72%

2014 • 57 minutes

About this movie

Baby mamas, single mothers, deadbeat dads, absent fathers: these polarizing terms are commonplace in today's African-American community. Nearly 72% of black children are born out of wedlock, most raised by single mothers. Why is it that black men continue to neglect their parental responsibilities?
Through the perspective of various experts, 72% looks into the reasoning behind the rise of single mothers in the African-American community. The film investigates the effects that colonization and slavery have had on the black family unit, which was once solid and intact. Today's media is inundated with stories of black single mothers, child support cases, and so-called "welfare queens." The African-American community at large has clapped back at criticism from Don Lemon, Rush Limbaugh, Fox News reporter Ben Carson, and even Black leaders like Bill Cosby and President Barack Obama. 72% provides a raw and analytical view of the media's portrayal of this phenomenon in regards to African-American households. Single black mothers chime in to tell their stories from their vantage point. Cameras follow one single mother of three as she changes hats from full-time employee to full-time caretaker in order to provide and care for her children on her own. 72% leaves no rock left unturned as it seeks to expose this issue from all perspectives and compel viewers to reconstruct the African American family from the ground up.

Ratings and reviews

This film did a good job of addressing the real issues of single motherhood and single parenting in general. I really appreciate the emphasis on the importance of autonomy and accepting responsibility for our life's outcomes. Being a single mother is unfortunate in any circumstance, but we have the power to make a change.

This film digs deep into the cause and effect of absent fathers in the African American community. People need to accept the fact - we are the only ones who can help our-self - we can not depend on the state to help us. If we depend on the government, we will never have enough. If you can't live an independent life - then it will be hard to teach our child independence.

Thes men need to be men. They do it to themselves