Extended Families

      I wanted to touch on the importance of extended families. As I was reading the chapter, the idea of familial ties aroused in my thoughts as I was reminded of the necessities of extended family ties within some households. While taking a psychology class some semesters back concerning the family and the changing of familial roles within and outside the household, I discovered some families rely more heavily on extended family ties and maintaining those ties. For instance, pooling of income from outside the immediate family unit into the extended family was greatly important for African Americans. However, this was less important for White American households. I am a witness to this particular family construct. In my family, which is clearly an African American family, my aunt's, uncles, and cousins are seen as viable members to our family so much so that my relationship with my cousins are similar to brothers and sisters. However, upon coming to college and baring witness to similar ties between to family ties between White family members the bind seemed or appeared less significant. Also I was reminded within the chapter on kinship of how important managing ties outside of one's family are also very important, and are the most fragile to maintain. however, because they require so much "workmanship" they are some of our most strongest ties. I was reading and I immediately thought of my sorority as a prime example of this particular relationship.