"Moynihan was trying to break the cycle of generational poverty, which he knew a thing or two about, having lived fatherless and in poverty himself. Yet instead of honoring Moynihan, civil-rights leaders and others ridiculed him. But 46 years later, it seems as if Moynihan had a crystal ball about the stories that dominate the news. The lack-of-opportunity argument doesn't fly anymore -- nor does blaming others.
Imagine what historians writing 100 years from now might say. Use of the N-word not only accepted by young people, but justified in some circles. Young men socialized to think that prison is a rite of passage as opposed to obtaining a college education. Maybe we should've listened to Moynihan?
Even America's first African-American president has expressed the same alarm over black family disintegration. President Obama cited Moynihan in his book, "The Audacity of Hope," praising Moynihan's warnings and complaining that Moynihan had been wrongly accused of racism.
Entertainer Bill Cosby took on the same national crusade for personal responsibility in the black community.
Moynihan didn't just point out problems, he also advocated, warning that without jobs, educational programs and vocational training, black men would become systematically alienated from their roles as husbands and fathers.
Interestingly, over the years, I interviewed Moynihan on TV and moderated one of his re-election debates, but never once did he bring up his report to me. He never said privately that he was ridiculed or that history was on his side.
We should all realize Moynihan was years ahead of his time and saw the troubles ahead.
Journalist Dominic Carter has covered city and state politics for 25 years.
