Black Fathers Matter!!!

How you doing today? How has your week been? I know this is my 8th time showing up in your inbox this week (wow just typing that feels like a lot), but I appreciate you being open to me showing up so frequently because of Black Maternal Health Week. This is the last time I will be showing up in your inbox until next month (unless you're signed up for the MOM newsletter), but I wanted to still write you a proper newsletter since you subscribe for the monthly content. Today, we are talking about the importance of Black Fathers! How they matter, and why they shouldn’t be forgotten. Yes, I know we focus on motherhood here, but Fathers are indeed important to and can often compliment motherhood. So on the heals of Black Maternal Health Week, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the Black fathers that are present in their children’s lives.

Watching the relationship between my girls and my husband has been one of the joys and highlights of motherhood. Because I didn’t grow up with my father in my life, I am able to witness the beauty of and experience I never had. And although it’s a story that many Black children experience, the absence of their father, it is NOT the story of ALL Black children. However, society will have people believe that Black fathers are just not around. On the contrary, there are LOTS of Black fathers who are VERY present figures in their children’s lives, and it’s important for us to acknowledge and recognize these men for taking on the incredible job of fatherhood.

For our Black boys, having a father present in their lives does many things. The presence of a Black father shows Black boys how to grow up and be men in this society. It also shows our Black boys how to navigate and maneuver through a society that doesn’t value Black men. Our Black boys can learn strength from the presence of a father, they learn how to have courage, and they also learn how to use their voices to speak up.

For our Black girls, when their father is present in their lives, they also can learn many things as well. They learn that they are worthy of a certain level of protection, that only a Black father can give them. Our Black girls also learn how to develop strength and courage from a different approach and perspective. The presence of a Black father teaches Black girls how they should be treated in a relationship when they get older. It also shows our Black girls that they are worthy of being cherished and respected.

These are just some of the reasons that the presence of Black fathers is important. And no, I am not naive to the fact that there are single mothers out there carrying the load of raising children alone, I grew up in a single mother home. But, today I felt the need to focus on Black fathers after we spent a week focusing on Black mothers. There is no Black Paternal Health Week that exist, because again Black fathers are often overlooked. 

And incase you were wondering what about the Black fathers that don’t show up in these positive ways, again that’s not our focus today! Too often in society negativity is put onto the Black man/father, where it takes away the moment to actually acknowledge the Black fathers that are consistently showing up and pouring into their children. I know WAY more Black fathers that are doing an excellent job in their fatherhood than the ones I know who are not. Until the next time I decide to show up in your inbox, make sure you do something that will help you Bloom Into Your Best Self. . .