Date of Award

Summer 1981

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

First Advisor

Hal Zimmerman

Abstract

"Focusing on the Black Family" by Eunice Spratt is an interdisciplinary teaching guide designed for fourth-grade students, emphasizing both average and below-average learners. Developed in the summer of 1981, this curriculum aims to foster an understanding of the family as a social unit, with a particular focus on the strengths and dynamics of the Black American family. Spratt's approach integrates sociology, anthropology, economics, geography, history, and political science to help students explore the concept of family across various cultures and time periods.

The curriculum is divided into four units: the general structure and function of families, how families interact with the natural environment, group dynamics within families, and a focused study on the Black family. The guide encourages students to analyze changes in family roles over time—particularly the increasing participation of women in the workforce—and to recognize the socio-economic challenges that impact family life.

A central theme of the guide is the resilience and adaptability of the Black family from African origins, through slavery, to modern urban life. The curriculum includes activities such as constructing family trees, studying historical maps, interpreting proverbs, and evaluating media portrayals of families. By examining both traditional and non-traditional family structures, students are taught to value diversity and to identify strengths within their own families.

Spratt’s long-term goal is for learners to acquire behaviors that will help them become effective family and community members. The guide emphasizes the importance of education in understanding family dynamics and societal roles, aiming to instill a sense of cultural pride and social responsibility in young students.

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