Imagine the culture and society of the 1950s versus today: what's different? Cars, technology, communication, forms of money, even social and moral values. You name it! If it existed in the 50s, it has adapted to the world in which we live. Since the 1950s, attitudes towards women, children and the family have changed. The morals and values ​​that once formed the fabric of our society have become weak. Even marriage no longer has the same esteem. The so-called “American dream” of a house surrounded by a white picket fence and a family playing in the yard is too simplistic for our modern society. Many strive to be part of the wealthy ultra-elite of our society. However, the changing moral fabric has also been found to lead to an overall lack of wealth within certain ethnic groups. Increasing out-of-wedlock birth rates, technology, and social media are all contributing factors to the decline of our moral fabric and have a direct effect on the overall wealth of our African American underclass. Until the 1990s, when children were in primary school, it was very common for most of your classmates to have traditional families. The majority of children you knew had a mother and father who were always together and faithful to each other. It was also very common to be in contact with or very close to grandparents and first cousins. Between the 90s and today, things have changed considerably. The majority of those traditional families you were used to have dissolved. More and more marriages are failing and more and more children are growing up without appropriate role models in their lives. Especially in minority groups like African Americans. Author Henry Louis Gates Jr. wrote "Forty acres and one... middle of paper...... to set an example for our future generations rather than throwing them in the deep end and hoping they float. Our economic struggle among the African American underclass is matched by the lack of initiative shown by parents. Parents cannot continue to set a bad example and live paycheck to paycheck focusing on the instant gratification lifestyle made so easily accessible by technology and expect their children to represent more than they have ever been exposed to. The lack of moral fabric of the African American lower class will continue to fail if they continue to increase out-of-wedlock birth rates and are unwilling to even attempt to be a role model for their children by continuing to abuse the modernity. technologies. If parents are not willing to make the foundation properly, the structure will never reach its full potential..