Crisis in the Village

Robert M. Franklin provides first-person advice and insight ashe identifies the crises resident within three anchor institutionsthat have played key roles in the black struggle for freedom. Blackfamilies face a "crisis of commitment" evident in the rising rates offather absence, births to unmarried parents, divorce, and domesticabuse or relationship violence. Black churches face a "mission crisis" as they struggle to servetheir upwardly mobile and/or established middle class "payingcustomers" alongside the poorest of the poor. Historically black colleges and universities face a crisis of"relevance and purpose" as they now compete for the best studentsand faculty with the broad marketplace of colleges.With clarity and passion, Franklin calls for practical andcomprehensive action for change from within the AfricanAmerican community and from all Americans.