“When I was two years old, I lost my father to kidney failure. Without having any memories of my dad, I was totally impacted by his death. I did not have an in-home role model of a dad. I grew up, like many of my friends, in a fatherless home. But I work hard to be a present, hands-on dad. I hope people truly understand that they are accountable and can dictate their narrative. Yes, we are products of our environment, but we can change our future. Where you come from and the circumstances of your birth does not mean that your children have to share that fate. You can be the dad you did not have. You can be the dad you needed and wanted. Being a dad takes a lot of effort but is the single most important task that you will ever have. It is also the most rewarding. Great Black dads exist and need to be celebrated.”
