Shifting the Paradigm

The revealed lived experiences of African American men indicated five factors impacting social deprivation, which is often linked with the economic status of individuals. The factors identified could empower or incapacitate individuals in their efforts to improve their lives. The stereotypical image of what has been conveyed as a "dead-beat dad" may in fact be a "dead-broke dad." The structural context of isolation and limited opportunities within communities tend to perpetuate feelings of hopelessness. In some instances, social deprivation is evoked when public governmental officials in positons to assist withhold vital information such as benefits and programs that could enhance the likelihood of self-sufficiency. Greater dependency is created when resources and opportunities are not accessible to aid in the acquisition of skills and training that would lead to gainful employment. Both success and failure are recognized as being the direct result of the actions one assumes for his or her own life. Consensus is that the minimization of social deprivation happens when the accessibility of resources subsist in tandem with self.