"The African-American Guide to Divorce & Drama: Breaking Up Without Breaking Down" Helps Couples Weather Divorce With Less Disruption

1
"The African-American Guide to Divorce Drama
Breaking Up Without Breaking Down" Helps Couples
Weather Divorce With Less Disruption
1888PressRelease - New book examines unique
cultural and social factors that play a role in
African-American separation and
divorce. Chicago, IL - Divorce is an
all-too-common reality in our world today, with
more than half of all African-American marriages
in the U.S. now ending in divorce. A new book by
prominent Chicago African-American family
attorney Lester L. Barclay examines this state of
affairs and offers solutions to minimize the
after effects of divorce. The African-American
Guide to Divorce Drama Breaking Up Without
Breaking Down provides strategies to weather
divorce more gracefully, causing less drama and
disruption for all parties touched by this
stressful life event, especially for the
children. "Though partners may fail at
marriage, they need not also fail at divorce,"
counsels Attorney Barclay. He notes the unique
cultural components underlying most
African-American divorces and separations. These
black cultural and social factors often
exacerbate the "drama" of divorce in the black
cultural experience The reluctance of some
black people to seek or submit to mental health
therapy for themselves or their children The
very significant role of African-American
churches and ministers in the lives and
experiences of many divorce litigants, a role
acknowledged by many judges
The high unemployment rate among black men, a
cultural and social reality affecting child
support payments which often must be spread to
multiple children of different mothers
2
The high rate of black male incarceration that
impacts relationships, marriages, divorce and
child-related issues Domestic violence and
abuse among African-Americans that is unreported
or insufficiently dealt with by authorities and
that affects the emotional state and best
interests of children A matriarchal family
structure in the African-American experience,
where black women disproportionately lead
families and shoulder responsibilities Parents
or step-parents who typically discipline children
by spanking or other corporal techniques while
showing strong support, compassion and
love Divorce matters disrupting extended family
relationships, impacting in-laws, friendships and
social gatherings A judicial system that may
manifest biases against non-white litigants and
litigators Limited knowledge of or access to
culturally competent legal representation in the
divorce process The African-American Guide to
Divorce Drama Breaking Up Without Breaking
Down is a comprehensive book on divorce tailored
to the black community. This detailed guide
skillfully shepherds readers through the often
painful process of separation and divorce while
seeking to minimize the drama for them and their
children. "The purpose of this book has always
been to empower black folk to successfully
navigate through what is often among the most
trying times of their lives," says Barclay.
"While there are many services that help prepare
couples for marriage, the same does not hold true
on the opposite end. I want to use this as an
opportunity to get the message of finding a
better path directly to the people who need it
most and meet them where they are."
"The African-American Guide to Divorce Drama
Breaking up without Breaking Down is just what
most attorneys who handle such cases have been
waiting for to serve as a reference for clients
about to go through this experience of divorce or
separation," says E. Faye Williams, MPA, Ph.D.,
D.Min., Esq., National Chair, National Congress
of Black Women, Inc. "Thank you for this great
guide. If followed, it will save couples a lot of
heartache, indecision and money!"
3
The groundbreaking tools and information provided
in The African-American Guide to Divorce Drama
Breaking Up Without Breaking Down serve as
supplements to the services provided by divorce
attorneys and have been created to show readers
how to make the divorce process as peaceful as
possible. Regardless of where readers are in the
divorce process, Barclay reminds them that it's
not too late to impact the outcome and the
long-term effects the process will have on the
children involved. The African-American Guide
to Divorce Drama Breaking Up Without Breaking
Down is available in hardcover and as an ebook
from Khari Publishing, Ltd., at
http//www.divorceanddrama.com. About The
Author Lester L. Barclay is the managing partner
of the Barclay Law Group in Chicago, Illinois. A
graduate of Oberlin College and Case Western
Reserve University School of Law, he has
practiced matrimonial law since 1985. In that
time, he has earned a sterling reputation as a
skilled litigator who seeks to maintain the
family's integrity during and after divorce. In
addition to his law practice, Barclay is a legal
advocate for the disadvantaged and a helpful
mentor to young attorneys. He also has been
actively involved in civic affairs, serving as
president of both the Chicago Office of Tourism
and Culture and the Christian Community Health
Center in Chicago, and he is a member of the
Illinois African-American Family Commission.
His passionate calling is to help children who
are so often the collateral damage in custody and
divorce matters. Frequently, the court appoints
him Guardian Ad Litem to protect the interests of
children in marital breakups. Lester L. Barclay
lives in Chicago with his wife, Dr. Sue Barclay,
and their three children.