| African American grandparenting is one of the | | | | leads them to a sense of guilt and a need to |
| cornerstones of black culture. When parents are | | | | correct what they perceive as their mistake. |
| forced to work multiple jobs to make ends meet, | | | | These grandparents often become the most |
| the grandparents step in as babysitters and | | | | conscientious, generous, and loving caregivers as |
| surrogate parents. When the community needs | | | | they do everything possible to give their |
| advice, guidance, or comforting words to get | | | | grandchildren the best of everything. |
| them through their difficult days, they turn to the | | | | 4. They feel an emotional attachment to their |
| wise words and invaluable experience of their | | | | grandchildren. When grandparents function as |
| elders. However, increasingly African American | | | | babysitters and free daycare, they become used |
| grandparenting has meant taking custody of their | | | | to having their grandchildren in their life on a daily |
| minor grandchildren when the parent is unable to | | | | basis. If something happens to those |
| care for them. There are several reasons a | | | | grandchildren's parents, the grandparents still want |
| grandparent may choose to do this. | | | | to maintain their bond. |
| 1. They don't want their grandchildren in foster | | | | 5. They want the very best for their |
| care. If the parents have been arrested or have | | | | grandchildren, and are sure they are the ones |
| lost custody, the only options are usually a | | | | who can give it to them. This is the most |
| relative's home or foster care. Foster care tends | | | | common and strongest reason for becoming a |
| to be impersonal, and children often are separated | | | | grandparent caregiver. It is almost impossible to |
| from their siblings. This can add to the trauma. | | | | refuse one's grandchild the love, care and stability |
| Grandparents do their families and their | | | | they need. Grandparents in the black community |
| communities a huge service by stepping up to | | | | have a lot of love to offer their minor |
| parent the parentless. | | | | grandchildren. This love has the power to make |
| 2. They want to pass down black culture and | | | | up for any number of misfortunes and |
| traditions. At a time when many black folk are | | | | separations. Often, this love can single handedly |
| forgetting their roots, African American | | | | hold a family together in the face of incredible |
| grandparenting increasingly means being a | | | | adversity. |
| gatekeeper to the history of this distinguished | | | | Grandparents continue to have a valued role in |
| culture. Grandparents know that they have a lot | | | | the black community. African American |
| to offer a child, and their influence has been a | | | | grandparenting offers the stability and wisdom to |
| huge aid in maintaining the richness of the black | | | | maintain black family traditions while training the |
| community. | | | | next generation for education and success. They |
| 3. They feel they didn't raise their own children | | | | perform a service in their community that both |
| correctly. This belief, although usually incorrect, | | | | indispensable and invaluable. |