An article in The New York Daily News, and a subsequent tweet, are being criticized for controversial statements on Jay-Z's impact on black fatherhood.
In her piece on the Daily News website, Joanna Malloy makes a bold statement about the effect the rapper's song "Glory," that he dedicated to his daughter Blue Ivy, will have on the amount of African American men choosing to step up to the plate in their children's lives.
"A lot of other babies are going to benefit," Malloy wrote. "Because Jay-Z's ecstatic reaction to being a dad will be the strongest boost yet to a growing movement in the black community encouraging responsible fatherhood."
Malloy defends her statement, using statistical evidence to elaborate on the issue "haunting" Black families. According to a study of childbearing among unmarried mothers by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, 72 percent of black babies were born to unwed mothers in 2010. However, these exact numbers have fueled a debate about the importance of contextualizing the figures with respect to the overall numbers of black women, both married and unmarried, who are having children.
But the news outlet went one step further, with a controversial tweet that linked to Malloy's piece:
D.L. Chandler responded to Malloy in an editorial piece written for HipHopWired.com.
But for Molloy to say that Black men will all of a sudden get off their collective deadbeat behinds because of a saccharine rap song is irresponsible and incorrect.
What black men, and all fathers-to-be, need are tangible examples of fatherhood. There are vast networks of community groups and organizations devoted to connecting fathers to the actual responsibility of fatherhood. Church leaders and the like need to open their doors and be the beacons they should be for fathers who don't know how to operate as such.
Some commenters on the page were also outraged by Malloy's statement. One reader responded with the following:
Riiiiiiiigght because absentee fathers is just a black problem. And that 72% is bogus. Although 72% of children may be the number of children born into homes with unmarried parents, that doesn't mean that 72% of black children do not have fathers. Some don't get married, some parents live separate but still co-parent. Shame on this so-called journalist twisting that statistic to make a point. This should be taken down, it is racist and ignorant. She said that as if it were fact, when it is not. That's why you can never trust statistics.
Jay-Z has spoken openly about his own father leaving him at a young age, and although he talks about reversing that cycle with his daughter on the new song, he is hardly the first rapper to do so.
Did Malloy miss the mark with her commentary, or is she simply being misunderstood?
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly reported that The New York Daily News author's name was Joan Malloy instead of Joanna Malloy.
Check out some of BV's favorite black families, featuring some of hip hop's most dedicated fathers.
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O'Shea (Ice Cube) Jackson And Family
Ice Cube may have started his career as one of the major faces of gangsta rap with the hip hop group N.W.A., but the West Coast rapper is a well-known family man. He has five children with his wife, Kimberly Woodruff, O'Shea Jr., Darrel, Shareef, Karima and Deja (not all photographed).
Joseph 'Rev Run' Simmons And Family
Joseph "Rev. Run" Simmons became famous in the 1980s as the frontman for the legendary rap group RUN DMC. His family gained some notoriety of their own following their MTV reality show "Run's House." Simmons' first children, Vanessa, Angela, and Joseph "Jojo" Jr., are from his first marriage to Valerie Vaughn. The legendary rapper later married Justine Jones and had Daniel "Diggy" Simmons and Russell "Russy" Simmons. After their daughter, Victoria Anne Simmons, died as an infant, the family adopted baby girl Miley Justine Simmons (not photographed).
Diana Ross And Family
Diana Ross is a superstar and a legendary diva, and has rocked the stage around the world. But at home, she was a mother to her five children, Rhonda, Tracee, Chudney, Ross, and Evan. Her daughter Tracee Ellis Ross is most commonly known for her role in the television series "Girlfriends" and currently stars as the wife of Malcolm Jamal Warner on BET's "Reed Between The Lines."
Angela Bassett And Family
Angela Bassett has wowed audiences with her performances both on the big screen and on the stage for several decades But the "What's Love Got To Do With It?" star is also a mother of twins Slater Josiah and Bronwyn Golden, whom she had in 2006 with her husband, the actor Courtney B. Vance.
Holly Robinson Peete And Family
Actress Holly Robinson Peete and her husband, the former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete have four children together: daughter Ryan Elizabeth, and three sons Rodney Jr., Robinson and Roman. The couple is well-known for their efforts to raise awareness for autism, a condition that their son Rodney lives with.
Calvin "Snoop Dogg" Broadus And Family
Despite his early reputation as a gangster rapper, Snoop Dogg is a committed father. He has three children with his wife and high school sweetheart Shante. The family opened its doors to the public in 2007, on a reality show titled "Snoop Dogg's Father Hood." Viewers got to see another side of Snoop as a dedicated family man, with episodes of f him coaching his son's football team and helping his children with their homework. He and his wife Shante also spoke publicly about their daughter Cori's struggle with the autoimmune disease lupus.
Brandy, Ray J And Family
Singers and siblings Brandy and Ray J Norwood owe and lot of there success to their mother Sonja and father Willie, and they decided to let the world know with their VH1 reality series "Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business." The show follows the Norwood's struggle both as a family and as business partners.
Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith And Family
The Smiths are quickly becoming a Hollywood power family. Not only are both parents talented actors and musicians, but their children have also achieved major success in music and film. At age 11, daughter Willow Smith has gained popularity for her hit single "Whip My Hair," and son Jaden, 13, won praise in his role in "The Karate Kid." Will and Jada tied the knot in 1997 and remain happily married, despite reports of a separation in August 2011. Will has a son, Trey, (not photographed) from his first marriage to Sheree Zampino.
Venus And Serena Williams
Before they were serving it up on the tennis court, the Williams sisters enjoyed family time. They owe a great deal of their success to their father, Richard Williams, who coached them in their California hometown.
The Braxton Family
The Braxton sisters may have been relatively unknown while their Grammy award-winning sister Toni enjoyed success in the 90's. But their 2011 WEtv reality series catapulted them onto tabloid covers and talk shows. Tamar, Towanda, Traci, Trina and mother Evelyn have stepped into the spotlight alongside Toni, giving viewers a dose of "Braxton Family Values."
The Wayans Family
The Wayans family is no stranger to comedy. They have been the masterminds behind hit shows and movies from "The Wayans Bros.," to "White Chicks" to the entire "Scary Movie" series. With ten siblings (not all photographed), there's surely no shortage of laughs at the dinner table.
Mariah Carey, Nick Cannon And Twins
With the addition of adorable twins Moroccan and Monroe, Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon's family is filling out. Since the 2010 birth of their children, the couple has been public about their affection for the twins, who they've also dubbed Roc and Roe and "Dem Babies."
The Jackson Family
One of the most famous families in American music, the Jacksons have been at the center of generations worth of popular culture. Although Michael Jackson's (not photographed) legendary status as a performer is unmatched, Jermaine (not photographed), Randy, Tito, Jackie, Marlon, La Toya, Janet and Rebbie are no strangers to the limelight.
Bebe And Cece Winans
Benjamin "BeBe" Winans and sister Priscilla "CeCe" Winans are a gospel duo that also come from a family of talented musicians. As two of 10 Winans children, they have won three Grammy Awards, two Soul Train Awards and two NAACP Image awards.
Tia And Tamera Mowry
The identical duo Tia and Tamera Mowry first gained fame on the 90's sitcom "Sister, Sister." But before fame had them traveling for show business, this twin sister act bounced between army bases with their military parents, along with brother and fellow actor Tahj Mowry (not photographed). Now, the actresses have expanded their individual families. Tia and husband Cory Hardrict welcomed son Cree in June 2011, and Tamera married husband Adam Housley one month earlier.
The Obamas
As the first family, the Obamas are constantly in the headlines. But despite the pressures as First Lady and Commander in Chief, Michelle and Barack have maintained their dedication to their daughters Malia and Sasha. Prior to his inauguration, President Obama published an open letter to his daughters in <em>Parade</em> magazine expressing his hopes for them "to grow up in a world with no limits on [their] dreams and no achievements beyond [their] reach, and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will help build that world."
@nydailynews
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First Posted: 01/20/2012 4:20 pm Updated: 01/24/2012 3:41 pm