenoe’s research to fail by focusing on the American family as a monolithic social institution. His findings fail in producing unrealistic measurements for African-American family structure Howe, E., & Julia, H. (2011). African American: Consequences of Discrimination. In G. A. Appleby, H. J. Colon Edgar, & A. Dodge (Ed.), Diversity, Oppression and Social Functioning:Person-In-Enviornment Assesment and Intervention (3rd Edition ed., pp. 78-89). Boston, MA., United States of America: Allyn & Bacon Pearson Education Inc,.. Marbley, A. f., & Rouson, L. (2011). Indigenous Systems within the African-American Community. Multicultural Education, 18 (4), p2-9,8p,9.

5. Importance of Topic The purpose of Iris Carlton-LaNey’s research is to illuminate the objective of African-American civic engagement. The research reveals the promotion of civic commitment through the Black Church and finding its strength within the history of mutual support. Her findings convey African-American civic engagement encompassing a sense of mutual aid, racial uplift, and social debt that is inspired by religious devotion and a necessity for group survival. Carlton-LaNey, I. (2006/2007). Doing the Lord's Work: African-American Elders' Civic Engagement. Generations, 30 (4), p47-50,4p.

6. Major Results of Studies Researchers Marbley and Rouson found that Popenoe, like many White scholar; fail to view the experiences of African-American and other marginalized families and their resiliency over centuries to overcome the said losses. Additionally, the researchers suggest this lack of consideration, in regard to the resiliency of African-Americans missises an opportunity to gain possible solutions to the massive decline of the American family. Marbley, A. f., & Rouson, L. (2011). Indigenous Systems within the African- American Community. Multicultural Education, 18 (4), p2-9,8p,9.

7. Major Result of Study LaNey’s research finds that African-American churches continue to lead in providing their congregations with opportunities for civic engagement in the Black community. The study found that “seventy percent of African-American churches operate one or more programs, roughly sixty percent operate two or more programs and nearly half operate three or more programs.” These programs include and are not limited to- “child development, youth services and development, educational programs, family support and aid, adult individual programs, elder services and aid and community-service development” (LaNey, 2007).

8. Continued Research There is a need for continued research on the resiliency of African- American families and other marginalized families. More specifically, research conducted by persons belonging to these groups is necessary and research utilizing a “multicultural perspective.” The use of a multicultural perspective in conducting research allows respect for the value and strength of diversity. “Literature that has been written about the dysfunction within the social ills of the African-American family can actually be reframed into resiliency and thus become useful in developing strategies to offset the decline of the American family” (Marbley& Rouson,2011). Marbley, A. f., & Rouson, L. (2011). Indigenous Systems within the African-American Community. Multicultural Education, 18 (4), p2-9,8p,9. Howe, E., & Julia, H. (2011). African American: Consequences of Discrimination. In G. A. Appleby, H. J. Colon Edgar, & A. Dodge (Ed.), Diversity, Oppression and Social Functioning:Person-In- Enviornment Assesment and Intervention (3rd Edition ed., pp. 78-89). Boston, MA., United States of America: Allyn & Bacon Pearson Education Inc,.

9. Indigenous Support Systems  Schools  Churches  Neighborhood Associations  Newspapers  Lodges  Fraternities/Sororities  Social Clubs  Age and Sex Peer groups  Small Businesses- Beauty/ Barber Shops, Restaurants and Various Systems of Hustling. Marbley, A. f., & Rouson, L. (2011). Indigenous Systems within the African-American Community. Multicultural Education, 18 (4), p2-9,8p,9.

10. Civic Engagement is Collectivism God’s Divine Plan and involves Direct Services:  Caring for Elderly  Caring for Disabled  Caring for Children  Visiting Hospitals  Providing Prison Ministries  Serving the Poor-Family and Nonfamily Howe, E., & Julia, H. (2011). African American: Consequences of Discrimination. In G. A. Appleby, H. J. Colon Edgar, & A. Dodge (Ed.), Diversity, Oppression and Social Functioning:Person-In-Enviornment Assesment and Intervention (3rd Edition ed., pp. 78-89). Boston, MA., United States of America: Allyn & Bacon Pearson Education Inc,. Carlton-LaNey, I. (2006/2007). Doing the Lord's Work: African-American Elders' Civic Engagement. Generations, 30 (4p47-50,4p.

11. Contributing Knowledge to the Field of Social Work

12. Relevant Theories Bifocal- Approach  Afrocentrism “Redefines family and its function from a Western idea of a nuclear family. Afrocentrism is the framework for indigenous support systems in the African-American community-setting the affective and cultural tone. Oneness with nature and survival of the group-constant interplay among systems and subsystems. The community focus is on cooperation and group cohesiveness.”  Structural Functionalism “Person is a part of multiple systems that are interrelated and interdependent. Behavior of one affects other people and systems, harmony, cooperation, and integration are critical to the survival of the social systems. Interactions are circular rather than linear.” Marbley, A. f., & Rouson, L. (2011). Indigenous Systems within the African-American Community. Multicultural Education, 18 (4), p2-9,8p,9.

13. Conclusion The use of indigenous systems and traditional collectivism by African-American families and communities helped foster important, powerful, relevant, supportive, practical and necessary tools for survival. These tools assist African-Americans in dealing with negative environmental, social realities in American society. The practicing social worker selecting to utilize “Bifocal- Approach” working with African-American families and individuals, view the theory as a strength and copping mechanisms. The indigenous systems and collectivism create resiliency and fulfill the functions of traditional family structures helping to assure African-American group and individual survival The practitioner is better to work with these networks in producing positive outcomes. Marbley, A. f., & Rouson, L. (2011). Indigenous Systems within the African-American Community. Multicultural Education, 18 (4), p2-9,8p,9.

14. References Works Cited Carlton-LaNey, I. (2006/2007). Doing the Lord's Work: African-American Elders' Civic Engagement. Generations, 30 (4), p47-50,4p. Howe, E., & Julia, H. (2011). African American: Consequences of Discrimination. In G. A. Appleby, H. J. Colon Edgar, & A. Dodge (Ed.), Diversity, Oppression and Social Functioning:Person-In-Enviornment Assesment and Intervention (3rd Edition ed., pp. 78-89). Boston, MA., United States of America: Allyn & Bacon Pearson Education Inc,. Marbley, A. f., & Rouson, L. (2011). Indigenous Systems within the African-American Community. Multicultural Education, 18 (4), p2-9,8p,9.