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Good Morning family and friends,

I orginally posted this message last year and thought it would be appropriate to repost this year in Honor of Father’s Day. There are still plenty of our men that have the formula down right!

I went to a wonderful training titled “Providing African-American Fathers Services to Build Father-Child Relationships: Everyday is Father’s Day”. In our society today, a lot of African-American fathers get a bad rap. It appears since the Cosby show left our television that positive Images of Black fathers are few and far between. The constant images on the news of gang violence, drug activity, deadbeat dads, deteriorating communities, uneducated Black boys/young men, over populated jails, disrespectful rappers, unfaithful athletes, Black on Black violence and reports of Black men on the endangered specious status, leave many people to believe that the fate of Black men is bleak at best. Therefore, when President Obama was running for office, words can barely express the feelings of excitement and pure joy that I felt. As a fellow Chicagoan like President Obama, he personally made me feel it was ok to reclaim my wonderful city Chicago! President Obama and his vision was just what I needed and what the doctor order. Mr. Obama was God-fearing, educated, smart, committed, loyal, a man of integrity, attractive, a good husband, a great father, a mentor, a community advocate and simply put a wonderful role model. Finally, an image of an African-American man who is accurate and positive. Thankfully, President Obama is not the only great Black man in Chicago/United States. Personally, I know several wonderful Black men who are great fathers starting with my daddy. My dad has been in my life since day one and as a child I could and currently can always count on Roosevelt rain or shine! My father was an excellent role model, provider and simply everything imaginable of what a father should be and do. My father made being a great dad seem so easy which in hindsight was an amazing task considering like President Obama, his dad was inactive in his life. So I decided today I would list 8 amazing African-American fathers that I know personally and encourage others around me to acknowledge the ones they know too! The media is accurate regarding some but trust there is another story that is positive to tell. The media do not have the whole real story!

My Personal List of Great African-American Fathers:

1. Roosevelt, my father is everything a great father should be (God-fearing, great listener, great provider, an advocate, a man of integrity, committed, fun to be with and smart).
   
2. Joseph, my husband is the most intelligent man on this earth. Joe has a brilliant mind, is a great father and husband. I love and appreciate his desire and determination to take care of our family. A man willing to sacrifice sleep and work so hard to ensure his family needs and wants are met. Plus, I have to mention Joe is an excellent cook and he cooks everyday for our family. In addition, words can not describe the absolute joy I feel when my husband holds our daughter. That man absolutely adores and loves his daughter and all of our children. A real Black man definitely takes cares of business. Although we certainly had struggles, I’m so thankful God sent me my husband on Morgan Park’s high school track one Sunday morning! I completely trust him and his vision for my family. I know this for sure because every time I follow him and go up and fly,I know 2 things for sure like Oprah, that God is real and that I trust my husband with my life.
   
3. Charles Glass, my cousin is such a hard worker and so INVOLVED in his children lives and activities. Coaching and being a wonderful father to his biological children and the ones he selected to adopt in his heart as his very own. Charles, remember every seed that we plant and nurture grows and flourish. No good deed is every lost and know that all of your hard work and sacrifice will pay off in the end. Charles you are also an amazing cook and make almost anything taste delicious.
   
4. Charles Frelix, my uncle is a great professor and simply a man who definitely took excellent care of his family and responsibilities.
   
5. Lee Pittman, my uncle name has got to be in the dictionary next to the word faithful. When my aunt had MS, was blind, could not walk and was terminal. My uncle was faithful and committed to his wife until she passed away and never complained. My uncle was her only care-taker and would take her to every event in a wheelchair and would be so excited and want to witness and tell you how good God was. It was simply amazing to witness his love and commitment to his deceased wife. Whenever, I see him I smile because I know for sure he is a wonderful man.
   
6. Earl Rowe, my father-in-law is just simply awesome. My father-in-law is in his 70′s and is highly educated with multiple master degrees and world traveled. I truly love talking to him and hearing his wonderful stories of childhood, being a principal, his views on parenting and making a difference in the world. His stories of how students have come back to him and told how he changed their life is so touching to hear!
   
7. Edward Watkins, my cousin Edward is a wonderful father and testament of what a Black Father is. My cousin raised 5 children alone when his wife decided she needed to be free. Edward raised children and cooked, cleaned and did hair. Edward loves God, is super intelligent and his memory almost has mine beat. When I wanted to start a mentoring program to assist at-risk youth Edward was right there and so supportive. Edward wasn’t only one of Chicago Finest Sergeants, or the most awesome Veteran to serve and protect but he is a great example of what a hard-working fathers can do and achieve. I admired how Edward set his standards high, welcomes a challenge and always have a desire to help and do more!
   
8. Pastor John Veal, my brother-law is a great visionary and absolutely loves and adores his family. It is so wonderful to know people like John who walks the walks and talk the talk. Not only is John a great servant for God, but he is a great husband, father, son, pastor, advocate, mentor and high school teacher at Fenger High School in Chicago.

In closing, I still could go on and on about the Wonderful Black Fathers I know personally such as Fatin Dantzler (aka from Kindred The Family Soul), Edward Travis, Art Sims, DCFS’s Douglas Washington, Comedian Jay Deep, Comedian Robert/ Stick, Robert Lee, Spoken word artist Odyssey, Devon Dickerson, Robert Thompson, DCFS’s Director Erwin McEwen, James Brooks, Marty Thomas, Reginald Crump, Keith Ward, Gregory Fields, Nathiel Ward, Earl Roberson, Alfred Thompkins, Troy Holt, Kinsley James, Bryan Johnson, Michael Hardrick, Ello Miller, Kenya Hayes, Marc Woods, Dwayne Dunnigan, Duncan Ward, Loren Hunley, Paul White, Eric Carter, Lord Byron Taylor, Erik Carthans, Dyrrah Christian, Officer John Woods, Eric Knox, Steve Rowe, Joseph Durr, Officer Hart, Mark Harris, Josiah Fuller, Darnell Williams, Daniel Barbour, Jay Thomas, Chaun Lewis, Maurice Coffey, Eric Beck, Jerry Walton, Pastor Frank Brim, Hershal Walton, Earl McDouglas, Bennie Parrot, Officer Chris Logan and Dr. Holloway to name a few and I still have many more I can think of. I just stopped at the Black Fathers, just imaged if I included the outstanding black men who just so happened to have not fathered a child biologically.

P.S. I have to mention that several of these men graduated from my beloved Lindblom Technical High School in the Englewood area of Chicago! LTHS/ Eagle men surely know how to be great dads, leaders and community advocates! They definitely pride themselves in being great agents of positive change and responsible MEN!