One of the legacies of institutionalized racism in this country is the disproportionate number of low income minority workers. Consequently, black males have been disproportionately effected by the shrinking market for low skilled labor brought on  by the  technological revolution. The market woes experienced by low skilled black males stifles their ability to adequately support a family and diminishes their self esteem. They feel like they're failing to meet the burden of providing material support for their family. A single man need not dwell too long on his short comings. But a family man is constantly accountable to this failure. At least one response is to rationalize failure by transferring blame to those around him. By transforming the mother of his children and the institution of marriage into an albatross, he preserves his own self esteem.

Obviously we need to combat the attitudes and behavioral norms that cause black males to transfer their feelings of inadequacy on to those around them. Part of the problem is that our supposed leaders keep telling us that we are forever victims, instead of focusing on what we can do to affect genuine change in our own lives.

But another part of the problem is purely economical. We need to improve job prospects so that poor, inner city residents-mostly of color-will have a sense of future possibilities for themselves, and their family. Here, the economic policies initiated by President Clinton are instructive. In the decade and a half prior to the Clinton administration, this country witnessed the most severe economic stratification of the century. During that time, the wealthiest 40% of the country experienced gains in real income (with the top 20% experiencing the lion's share of gains). Meanwhile, the bottom 60% of the country lost 18% of their real income.  Bottom line: during the Regan/Bush years, the rich got very rich, the rest lost money. That began to change around 1995, when Clinton's implemented a series of reforms geared toward improving the economic status of the middle and lower class. His dedication to investing in human capital  resulted in unprecedented economic progress for ethnic minorities and women.

In terms of the future, we need to make sure inner city public schools are equipping their students-mostly of color-with the computer skills they need in order to thrive in the new economy. This should be the preeminent focus of the civil rights movement. Economic opportunity and an ability to affix value to one's existence are the root causes of the eroding family structure in black America. That will not change by labeling minority's victims and dispensing money to them like some government-subsidized tranquilizer. We need to mandate that public schools do a better job of equipping minority students with computer skills and focus on improving job prospects for lower skilled employees. Without a vigorous focus on these two areas, our families, our communities, will continue to unravel.