African American Fatherhood Documentary

Documentary that disputes the stereotypes commonly associated with fatherhood in the Black community.

Tyrese Father's Day Poem: "I Am More Than Just A Man I'm A Father"

 Tyrese Gibson and his daughter Shayla

Tyrese is known around the world as an author, a singer and for his work in films such as Baby Boy and the Fast and the Furious series, but his self-proclaimed most important job he’ll ever have is that of a father. In celebration of Father’s Day, Tyrese took to his blog to express his feelings about being a dad:

On this day, we as fathers are celebrated around the world…

          I am more than just a man.. I am a father.

A boy is excited about the opportunity to be a dad.

          A father is more focused on the “Responsibility” of being a father.

         
          As a father it is a responsibility to create the standards in our kids’ lives,

          I am not just semen. I love you, and you love me and in our family

          we created “we” in our children…

          I am power, I am intelligence, I am education, I am integrity,

          I am God fearing spirituality,  I am consistent…

          As a father, sometimes I have to be away. I am constantly in the field

          hunting for my family’s survival.

          I am king therefore you are my queen. President Obama has created

          a new standard and removed every excuse a black man

          could ever have of NOT being a father…

     

          I am more than I appear to be, I am more than just a man.

I….AM….FATHER!!

          Fathers… Even though it seems like your effort is sometimes overlooked,

          God is watching and he knows your heart.

       

          To all of the REAL FATHERS around the world..

        

          Through good, bad or ugly relationships with the mother…

If you are NOT there for your kids, it is ONLY the kids that suffer in the end.

          Take a stand and do any means necessary to be a part of your kids lives.

God knows your heart… God bless all FATHERS around the WORLD for Father’s Day!

          Salute!!

#HAPPYFATHER'SDAY:^)8

Ashlyn's Smile: Robert Horry's Letter to his Daughter

Dear Ashlyn,

Your beautiful smile has always been my inspiration. Although I am the father, you were my teacher, my hope and incentive, and my role model -- to your brother Camron and mother, Keva, as well.

Born with courage and determination, you confronted and overcame the challenges of 1p36 deletion syndrome, a rare and disabling genetic disorder. My admiration for you is only outdone by your dazzling smile, immortal in my heart.

 

 

I know you were constantly in pain, but you always endured with a smile. You were physically challenged, but it never prevented you from spreading warmth and love with pride and confidence.

I wanted you to join the play of the other children on holidays, but that was my hardship -- you enjoyed the laughter and seized every moment.

The appreciation of life, however brief it may be, was your gift to us, your loving family. And we will always remember that endearing smile, a smile that was contagious and admired by all.

Houston was your home, the place where you underwent care and treatment and offered the same with your striking and infectious smile. My NBA career was a challenge because it kept me away from home, but no matter where I played -- Los Angeles or San Antonio -- my heart always remained in Houston. And I couldn't wait to visit so I could hold you. Daddy-daughter time was precious; I treasured our moments together and held onto your irresistible smile, my inspiration.

My retirement finally enabled me to join you, and I witnessed the fighter spirit daily. The things we take for granted -- breathing, eating, walking -- were your obstacles. But you faced every challenge with courage and that charming smile that made everything better.

You only had seventeen short years, not nearly enough time for me, but when I get angry, I think of your smile and the cheer you shared with everyone around you.

 

On this day, Father's Day, your spirit is watching over me and making sure we are all safe and warm. I know you are smiling on life, love and family, and waiting for us to join you. There will come a time when we will again see that engaging smile that brought us so much joy each day of your life.

In your loving memory, we will persistently seek to increase awareness of 1p36 deletion syndrome through your foundation. We will bring hope to others around the world, to the children who suffer from the same genetic disorder, and to those parents and families who share the same desperation.

As the clock ticks, we will nudge medical science with your courage and determination and hope and pray that your eternal smile will offer the comfort that inspired me each day of your beautiful life.

I will always love you.

Love, Dad

The Ashlyn Horry Foundation is committed to providing community initiatives focusing on youth disabilities and caregivers while providing resources for development and empowerment regardless of economic status, race, religion or creed.

http://www.ashlynhorryfoundation.org/

The Father Factor: How Absentee Fathers Affect The Relationships Of Young Women

Every so often the root of failed or dysfunctional relationships, poor decision making in men or self esteem issues plants itself as “Daddy issues” amongst women. Halle Berry most recently attributed her “I’m not the marrying type” confession to her long standing issues with her father; while Love & Basketball stars Chrissy Lampkin and Olivia share their sentimental stories of their fathers and how their behaviors shaped their lives.  According to some interesting findings, the relationship with your dad while growing up is one of the most powerful forces in your life as an adult. The state of that relationship guides your choices in love, work and how you treat yourself. Deep?, Let’s discuss.

The roles of fathers in the lives of little girls have been topics of debate and discussions for years. Studies have shown that girls who grew up with a father in the home were more likely to get better grades, go to college and get married. Of course other factors can play a role such as economic stability but there is something to be said about a positive male figure in the early years of a young girl’s life. To use myself as an example coming from a two-parent home with a father who provided for my mother and I, I grew up with an expectation and notion that men are suppose to provide for their family. Plus I wasn’t easily swayed by the antics and false promises made by boys who were trying to get only one thing, because I lacked for nothing. unfortunately many of my friends who didn’t have their fathers around fell prey to the “game” and ended up a baby mother or just plain ole bitter all before the age of twenty-five.

Father’s are the first men a young girl knows thus setting the stage for all the other men in her life. When this relationship never occurs, we have trouble navigating our “man map” and often end up on roads we rather have not discovered. Even as grown women there are “little girls” walking around inside of us with pain and yearnings for our fathers. Such manifestation comes through promiscuity, numerous failed relationships, poor decision when dating, lack of self worth, and insecurity to name a few. I’ve even been told by some women who knew their father but never had a meaningful relationship with them that they tend to choose men with the same qualities as their father even if those qualities are poor. Women are also prone to fall victim to the “if I give him all of me, he will love me forever” syndrome stemming from the underlining feeling of wanting approval and unconditional love from their dads.

If we put aside the statistics, studies and other analytical thoughts surrounding the importance of father’s in women lives and just focus on the common sense fundamental aspects of it like – how else would a young girl learn what the role of a father/husband  is if she never had or saw one? ; How would she know what love looks like from a man, if she never received loved from the first man in her life?; or how does she determine a future life partner if she never saw a successful one; maybe we can start paying closer attention to the choices we make and vow to break the cycle so our children can have better experiences. We can’t turn back the hands of time and rewrite our childhoods but what we can do is make better decisions as adults by being honest with our issues and making an effort to better our situations.  So on behalf of the Bitchie Ladies, I say to all the men out there, in the words of Jill Scott “We need you”

Written By Rashana Hooks @RashanaHooks