Carib News, through the years, has made a special effort to pay tribute to fathers and the significant role they have played in our community, the role of being a guiding light to their families and the community, the force of their presence in providing resources and direction, the resolve of overcoming challenges and being available in different circumstances, to the wellbeing of our community. We see this as a quality that should be recognized and celebrated; and so as we celebrate Father’s Day this year, we come to again pay tribute to the fathers in our communities. We have called them Fabulous Fathers, Men of Distinction and various other titles,
but they are all there working to advance the well-being of a community and working to provide for families and communities. Former president of the United States, Barack Obama launched in his time in the White House, The White House Fatherhood and Mentoring initiative, a program to support fathers and fatherless families.
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The White House recognized Carib News and its program of tribute to Fathers, and the Obama Initiative recognized what he called fathers as agents of change and he wanted to celebrate and define them, define the critical roles that fathers play in their children’s lives and in their children’s relationship with others.
The President’s initiative was saluted and welcomed because of what has been sometimes the negative outlook of Black fathers.
Despite all the articles and stories to the contrary, black fatherhood and its role on children and family, there is no doubt that Black Fathers matter to their families despite biased research and studies that may say differently. The general idea that black families without fathers are a common occurrence and a typical stereotype of black men absent in their family, the truth is, according to the National Institute of Health, the majority of black fathers live with their children.
The same studies show that black fathers are more likely to feed, bathe, dress, and play with their children on a daily basis than their white counterparts. Moreover, the reason for the absence of Black fathers is yet another result of the systemic racism that we have been faced with since slavery. Black men are overrepresented in jails and imprisoned across the country because while black men and women make up 20% of the population in the United States, black men make up over 35% of incarcerated persons.
Not to mention the issue of police brutality on black men and women and the impact it has on black families. The systematic structural racism is yet another factor that helps to promote the issue of families being raised by single mothers with the absence of black fathers. So rather than examining the systemic white supremacy system that is so often imposed on the composition of the black family, the absence of black fathers, that the issue of black fathers within the community is one that shows by all studies that there is a high quality of relationship between black fathers, their children and in their household, and remains a key part of the child’s welfare and the community wellbeing.
So as we celebrate Father’s Day, let us celebrate our own Black fathers with the highest respect and the highest regard for their resourcefulness, persistence and determination in overcoming many of the challenges that they face on a day-to-day basis that is not imposed upon white fathers, black fathers today are engaged with their children and their families and are examples of wellbeing within our communities. Black Fathers matter today and need to be celebrated, and so we take time out to celebrate outstanding fathers.
We believe it’s vital to say thanks and to celebrate the outstanding contribution of fathers, not just to their children’s lives, but to their community, to the city, state, and country.
Happy Father’s Day!
