Articles

There are many stories celebrating Black mothers. It is well known that Black women have for years, been the back-bone of their family and community. Yet we often do not take the time to celebrate, as often, the diligence and strength of our Black fathers.

I've said many times that white people are not our primary problem in the black community. Black criminals, bums, pimps, welfare maidens, uneducated dropouts, and sorry drug addicts are our problem. And it runs deeper than that. The lack of the male head, the father is a huge problem in the black community.

Some write and speak on the importance of embracing the historical contributions and legacies of our ancestors who were enslaved because of the significant role they played in shaping American society and culture. They emphasize the need of knowing where we come from in order to plant a stronger foot on the path to our future. However, few of us embrace the historical examples and legacies of family structure and life as set by our ancestors; in particular our male ancestors.

There are many stories celebrating Black mothers. It is well known that Black women have for years, been the back-bone of their family and community. Yet we often do not take the time to celebrate, as often, the diligence and strength of our Black fathers.

Recently I  saw a  MasterCard commercial in which a pre-teen son arrogantly "teaches" the father environmental lessons while grocery shopping. Right after the son shows dad the silly earth-preserving "importance" of buying a reusable grocery bag, the tagline appears: "Helping dad become a better man? Priceless."

Daniel Whyte III's father, Rev. Daniel White, Jr., was not a perfect man, but he loved his family dearly. And even though there were many problems in the family, Rev. White did what so many black fathers today do not do--he stayed with his family through thick and thin. This book is a tribute to him--a father who stayed.