Tag: black fathers
Advertisers Are Still Selling the Myth of the Missing Black Father
Television commercials have often depicted fathers in Black families as “missing,” failed to highlight their daily contributions, and reinforced the damaging perception that Black fathers are absent and disengaged. This falsehood doesn’t stay on the screen. It follows Black fathers into schools, hospitals, courtrooms, child welfare systems, social service agencies, workplaces, and even into their own homes, where children are still trying to understand how the world sees the men who love them.
Addressing the Crisis of Black Maternal Health: A Critical Role for Black Fathers
Experts link dire outcomes for Black women to systemic racism, limited health care access, and chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension. While data quantifies the crisis, many personal stories indicate that Black women are dying in childbirth because their voices are often ignored.
Black fathers are an untapped resource often overlooked when considering support systems for Black mothers during labor and delivery.
But with increased recognition, proper guidance, education about health care systems, and knowledge of what to ask medical staff, Black fathers can offer crucial support. Their understanding of the specific needs Black mothers face during pregnancy positions them to advocate effectively, provide reassurance, and navigate medical situations.
Black Fathers Are Blocked, Not Missing: What Fulton County Teaches America About Father Engagement
Our study asks a question that the responsible fatherhood and human services fields sometimes avoid because it’s inconvenient: If we say fathers matter, why are so many systems designed as if they don’t?
Those that truly want to engage fathers must adopt a simple discipline: Stop confusing outcomes with intent. If a father is not consistently present, ask what has been blocking him before you make assumptions or lean on stereotypes.
Moynihan Institute Research Shows How Black Fathers Are Naturally Closing the Father–Daughter Divide
Father-daughter relationships can become strained or estranged more often than other parent-child bonds, and many adult daughters report discomfort in sharing personal issues with their fathers. It’s painful to read because it’s familiar. The daughter feels unseen. The father feels uninvited. Both are telling the truth, and the gap remains.
But our research shows what Black fathers are already doing – quietly, intentionally, and often without applause.
Dads, Let’s Hold the Line for Our Sons Until They Can Hold It for Themselves
One of the best gifts a father can give a son is a stable place to land. A place where the boy does not have to earn love with his stats. A place where he can be honest about fear and still feel respected. A place where he can hear, “I’m proud of your effort,” and also hear, “Now let’s get back to work.” These combinations are how boys learn that love is not fragile and standards are not cruel.
So what does encouragement look like in practice, beyond good intentions? Here’s what dads and others can do to instill belief and confidence in our boys.
Reclaiming the Narrative of Black Fatherhood
What we need now isn’t another study, stereotype, or headline. We need space for honest conversations across generations, households, and experiences. We need to celebrate the fathers doing the work and support the ones who are still fighting to get there.
We need to reclaim our narrative not as a rebuttal, but as a declaration. Black fatherhood has never needed saving. It has only needed witnessing.
When Fatherhood Requires a Court Order: What Georgia Must Fix Now
For the first time in years, lawmakers gathered publicly to confront an issue many Georgians have never even heard of—legitimation.
The Maze of Fatherhood: Why Georgia Must Reform Legitimation Now
In Georgia, a child born to unmarried parents is not automatically granted the legal right to both parents. While this may come as a surprise to many, to the thousands of fathers served by Fathers Incorporated, it’s a harsh and often heartbreaking reality.
Gratitude for the Viral Coverage of Our Fatherhood Program Graduation
This viral moment, which reached nearly 4 million potential impressions when we shared it on social media, but has since topped 9.7 million, didn’t happen overnight. It results from 20 years of unwavering commitment, love, and labor poured into the lives of fathers and families across Metro Atlanta and beyond.
Why Are We Coming for LeBron and Bronny? The Hypocrisy of Black Fatherhood in America
LeBron James is a father before he is a basketball player, before he is a businessman, and before he is a global icon. And like any father, when you come for his child, you will get a response.
Do Parents Have a Favorite Child? The Truth About Black Fathers and Their Daughters
by Kenneth Braswell, CEO, Fathers Incorporated There are moments in parenthood when our children challenge our perceptions, forcing us to confront truths we might otherwise ignore. In […]
How Companies Depict Black Fathers in TV Commercials
Researchers from the Moynihan Institute for Fatherhood Research and Policy are hosting a critically important webinar: “Can You See Me Now? A Closer Examination of Black Fathers in Television Commercials.” A must-attend event for anyone interested in media representation of Black fathers and families, the presentation is based on Moynihan Institute’s qualitative study measuring attitudes and reflections about Black fathers in television commercials.
Stop Shaming Black Men and Address the Real Barriers to Voting and Fatherhood
Vice President Harris’s Opportunity Agenda is the latest of many attempts to address some of these challenges and focus on economic opportunities for Black men.
Nepotism and Black Fatherhood: Which Way You Want It — Dads In or Dads Out?
In the 2024 NBA Draft, the 55th pick was none other than Bronny James, son of NBA legend LeBron James. Usher’s acceptance speech for the BET Lifetime Achievement Award offers a profound reflection on the complexities and importance of Black fatherhood.
The Evolution of Employment for Black Men: From Historical Struggles to Modern Opportunities
Challenges, evolution, and resilience punctuate the employment story for Black men in America. These men have navigated changing labor landscapes over the decades, confronting racial disparities, economic downturns, and societal shifts.