Happy Father’s Day! Today is the day to shower dads with love, spend time together and create memories. As the largest Black-owned bank, we have a message to our dads who make the world a brighter place!
Dear Black fathers, our #BlackKings, you are an integral part of our community and prove that in #BlackLove, we have unmatched strength. Stereotypes and systems cannot erase the value you provide to your families and our collective community.
The prevailing narrative that paints Black fathers as being absent and uninvolved cannot be further from the truth. Black fathers exist, are invested in their families, and are working to build wealth and wellness in our communities!
A popular stereotype places the blame on Black fathers for the lack of school-related socio-economic success in Black families. This National Health Statistics Report would beg to differ:
- “A larger percentage of black fathers (41%) had helped their co-residential children with homework every day in the last 4 weeks compared with Hispanic (29%) or white (28%) fathers.”
What does this stat tell us? When Black fathers are present, they are involved in supporting their children’s academic ambitions!
This stereotype also suggests Black fathers are not familiar with quality family time. Again, data proves Black fathers exist in the household and are very much acquainted with family time. So, try again!
- Black fathers (70%) were most likely to have bathed, dressed, diapered, or helped their children use the toilet every day compared with white (60%) and Hispanic fathers (45%).
Black fathers are involved in the everyday, precious moments that define parenthood. Whether children succeed is often defined by external, structural factors that counteract even the best, more present parents.
Many of the factors that remove fatherhood from our community sit at the feet of systemic racism. Modern American slavery, otherwise known as the industrial prison complex, and systemic racism, are just two ways Black men are impacted.
- One out of every three Black boys born today can expect to be sentenced to prison, compared to 1 out of 6 Latino boys, and one out of 17 white boys.
This NAACP stat is not fixed, it can be changed by challenging the systemic racism that keeps the Black family from reaching its full potential.
Not only are Black fathers present, but they also embody the prototype of community leaders and caretakers. Yes, you heard it here, #BlackKings are always in their winning season.
Some father and son duos champion financial literacy, hoping to shift the wealth story for underserved communities.
Some fathers make an investment move that harkens back to “40 acres and a mule” by buying 40 acres of land for their son’s birthday.
These both are prime examples of how Black fathers are building ownership and teaching generational wealth!
Navigating fatherhood as a Black man is not an easy task. Black fatherhood doesn’t all look the same either. Each family’s story is unique, however, it’s the same kind of love that holds us all together.
The little things, like hugs, movie nights, time in nature, reading books, and preparing food make fatherhood joyful. Joy is our right and love is our anchor.
Our hope is that Black fathers all over the world this Father’s Day receive the #BlackLove and #BlackJoy they deserve for being some of the best dads out there!
