Black Fathers Matter: A Celebration of Presence and Power

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard a father say, “Father’s Day just doesn’t hit the same.”

And they’re right — fathers, especially Black fathers, don’t always get the recognition they deserve.

Year after year, we see the Mother's Day commercials, brunches, and overflowing social media posts. While mothers absolutely deserve all that love and more, the contrast is stark when June rolls around. Father’s Day often gets reduced to jokes, last-minute cards, and recycled narratives about absentee dads.

But I want to pause and shine a light on the truth — the one that rarely makes headlines.

There are Black fathers who are active. Who are nurturing. Who are taking care of their children. Who are breaking generational cycles. Who are redefining fatherhood.

Despite what the numbers suggest — like the 64% of Black children growing up in single-parent homes — we must not let data overshadow reality. Many Black fathers are present. They are parenting, guiding, and loving their children with intention and care.

I’ve seen it firsthand. My son’s wrestling coach, a Black father himself, showed up not just for his own children, but for a team full of boys. He gave rides, coached games, and mentored kids on and off the field. He showed up with consistency and care and I know so many others just like him.

In preparing for this blog, I asked several amazing Black dads I know: “What does fatherhood mean to you?” Their reflections were honest and full of heart. They expressed a deep sense of responsibility — to teach, to guide, and to love. One said, “It means showing up even when you’re tired, because your child needs to know you’re there.” Another shared, “It’s the most important role I’ve ever had.”

These men aren’t perfect, but perfection isn’t the goal, presence is.

I’ve heard women say, “I was the mother and the father.” And while I honor the weight they carry, I also believe this sentiment unintentionally erases the role and value of fathers — especially those who are present and committed. We don’t have to diminish one to uplift the other.

I think about Kobe Bryant often. How he loved being a #GirlDad. How fatherhood lit him up in interviews. His legacy lives on not just in his athletic greatness, but in how he embraced being a father with pride and passion.

So this June, I’m choosing to celebrate.

To the amazing Black dads I know — the ones who read bedtime stories, coach teams, give tough love, paint pictures, and work late shifts to provide — I see you.

Black Fathers Matter.

Let’s say it louder this Father’s Day — and every day after.

Because the amazing Black dads I know? They’re showing up. And they deserve to be seen.