I’m writing Chapter 5 called “The Pain of Fatherlessness” and I wanted to share some data that I found at fathers.com.

A study in 2010 by the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that 33% of the children in America live absent their fathers.  In 2012 a study by the U.S. Census Bureau indicated that 57.6% of black children, 31.2% of Hispanic children, and 20.7% of white children are living absent their biological fathers.  If it were classified as a disease, fatherlessness would be an epidemic worthy of attention as a national emergency.

Here’s the impact on the child and society of these kids that live absent their fathers (note I’ve take this information directly from their website where they list the source of the data).

• 71% of high school dropouts come from fatherless homes.
• 70% pregnant teenagers come from fatherlessness homes
• 85% of children with behavior disorders come from fatherlessness homes
• 90% of homeless and runaway children come from fatherlessness homes
• 63% youth suicides come from fatherless homes
• 70% youth in juvenile correctional facilities come from fatherless homes
• 71% of adolescent substance abusers come from fatherless homes
• Children from fatherless homes are 10x more likely to abuse chemical substances
• Children from fatherless homes are 4x more likely to be raised in poverty
• Children from fatherless homes are 11x more likely to have violent behavior
• Children from fatherless homes are 20x more likely to be incarcerated
• Children from fatherless homes are 9x more likely to drop out of school
• Children from fatherless homes are 9x more likely to be raped or sexually abused in a home without a biological father
• Children from fatherless homes are 2x more likely to commit suicide

I grew up in a fatherless home and that’s what I’m writing about in Chapter 5.  This picture is my nuclear family before mom and dad divorced.