Resisting Stereotypical Narratives About Black Fatherhood  

I lost my grandfather last month, and this will be the first Father’s Day that I cannot call him to tell him that I love him. He was 94 years old and had lived with dementia for about 8 years until he passed away in his home surrounded by our family. He was an exemplary father and grandfather — a Black father — who was filled with faith, integrity, resilience, and most of all Love. The type of Love that is transformative and unconditional. I have a deep sense of gratitude and peace when I see how many incredible fathers he inspired in our family and community. My father, being his son, has carried on his legacy of faith down to his last grandchild — my baby girl. My father often tells us about his intentional decisions about choosing to keep us in a Black or multiracial neighborhood, as opposed to being the only Black family in a suburban neighborhood. He had a keen understanding of racism in America, especially as an immigrant Black man, and partnered with my mother to shield us as much as they could from racial prejudice. As Black parents we do know, however, that systemic racism has been threaded through the fabric of our institutions and this has impacted the intimate spaces of our families.  When I look at the news and I hear reports of absentee fathers, and fatherless children, I am often disconcerted at how they miss the fathers in the Black communities like my grandfather. We are aware as Black parents what the stereotypes are about Black fatherh...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Family Racism Black Lives Matter father's day race Source Type: blogs