The Influencer – Dads

“A house without a father is a challenge. A neighborhood without fathers is a catastrophe” (Alvin Poussaint)

It is probably no accident that Father’s Day only became a national holiday in 1972, 58 years after Mother’s Day received national recognition.

While most may not recognize it today, there was a time when the role of a Dad carried a lot of weight. His position as head of the household could not be usurped. If you had “lip” about something you were told to do, and choose not to do it…you better be ready for the ultimate faceoff. If you ever felt you were too old to follow his rules, he would be more than happy to show you the door.

Historically, it really did not matter whether your father was a janitor or a doctor, his role as your dad and father was unequivically respected. He is regarded as the protector, provider, adviser, role model and authority figure.

Unfortunately, Black men have been targeted by a racist system since the day African Americans were freed. The fact that slaves in Texas did not know for two whole years that they were free speaks VOLUMES! From Jim Crow segregation, mass incarceration, racial profiling, the introduction of drugs into their communities, lack of access to quality education and equal employment opportunities, it is amazing they have survived and continue to thrive in spite of never being given the opportunity to straighten their backs or lift their heads.

Ok, now I am getting ready to go out on a limb here but…I believe that sons NEED their fathers in their lives in order to learn how to become men. This was not always my opinion, but I must honor what I have been told by lots of young men. While Moms do a great job raising their sons, amazingly and like no body else, recent CDC statistical data reflects that:

– 71% of all children who dropout of high school;

– 90% of all kids who runaway and become homeless;

– 85% of all children with behavioral problems and mental disorders;

– 63% of all children who commit suicide; and

– 85% of all youth who end up in prison come from fatherless homes.

These embody the problems that JPI works to address through parent coordination. These are not bad kids. They are kids hurt and feeling abandoned with no hope for their future. The quote attributed to Hillory Clinton is actually an African proverb: “It takes a village to raise a child”  means that the entire community must interact and pour into them values and morals for those children to experience and grow in a safe and healthy environment…and fathers play an important role in that.

The system is built on dividing and conquering. Divorce plays a huge part in that. If the family continues to be destroyed, so goes your future and the future of our children.

If you or someone you know, is experiencing parenting issues, JPI is here for you. Contact gcarroll45@gmail or call 281-380-9694. Please do not wait another day risking your son or daughter becoming a statistic. They deserve better. Dads do make a difference.