[Mr Roboto]

Families where the father is locked up or not present will automatically have children (particularly young males) much more prone to violent behavior, poor performance in school, and ultimately less chance of success. I think this weighs in the heaviest on these areas.

The presence of male role models, or lack thereof, and a well-structured family are ultimately the most important factor in the success of people coming out of these areas. The prevalence of father-less families is absolutely debilitating to any young children. The numbers back that up.

Perhaps that is where obama relates to some these young kids on the south side, he didn't have his father, but he had a very driven mother who stressed education and fairly stable grandparent situation and grew up in more stable areas. Even still, obama is remarkably exceptional.

My own personal situation: I grew up lower-middle class and without a father but in a fairly stable area, and a mother with a solid educational background. I also was easily influenced by peers, from similar broken family situations, and close to going down toward a path of negativity and recklessness. Eventually i was influenced to return to a more stable path of education and becoming a productive member of society, but it wasnt easy. Suffice to say, as a young man, a father would have played a strong role in keeping me straight as a youth.