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“Black fatherhood is an incomparable gift to Black men that truly comprehend what it means to be called dad, daddy, father or pops. What a privilege it is to raise a child with patience, understanding, communication, support, encouragement, friendship, guidance and unconditional love. It is an absolute honor,” author Stephanie Lahart said.
The Black father.
They are the men destined to protect, nurture and provide. Wipe the tears away and give love. But what happens when Father’s Day celebrations are likely to not be thought of due to fathers who might not be in their children’s lives? Or what about the ones who are in their sons and daughters’ lives but are still being told that they don’t do enough to support them?
According to the https://krfoundation.org/, it’s too common that stereotypes of Black fathers are used to hearing instead of the facts, which promote more bias over the truth.
Studies from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services show that fathers matter to society “because they matter to the well-being of their children.”
Even more research indicates that their offspring do better across all aspects of their lives when their fathers are active, loving and supportive of them — even if they do not live in the same household. On the flip side, though, when fathers fail to show up for their children or are spotty in their presence with their children, the child’s well-being suffers.
Census reports state that in 1968, 85 percent of children under 18 lived with two parents, regardless of marital status; by 2020, 70 percent did.
When it’s broken down even further, those figures reveal that about 50 percent of African American boys under age 17 live with a mother only, compared with 16 percent of their white counterparts.
While experts note that having a father in the household, or in a child’s life, is vital to the growth and support of a child, when that is not the case, it is important for children to have even greater community support.
And while experts also agreed that extracurricular activities like sports or arts programs where boys are connected with a positive male figure are important, sometimes that is not always a reality. Some people might not be aware of these opportunities and sometimes transportation hurdles are present.
University of North Carolina associate professor Wizdom Powell said there is a major need for a “community of male social fathers.”
“This is village work — father, mother, brother, sister, aunt — we need everybody, all hands-on deck, to raise healthy successful boys,” Powell said.
For those who are on the right track raising their sons and daughters, or getting back on the right path, continue the good work.
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