Economic deprivation is the major factor that has seriously eroded
             the pillar of marriage within the African American community. The changing
             family structure has also created economic and social implications. Any
             effort at remedying the dismal picture would necessitate a revival of the
             economic front for which education holds the key.
             The African American community in the United States is definitely
             facing a huge problem. Divorce rates are among the highest compared with
             all other ethnic groups. Hostile environment, which the African American
             community had to face in the United States, made it even more difficult for
             them to stabilize their familial ties. Divorce rates are very high compared
             to the white population and increasingly children end up growing with
             single parent. Change in family structure, economic backwardness and
             absence of the social support within the community have all contributed to
             this disruption in married life and the mounting divorce crisis. A brief
             overview of these various aspects would help us understand the issue
             The main issue that the African American community faces is not just
             the alarming increase in divorce rates (twice as much as whites) but also a
             steady decrease in the marriage rates. These two factors together have
             created a clearly precarious condition undermining the stability of
             marriage within the community. From 1960 when 78% of African American
             households had a married couple the rate has fallen down significantly to
             as much as 39% in 1993. Similarly a survey taken in 2000 by the US bureau
             of census shows that only 19% of African American males and 37% of females
             were married. Divorce rate in the black community increased rapidly between
             1960 and 1980. Fifty years ago the situation was much better and as much as
             64% of black males were married as opposed to 43 % 1995. Similarly the
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