Time to Spare the Rod in Black Communities
Posted By The Editors | April 13th, 2010 | Category: Hot Topics | 16 comments
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By Stacey Patton
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. During this time of heightened awareness I want to challenge black communities everywhere to change the conversation on how we discipline our children.
Though people are still talking about how the Oscar-nominated film Precious has taken the lid off of child sexual abuse in African-American communities, sexual abuse is not far more prevalent in African-American homes, nor is it the most typical form of abuse facing black children today.
The Child Welfare League of America defines physical abuse as “striking, kicking, burning, or biting the child, or any action that results in a physical impairment of the child.” But African Americans have publicly argued that hitting with a belt, switch, ironing cord, or even slapping a child in the face is not abuse. Black parents who choose “time-out” or other non-violent tactics are accused of acting like white folks. While child abuse in the United States extends across race and class lines, the latest statistics show that black children suffer and die at disproportionate rates.
A look at recent statistics from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicates that 12 percent of black child abuse cases reported nationally involve sexual violation versus 51 percent for whites and 18 percent for Latinos. However, black children suffer disproportionate rates of physical maltreatment at nearly 30 percent. The Association of Children and Families reports that 17 out of every 1,000 black children are abused, versus 10 and 9 for every 1,000 Latino and white children, respectively.
Of the 1,760 children who died in 2007 from abuse related injuries, 26 percent were black. Most child abuse victims of all races were under the age of four, and most of the perpetrators were single mothers.
In the face of these sobering numbers, black communities should be outraged. Where are the black voices speaking out against the rampant abuse of black children? Rather than speaking out against all forms of physical abuse, we celebrate and promote spanking, “popping,” “whupping,” and “beating” and even affirm the violence as a distinctly African-American cultural tradition.
Both the silence and the righteous defense of spanking that takes place in churches, beauty salons, barbershops, black radio airwaves, popular films, the blogosphere, and now FaceBook and YouTube, all contribute to the alarming rates of child abuse in our communities. There is a cultural specificity, and even a perverse embrace of child violence, that contributes to the problem in black communities.
A 1998 survey of child discipline research published by a Syracuse University professor revealed how black scholars noted that racism informs the ways parents choose to raise their children. Black parents believe that firm discipline is necessary as a way of protecting their children from a society that has a very narrow window of error for black youth. Other scholars contend that physical discipline is a residual of slavery.
Generations later, the traumatic effects of slavery continue to function as an unconscious influence on how black parents respond to child behaviors.
Some black ministers promote violence against children by invoking Old Testament scriptures; in many cases the same verses once used to sanction violence against women and slaves. Faith leaders and congregants cite Proverbs 13:24: “ He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” Another popularly quoted scripture is Proverbs 23:14: “Though shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.”
Comedians humorize abuse by sharing colorfully wrenching vignettes about plucking switches off trees or running from black mothers wielding belts, cords, and high-heeled shoes. Richard Pryor, the first mainstream black comedian, graphically illuminated the dynamic in a 1970s routine in which he joked about his grandmother whipping him with switches and cords. The once Jello-peddling television dad Bill Cosby has been one of the most famous advocates of spanking. In some of his comedy material he riffed on spanking his son Ennis and even threatened his on-screen son Theo Huxtable in one episode by saying – “I brought you in this world and I’ll take you out.” The late Bernie Mac, D.L. Hughley, and lesser-known comedians continue to inspire laughter in Black Entertainment Television routines.
Top syndicated radio personalities such as Michael Baisden and Tom Joyner continue to provide platforms that oftentimes fail to challenge the prevailing view that hitting children is necessary. And some of the most accomplished African Americans have noted their pride in having been whipped. For example, former New York Mayor David Dinkins claimed that his success was linked to being whipped in the bathtub by his mother and grandmother for stealing.
We laugh at the pain inflicted on children, or we keep quiet while the residual effects continue to destroy our children and communities.
We often cite white racism, poverty and stress, the mean streets, violent video games, rap music, and even this generation’s “bad” children as reasons to justify unhealthy discipline tactics. But even as black parents hit as a means to teach right from wrong and offer protection from a hostile white society, they are also feeding their children to the nation’s foster care system, the prison pipeline, and perpetuating the cycle of self-destruction.
Overwhelming evidence has shown that sooner or later, children who are hit end up transmitting that violence on themselves, schoolmates, loved ones, and to their neighborhoods. In 1994, sociologist Murray Straus published a controversial study showing that children who routinely experience harsh physical punishment (including spanking) are at greater risk for depression as well as a host of other psychological problems and aggressive behaviors. For the past 30 years, sociologists, psychologists, pediatricians and other experts have shown that hit children are more likely to become adults who can’t control aggression. They are more likely to strike out against intimate partners and against their own children and even other members of society. They’ve also shown that hitting children negatively impacts their self-esteem and limits their academic performance. Physical punishment teaches children to solve their problems by force rather than by reasoning and instills hostility toward authority figures.
Many African Americans claim that being beaten as children kept them from getting into trouble or ending up in prison. But studies of criminals conducted by African-American Harvard psychologist Dr. Alvin Poussaint and others prove the contrary, as many of the worst criminals, rapists and murderers, were abused as children. That’s not to say that every child who is spanked will turn to a life of criminality. But certainly the argument that whipping a child will keep him or her from a prison cell is unsubstantiated.
As a former abuse victim, foster child and advocate for children, I often hear these same tired old arguments over and over again.
You can’t raise a black child the same way you raise a white child in this society. White people can’t tell blacks how to raise their children. I whup my kids to keep the police from whupping them or shooting them. The police don’t shoot white kids. White people let their kids run wild, talk back to them, and even hit them. Time out for talking. I’m not begging and pleading a child to behave. I don’t hit them when I’m angry. I talk to them first and tell them why I’m about the whip them. If I beat my kids now they will grow up to respect and love me even more. I whip my kids because I love them.
The problem extends beyond the home. In 21 states corporal punishment or “paddling” is still legal.
States with the highest percentage of reported black child abuse cases are those in the South. The top five and their rates of abuse are: the District of Columbia (65%), Mississippi (45%), Louisiana (43%), Georgia (40%), and South Carolina (38%). It is not surprising that the use of corporal punishment in public schools is also widespread in the South.
Studies show a clear correlation between the use of corporal punishment in schools and larger negative social outcomes. Compared to states that do not allow corporal punishment in schools, states where children are paddled also have the highest murder rates, prison population, low achievement scores and graduation rates in the country.
A 2009 report from the Office of Civil Rights and the U.S. Department of Education revealed that although black children comprised 17 percent of the nationwide student population, 36 percent were paddled during the 2006-2007 school year. The report also found that black girls are more than twice as likely to be hit as white girls. Human Rights Watch has reported cases of children’s pants being stripped, then bent over and struck with wooden sticks. Students have sustained injuries to their genitals and other extremities. Aside from the discriminatory trend of the practice, it is a clear violation of children’s Eighth Amendment right to be free of “cruel and unusual punishment.”
How can this be happening today, especially since the 1980s all professional adults who interact with children are required by law to report any suspicion of child abuse to the authorities? In almost half of the country these same people are legally allowed to paddle children in the name of discipline. While the NAACP, our nation’s oldest civil rights organization, gave Precious six Image Awards and has taken a hard verbal stance against the discriminatory use of paddling in schools, it has yet to address the widespread use of corporal punishment as it is employed by African Americans themselves.
We are 145 years removed from the plantation and yet we cling to archaic and harmful behaviors that are being transmitted from one generation to the next. African Americans keep extending the master’s lash each time we strike a black child. And most times that I see a mother hitting, yanking, or cussing at a child in a store or on the subway, her behavior has nothing to do with racism and everything to do with her own anger and frustration, bad parenting skills, and what was done to her as a child.
Now is the time to begin a serious national dialogue about how we can break the chains of self-destruction and begin to consider healthier, non-violent childrearing practices. I propose that we start now during April when awareness and child abuse prevention is front of mind to begin the conversation.
We don’t need to hit black children to protect them from the big bad white man. Most of the violence they experience is from the hands of other black people. Before they enter schools, encounter police officers or gangs, too many are conditioned to be helpless victims or angry perpetrators of violence.
Let’s drop the rod and spare the child now.
Stacey Patton is the Senior Editor of The Defenders Online and a writer for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. She is also author of a memoir, That Mean Old Yesterday, which discusses child abuse.
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Thank you so much! Just today, the six o’clock news carried 4 local stories concerning children killed by parents, another killed by a parent’s boyfriend and several other sexually abused children, including those who had been violated by teachers/coaches. Your work will help people to make the connections among these barbaric acts against children. Again- thanks!!!
There is a DEFINITE difference between spanking the behind as a measure of discipline and hitting children all over their body because the parent lacks the patience and experience to discipline their offspring in a correct and respectful manner. Rather than condemn discipline, why not get to the root cause of child abuse in the black community? Namely, immaturity, lack of self-discipline on the part of the parents, little guidance on the proper raising of children, anger issues, an absence of patience, and the general behavioral, mental and emotional issues that are not dealt with in the black community–especially when black men and women are so eager to jump in the bed with one another as a form of temporary entertainment or way to fill what’s missing in their hearts without acknowledging the full and complete range of consequences of what happens after they get out of the bed.
I just watched another successful, intelligent, beautiful African American defend corporal punishment on TV. Mohommad Ali’s daughter, Whoopi Goldberg, Sherri Shepherd. All of them vigorously defend and make light of hitting children. I am livid. Thank goodness Wanda Sykes spoke out against it (count on a lesbian to be progressive). Thank-you for this excellent article. Please keep speaking out. The tradition of ‘whooping’ children (and the passionate defense of it) is killing the souls of young African American’s. Our young people deserve better.
[...] your April 13th, 2010 article, “Time to Spare the Rod in the Black Community“, on The Defenders Online, a civil rights blog of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, you [...]
When I was a child I was whipped with a switch or whatever Mother could get her hands on. The only problem that I have with those whippings is that I was not whipped enough. It takes more than whipping, it takes love, patence not to mention finances.
I do believe that all children may not need to be beat if you can reason with them. There are no bad children. It is the way you whip the children. No child should be beat to the extent of a bruises, scratches or abraisions. If some parents had beat their children they would not have ended up in prison.
In fact I have a half brother who was adopted and had everything you could imagine, but never got a whipping. Now he is a staight crackhead alcoholic. His parents could have beat a lot of the foolishness out of him and he would have became a better person.
As in everything else we do in life, when it comes to the discipline of our children, we must use that Common Sense Degree that we have. Discipline is discipline and beating or abuse is beating or abuse. There are major differences in the two. Our problem today is that the government stepped in and stopped corporal punishment in schools and declared whipping at home as child abuse. That is when the tables turned and parents lost control of children. I am 60 years old and raised a son and a daughter. My daughter was in middle school and she said to me “Dad you know if you whip me it is child abuse” I asked her who told her that and she said this teacher. Well I told my daughter to come with me. We went to her school and the lady was still there. I requested a few minutes of her time and it was granted. I made her understand that unless she wanted to cloth, feed, nurture when sick, be responsible for her behavior, that she needed to stick to the schools curriculum and stop trying to influence how my child is being raised. My daughter is a college grad and has a successful career. To this very minute she loves her parents to no end and has no regrets about how she was raised. And by the way, she is a teacher and she tells me all the time I see why you and mom said or did the things you did raising us. I never abused either of my children, whip those hips, yes I did.
Someone please tell me, where is the connection between common sense discipline and rampant beating or sexual abuse. I see discipline as part of loving a child and steering them in the right direction to be a positive member of society. I see abuse as some grown ups out of control and needing help. I see sexual abuse as sick and somebody in need of some serious jail time.
So what do you suggest? I don’t advocat beating a Child, but as a father of two boys, I see nothing wrong with a swatt on the hand, or behind once in a while. I get so sick and tired of people telling me what not to do in raising my children. What do you suggest? I talk to my boys, hug them everyday, they know they are loved because daddy telled them everyday. But they also know that i mean business what I give them instructions. We want to hold parents responsable for the actions of their children, but then we want to tie their hands when it comes to correcting them. You can’t have it both ways. So once again I ask you, what do you suggest? and will you be responsable if it doesn’t work?
Hi Heather. Read your comment with much interest. I look at what is happening around me each and every day. And I surely agree with you on one thing, our young people deserve so much more than what they are getting. Our young people are out there in those mean streets killing or beating each other every day. They are out there with the seat of their pants hanging down by their knees. So many cannot read or write. You listen to them and it is almost like being in another country sometimes. Now you tell me why this is happening! Because their is no discipline in the homes, in the schools, etc. That old adage of “It takes a village to raise a child” is out the window now. You may get your feelings hurt saying something to a child these days. Age garners you no status or respect with these kids. They are running rampant and wild. And yet there are those of you who feels a slap on the back side is abuse. you have to be in another world to feel that way. So I suppose the bottom line is let this continue and they will just thin each other out until this problem is solved? This has to be gotten under control at some point. And it starts in the home with the parents. One thing is for sure, if a parent loves a child, then that child will be raised with love, proper discipline, guidance, and good example setting by the parents. Teach the children to respect home and they will respect others outside the home as well. But common sense discipline is as necessary as the hearty breakfast you fix each morining. Think about it.
Interesting comments Mr. John W. Johnson. I totally agree that children need proper/common sense discipline and it starts at home. I am certain that the kids out there who have no respect for each other, running rampant, and wild have parent(s) who are not taking care of their responsibilities, not spending quality time with their children, and definitely are not showing the child any respect because it goes both ways. I am all for government stopping corporal punishment in schools because I do not know these educators well enough to put a “paddle” on my child’s behind or how hard they can strike on my child’s body. Government has not declared “whipping” at home as child abuse. It is only abuse if marks are left on their bodies. Corporal punishment has been officially outlawed in 25 countries around the world. This brutality towards children is best quoted by the Supreme Court of Israel that declared all corporal punishment in Israel unlawful in 2000 – “The child is not the parent’s property and cannot be used as a punching bag the parents can beat at their leisure, even when the parents honestly believe that they are fulfilling their duty and right to educate their child. The child depends upon the parents, is entitled to parental love, protection and the parent’s gentle touch. The use of punishment which causes hurt and humiliation does not contribute to the child’s personality or education, but instead damages his or her human rights. Such punishment injures his or her body, feelings, dignity and proper development. Such punishment distances us from our goal of a society free of violence. Accordingly, let it be known that in our society, parents are now forbidden to make use of corporal punishments or methods that demean and humiliate the child as an educational system.” If love, respect, and common sense discipline is shown to our children then that should be a great foundation to learn from and how they should treat others. The bottom line here is “whippings/spankings” should be at the parent(s) discretion because your hand can tell exactly how hard you are hitting your child but should be restricted (e.g. blows to the head, belts, paddles, and other implements should not be used, and/or only children within a certain age range may be spanked).
Stacey,
I’ve meant to read this article for a while.
Thanks so much for this especially.
“Now is the time to begin a serious national dialogue about how we can break the chains of self-destruction and begin to consider healthier, non-violent childrearing practices. I propose that we start now during April when awareness and child abuse prevention is front of mind to begin the conversation.”
My work on Historical Trauma in African American communities touches on this same issue. I believe that to uphold slavery the American culture had to operate on the assumption that African people imported as slaves did not suffer from violence and abuse.The legacy of that culture causes US to act as though African American children do not suffer when they are hit, that African American women do not feel pain when they are abused and that African American men do not suffer fear and anguish when they are wronged. When we are able to name our own pain, I believe that we will find new opportunities to treat ourselves, our families and our communities with compassion and love.
Most people parent in the way they were parented, or in the way they see around them. It is not something
taught in schools, there is no national standard. The gamut seems to run from abuse to coddling. Reinstate social moors and try to get everybody into the middle ground. Beating isn’t necessary, but there has to be consequences for behaviors otherwise there is no change. Try Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child at http://www.brianknows.com for other information.
I think it,s ashame over all of these years after slavery, the american black man still don,t get a fair deal in the USA.we serve in the arm forces,we get high education, we even have a black president.but yet we still denied justices.but i say to you let us keep our faith in the Lord, and his commandment and we will get our reward from God.may God bless the senate, congress ,Democratic , and the republican party.May God take away all the evilness, fill our hearts will LOVE FOR MANKIND. MAY God bless the USA.
I’m reading a lot of responses here and I’m seeing folks equating discipline with beating/whipping as if they’re one and the same. This is untrue. Time-outs DO work when done properly and consistently. The same goes for rescinding prvileges (TV, Video games, computer, allowance, hanging out with friends, sports, etc.). I grew up w/parents who believed in spanking in order to ‘teach lessons’. It was the only real form of discipline (mostly from my mother). Children who are raised in an environment of love and respect WANT to please their parents. Sometimes expressing extreme disappointment in bad behavior ALONE will teach the biggest lesson. When a child is living in fear of being hurt by the person who is supposed to love them the most, I believe it teaches them to avoid taking risks that may be necessary to their growth as individuals. Aren’t kids supposed to be able to make mistakes w/o fear of corporal retribution by someone who is already coming at them from a position of power and authority?
BTW, my husband and I are raising our two kids (a boy and a girl) in a non-hitting environment (we don’t tolerate ANY violence in our household). Sometimes they make me so crazy/angry, it’s all I can do not to lash out, but I know that the short-term satisfaction wouldn’t be worth the price to their self-esteem and my conscience. They aren’t ‘running wild’ either. We both have strong commitments to discipline, consequences and values and we’re constantly getting compliments from teachers, friends and family on how well-behaved, polite and kind our kids are. As a matter of fact, based on our example, my mother has changed her mind and now agrees that hitting/whipping is NOT the way to teach children to behave.
The nation’s first culturally-adapted parenting skill-building program for parents of African-American children, the Effective Black Parenting Program, dealves into this matter in a sensitive and knowledgeable way and provides parents with many other methods for gaining the cooperation and respect of their children without having to use corporal punishment. The history of the use of this archaic method is also covered in the program, as well as many other issues such a Pride in Blackness and avoiding Black put downs that are pivotal to raising proud and confident African American children. Over one million parents of African American children have already been educated and assisted by this program, and it is considered to be a national model. It is now in use in 44 states and the District of Columbia as a result of more that 4000 brothers and sisters being trained to deliver it through their local schools and churches. A webinar on the program is scheduled for Tuesday, July 13. See announcement at http://ciccparenting.org/NewsLetters/WEBINAREBP.htm. The announcement includes links to parental and professional reactions to this important program.
I work in juvenile justice, with children who have all been abused or at least spanked (which i consider abuse) and i can tell you they are the most disrespectful, mentally unstable, and verbally abusive to both staff and each other of any teens i have ever met.