However, the latest information reveals that the stereotypical gender imbalance in this area doesn’t hold true and African American dads are just as hands-on when it comes to raising their children.
In fact, in its coverage of the study, the Los Angeles Times noted that the results, “defy stereotypes about black fatherhood,” because CDC officials found that African American dads are more involved with their children on a daily basis than fathers from any other racial group.
“It sort of reminds me of when The Cosby Show debuted 30 years ago. Some people, accustomed to seeing Black folks in subservient or clownish roles, didn’t think it was realistic enough,” said James Ragland, a Black columnist. “But all around me, even in my rural small town, there were plenty of families modeling the same parenting behavior: stable homes, disciplined children, caring parents.
“Yes, there still are too many broken homes and too many fathers not living with their children, especially in the Black community. But it’s high time to put this myth about the absent Black father to rest.”