Dear Editor,

As we grapple with the challenges facing the black family, it’s essential to acknowledge the complex interplay of factors contributing to its disintegration.

While the media often portrays the absent black father as the primary culprit, it’s time to shine a light on the role of black women in perpetuating this social travesty. Specifically, the harmful practice of “jacketeering” — whereby a woman misrepresents a man as the father of her child — must be addressed and penalised. It’s called paternity fraud nowadays.

The importance of maintaining family structure cannot be overstated. Married couples can amass up to four times the wealth of their single or divorced peers, thanks to combined salaries, shared expenses, and economies of scale. Moreover, married partners can divide responsibilities in financially beneficial ways, such as sharing household duties to enable each other’s workforce participation. The benefits extend to children, who reap the rewards of a united family in terms of education and socio-economic outcomes.

Given these advantages, it’s puzzling that our society doesn’t hold women accountable for jacketeering, a practice that not only traumatises men but also destabilises the very fabric of the black family. This fraud, in which a woman misrepresents a man as the father of her child, should be criminalised. In fact, the state of Ohio in the US is considering treating false paternity as fraud — as are Florida, Tennessee, Texas, Georgia, and California — a move that sets a positive precedent. Finland, South Korea, and Switzerland are all countries that have implemented or are implementing legal remedies for paternity fraud.

In Jamaica, where this type of fraud is rampant, the lack of accountability has devastating consequences. According to The Gleaner, a staggering 70 per cent of Jamaican children are born out of wedlock, with many fathers unaware of their paternal responsibilities. This phenomenon not only perpetuates poverty but also fuels crime, as men who are misled into taking on financial responsibilities they didn’t agree to and are unprepared for may turn to illegal activities to make ends meet.

To address this issue, mandatory DNA testing at hospitals could be implemented, ensuring that paternity is established accurately and cheaply. This would not only prevent “jacketeering” but also enable men to make informed decisions about their lives and financial commitments.

Moreover, mothers who engage in jacketeering should be held accountable for their actions. Repayment of financial support, plus interest, is the minimum requirement. Additionally, criminal charges for fraud and misrepresentation should be levied against these women, serving as a deterrent to others who might consider engaging in this harmful practice.

Some may argue that punishing mothers for jacketeering would unfairly penalise the child. However, this perspective overlooks the long-term benefits of accountability and the importance of establishing paternity truth. Children have the right to know their biological fathers, and mothers who engage in paternity fraud deprive them of this fundamental right.

It’s time for our society to take a stand against this practice and hold both men and women accountable for their actions. By criminalising this harmful practice we can begin to reset morality, disincentivise fraud, and promote a culture of responsibility and accountability. Only then can we hope to rebuild the black family and create a more equitable society for all.

Yannick Nesta Pessoa

yannickpessoa@yahoo.com