"I don't think there is such a definition of a perfect family, but I do think that our marriages are in crisis. Our families are in crisis. And I think the African-American family is at one of the worst stages it's been at in a very long time in this country. Fatherlessness is rampant"

In this quote, Leah Ward Sears is expressing her belief that there is nobody specific meaning of a perfect household. Nevertheless, she also acknowledges that marital relationships and families in general are facing a crisis. She specifically discusses the African-American household, specifying that it is presently in a state of crisis and has been for a long period of time in the United States. Sears points out that one of the significant problems pestering the African-American household is the absence of fathers, which she refers to as being widespread. This quote highlights the difficulties and has a hard time faced by families, particularly those in the African-American neighborhood.