The indisputable importance of Black fathers

By Walter Fields Walter Fields is pursuing his doctoral degree in applied sociology and social justice at Morgan State University. Beginning in 1954, America’s conception of a “good father” was through the lens of White patriarchy. Actor Robert Young’s portrayal of the fictional Jim Anderson in “Father Knows Best” established the defining qualities of an American father – White, middle class, white collar and hardworking, dominant and all-knowing. This typology was reinforced by subsequent television series, such as “Make Room for Daddy,” “My Three Sons,” “The Andy Griffith Show,” “Bachelor Father,” “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father” and “The Brady Bunch.” It was not until actor John Amos’ role as James Evans in television’s “Good Times” in 1974 that popular culture acknowledged the presence of Black men as the head of the household, while also being a caring and loving spouse. For much of the 20th century Black men were depicted in the media as estranged from their children, uncaring and irresponsible in their role as fathers. Critics of Black family life have cited Black male incarceration and unemployment rates, high school dropout data for young Black men, and Black teenage parental birth rates as evidence of the irresponsibility of Black...