So today, this year, this time around, take a moment to reflect on what kind of dad you've been thus far, if you're pride is motivated by unconditional love, support and guidance. Or if your intention is to simply feed your ego for the sake of image without questioning whether or not your child is presenting him or herself in a manner that enhances us, as a people.
Ask yourself if your definition of 'dad' compliments the Community or adds to the bafoonery we see in our hood. Are you satisfied with what you see? Do you tolerate our boys walking around with their pants down and showing their underwear, to the point where they're now learning to walk like toddlers all over again? Do you notice how so many of our girls have gone from wearing long weaves to now long wigs? Have you reminded them that there was a time when Blacks were forced to 'look White' by wearing wigs? Do you see the emphasis on bling and street culture? Are you teaching your child that street culture is not Black culture? Are you teaching yourself that?
This is what Black fatherhood is all about, to me. Tieing in universal standards of what a great dad is and does with the realities of racism, poverty and victim mindset. In my first book, Before You Fly Off - Vol. One, I list what most dads want from their teenage daughters, in particular, while adding what I want from my daughter, including not supporting Rap artists who disrespect females, being both book-smart and street-smart, dressing in a way that compliments our race, encouraging Black boys to read more, and more reflecting, less re-acting.
This is also a time when I run into fathers who, because of family court struggles and unresolved issues with the mothers, cannot see their sons and daughters and how that pains them. So this one's for y'all....I been there. But there comes a time when you just gotta get out of YOUR way and let the Universe do her thing!!!
These, my dearest
Are the reasons why I want you with me
Green eyed monsters, spiders and snakes
You can give them to me
Smiling faces
With hints of falsity
When they greet you
You can stay close to me
In my aloneness
I pray that God helps you remember your father
That my good intentions matter
Because I care for you
I fight for you
These, my dearest
Are the reasons why I want you with me
No more an angry young man
I don’t fly off without listening
It was all the fighting
Cutting through summer
That gave me the courage to hold you
When you were just an infant
Oh, I had plans for you!
I still hold them true
These, my dearest
Are the reasons why I want you with me
And all those harsh words you were forced to hear?
Tell your mama
I’m setting them free.
Besides George Carlin (R.I.P.), Jason's the only White kat I know who can talk about racism openly and honestly. I think it's extremely important to have at least one White ally or you stay stuck on anger mode. But once you make a real connection with any White person you realize how much bigger the world is. I keep a photo of Jason on my wall so that I don't hate all White people. Just like I remind myself of who mostly attended anti-apartheid rallies, show up at jazz concerts and support grassroots art, to stop myself from generalizing. White folks have the luxury of never having to think about their skin color. They just live their lives. That's the discrepancy.
Thanks to my own dad, I managed to grow up in a home that encouraged getting out of our boxes and learning other people and ways. You don't grow, if you don't. You become stagnant and closed-minded. You start dictating how the world should be according to your very limited eyes. All the good stuff needed to become a proud racist! My father used to say America creates bigots. She can't help it. It's part of the original plan. So he ran off to Canada like a lot of other expatriates did....
They cannot take what you mean to me
And son, they never will
This was written way before I learned to disappoint you
So you could learn to let go what you can't possibly control
But it might help you to know
I’m by your side
Fighting off ill wishes and beautiful lies
A promise I made to myself
The day you cursed me goodbye
But the pain was never yours
And I want to see you smile
The pain was never yours
Catch you every time.*
*From my book, The Dredlocks Tree
Happy Father's Day, dad.
I'm a stubborn mothafucka but
you catch me
every time!
Thank you!!!
I love you.
