Some kids would wish the pandemic lockdown never ended because that was the first time they spent extended quality time with their father. The absence of fathers in the formative years of children is creating a public health emergency marked by rising mental health concerns, teenage pregnancies, and juvenile crimes.
But what does being an involved Black father really mean? Although physical presence is an important part of being an involved Black father, there is more to it.
Sadly, that is all some of us offer when it comes to being involved. But, being an involved Black father is not only beneficial to the children but also to the father. If you have been struggling with being an involved Black father to your children, we will show you how it’s done and why you need to get involved.
The barriers to being an involved Black father
Poverty sits at the top of the list of barriers to being an involved Black father. To meet family needs, some of us work multiple jobs that spare only a few hours a day to be with families. Sadly, the children in most cases may have slept when their father is off work.
A 2013 publication in the Journal of Child Poverty said 39% of Black children grow up in families living below the poverty level compared to 18% of white children. That figure would likely be higher now considering the rising cost of living.
Compounding the problem is the racial bias in the criminal justice system. According to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), a Black person is five times more likely to be stopped by the police compared to a white person. Also, 65% of Black adults have felt targeted based on their race compared to 35% of Latino and Asian adults.
The benefits of being an involved Black father
A Father’s Place, a nonprofit focused on fatherhood, published a report that show the important role of an involved father in the life of their children. According to the publication, children with involved fathers are:
- Two times more likely to attend college,
- 80% less likely to be incarcerated, and
- 75% less likely to become pregnant as teens
On the other hand, children without involved fathers make up 71% of all high school dropouts, 90% likely to be homeless or runaway, and makeup 63% of youth suicides. Being an involved father also has its benefits on the father including helping them to set goals and achieve greater success, adopting healthy habits, and increasing self-esteem.
How to be an involved Black father
A large number of Black men stumble into parenting unprepared. Pew Research Center released a report in 2011 that showed 72% of Black fathers have had a child out of wedlock. Sadly, incarceration removes a large number of the young Black men (including a good percentage of those who may have had a child out of wedlock) from their communities, automatically making them absent from their child’s life.
A December 2023 report by the National Fatherhood Initiative showed that 47.5% of Black children (or 5.3 million children) lived without a resident father, the lowest since 1973. Children who grew up with their dad’s involvement are more likely to thrive socially, emotionally, and physically. If you are struggling to get involved as a Black father, here is a list of dos that will get you started.
Physical support
While providing for the family is an important part of being involved, separated couples still pay child support meaning providing alone is not enough. Bathing, dressing, and helping your child with the toilet all contribute to the child’s psychological well-being.
It is important to mention that if you are doing all these, you are not alone. The National Health Statistics Report by the CDC shows that 70% of Black fathers play these roles which is higher than 60% of white and 45% of Hispanic.
Mental support
Having someone to talk to is mentally soothing. Black fathers can provide mental support to their children through active listening, participating in play activities, and engaging in open communication. All these create a safe space for children to express themselves and build better judgment skills freely.
Providing mental support leads to improved mental capacity in children. Studies have shown that children with involved fathers tend to develop superior problem-solving and adaptive skills.
Build healthy behavior
Children learn passively from their parents. From the importance of exercising to how to relate with others, children learn by imitating their fathers—especially in regard to how they treat their mothers and those around them.
A father’s character tends to affect how a girl child relates with others while a male child will often seek approval from his father. In the absence of the father, the children will tend to look for another male figure to fill that role.
Children feel more secure when their father is present. While being present remains a great challenge, we urge all Black fathers to do their best to be present in the development of their children. The love and cooperation we desire from our children will come naturally when we are present in their developmental years.
Not being an involved father can have profound effects on children’s mental, emotional, and physical health, contributing to increased rates of behavioral issues and poor academic performance. This lack of engagement can perpetuate cycles of disadvantage, impacting not only individual families but also communities. Fixing the rising societal rot starts with fixing our families.
Addressing this issue is crucial for public health, as involved fatherhood is linked to better outcomes for children, including lower rates of substance abuse and crime. Elevate Black Health urge you to foster supportive environments for fathers, brothers, and sons—we can promote healthier families and ultimately improve overall public health.
For more reading
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr071.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3728162
https://naacp.org/resources/criminal-justice-fact-sheet