Consistent with the legacy of American history, the African American family is a subject of controversy and concern. While other aspects of the family are studied, it could be argued that the area of ​​African American motherhood receives the most attention. Unequivocally, African American mothers are portrayed as matriarchs, crack moms, and welfare queens. Additionally, black mothers are often portrayed as lazy, irresponsible, destructive, and even worthless. These stereotypical images of African American mothers are important because they have powerful implications for African American mothers and their families as a whole. Myths influence policy makers, as well as how these mothers are perceived and treated by society. Although these stereotypes were formed over the past few decades, many, if not all, of them are still alive today. In order to understand why these labels continue to exist, it is helpful to examine the logic and reasoning behind their creation as well as the characteristics associated with each fake image. Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Dorothy Roberts both discuss African American mothers and are therefore important perspectives to consider in this analysis. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, American politician and sociologist, states in his report, The Negro Family: The Case for National Action (1965), that matriarchy is the main contributor to problems within the black family. He argues that the matriarch prevents the African American family from achieving equality since they exist in a family system that includes a strong presence of a father figure. Moynihan argues that "the black community has been forced into a matriarchal structure that... seriously retards the progress of the group as a whole" (Moynihan 21)....... middle of article ......ftery . “Family Structure, Educational Attainment, and Socioeconomic Achievement: Rethinking the “Pathology of Matriarchy”” American Journal of Sociology 105.2 (1999): 321-65. University of Washington. Internet. February 18, 2012. Hyman, Herbert H. and John S. Reed. “The Black Matriarchy” Reconsidered: Evidence from Secondary Analysis of Sample Surveys. " The Public Opinion Quarterly 33.3 (1969): 346-54. JSTOR. Web. February 19, 2012. Moynihan, Daniel P. " The Moynihan Report (1965). "The Black Past: Remembered and Recovered. Humanities Washington, 2007. Web. February 19, 2012. Roberts, Dorothy E. Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Freedom. New York: Pantheon, 1997. Print. Roberts, Dorothy E. “Punishing Drug Addicts for Having Babies: Women of Color, Equality, and the Right to Privacy,” Harvard Law Review, 7th Series, 104, May. (1991), 1419-482.. 2012.