Good Black fathers do exist.
There is a misconception that Black fathers are absent from the lives of their children. It’s just one of many stereotypes faced by Black men.
However, studies have shown that Black men are more involved in their children’s lives than other groups.
According to the Center for Disease Control’s National Center for Health Statistics,
“Black fathers (70%) were most likely to have bathed, dressed, diapered or helped their children use the toilet every day compared with white (60%) and Hispanic fathers (45%).
Black fatherhood looks different for everyone. Some men grew up having a strong relationship with their dad and others didn’t.
Local comedian Mark Caesar said his relationship with his father shapes how he interacts with his four children.
“My father wasn’t present, which was a big thing in my life,” Caesar said. “But that experience had me to know that I didn’t want to be that father with my kids. I wanted to always be the father that’s present.”
Pat Reynolds, a father of a 16-month-old girl, describes fatherhood as being a lifelong coach. He said he wants to help his daughter navigate the challenges of life and make the right decisions as she gets older.
“Ultimately my goal is for my daughter to have heaven on earth, but the thing about that is, she has free will,” Reynolds said. “So it’s my job to sit here and try to coach her into the what, the how and the recommendations” for life.
Along with Caesar and Reynolds, Verite talked to other fathers, including Alvarez Boyd III and Jeffery Daniels, about fatherhood, being a Black father and what Father’s Day means to them.
Source: Verite, Author: Nigell Moses
