“It Takes A Village” Exploring the Role of Otherfathers in African Communities in the Diaspora

1. “It Takes A Village” Exploring the Role of Otherfathers in African Communities in the Diaspora Dr. WandaThomasBernard

2. Overview • Introduction • Study Findings • Dispelling the Myths About Black Fathers • The Politics of Black Fatherhood • Father Absence • Otherfathers in Black Communities • Implications for Policy and Practice

3. Introduction • RESEARCH STUDIES • SURVIVAL AND SUCCESS: AS DEFINED BY BLACK MEN • HISTORY: BLACK FATHERS AND SONS ACROSS GENERATIONS • INTERROGATING AND SUPORTING BLACK FATHERHOOD • RACISM, VIOLENCE AND HEALTH STUDY

4. Introduction cont’d • My connection to this topic is personal and professional • Exploring the role of fathers is essential to the practice of social work

5. STUDY FINDINGS • African communities value family, • Black fathers’ cope with race, class, and gender oppression in patriarchal societies • Despite the disparaging conditions, some Black men are positive fathers and mentors • 55% of the participants from Survival and Success study say their fathers were present and active

6. STUDY FINDINGS CONT’D • Black men continue to face systemic barriers in education that has a direct link to their experience in the labour market • Racism is physically, spiritually and emotionally painful for Black men, their families and their communities.

7. STUDY FINDINGS CONT’D • Racism and violence impact the health and well-being of Black men, their families and communities. • fathers HELP WITH TRANSITION TO manhood and understanding what it means to be a man in a race conscious and racist society.

8. STUDY FINDINGS CONT’D • positive contributions FROM fathers (patience, love, affection, understanding, high moral values and motivation to achieve). • many Black men are taking their responsibilities seriously; being an active and positive part of a family. • fathers were their first role models or mentors.

9. Dispelling the myths • BLACK MOTHERS RAISING SONS ALONE • BLACK MEN NEGATIVE INFLUENCES • BLACK MEN VIOLENT AND DANGEROUS • NEGATIVE PORTRAYAL IN MEDIA AND LITERATURE • ABSENT, DEAD-BEAT DADS • BLACK MEN AN ENDANGERED SPECIES

10. Politics of black fatherhood • Black fatherhood may be the site of oppression or an opportunity for growth, creativity and change. • Black fatherhood is essentially a paradoxical institution.

11.  The Politics of Black Fatherhood • instability of the Black family related to the inability of the Black male to assume the provider role. • African-American fathers play various roles, such as provider, decision maker and spouse supporter. • traditional study of African-American fathers and families focus on studying problematic areas, rather than examples of positive action.

12. The Politics of Black Fatherhood (Con) • Many Black men are taking their responsibilities seriously; being an active and positive part of a family. • Men are socialized to avoid assuming responsibility for childrearing • Such avoidance is supported by women who buy into super women myth

13. The Politics of Black Fatherhood (Cont’d) • Some Black men are positive fathers and mentors to their sons and to other young Black men • Men of African heritage began a process of reconstructing masculinity through the context of their experiences of survival and success. • Manhood can be a source of inner strength that Black men can use to negotiate racism and oppression.

14. Father absence- history • cChildren on slave ships lost their connection with their ancestors • Some children were born in slavery and had to devise new ways of survival • sShared parenting is a traditional African custom • The African Proverb: “It takes a village to raise a child”

15. Father absence - reasons • Structural conditions • Racism and poverty • The welfare state • Incarceration • Death

16. Father absence- impact • Guilt and remorse • Anger- rage • Feelings of rejection • Children with absent fathers need someone to help fill the gap

17. Otherfathers in Black Communities • Children separated from parents thru slavery were cared for by others. • These were otherfathers and othermothers. • Collective consciousness- a sense that these are all our children • Fathers in my studies recognized the need to be role models and mentors not only for their own sons and daughters, but for others as well, • Positive role of otherfathers in survival of Black men

18. Significance of Otherfathers in Black Communities (Cont’d) • Challenges pervasive myths and stereotypes about father absence • Role models and mentors, by presence, modeling Black masculinity • Nurturers • Shared parenting beyond blood lines • Help with the transition to manhood • Otherfathers help transcend social construction of Black masculinity

19. Conclusion • The diversity of Black fathers in the Diaspora • Active Fathers • Absent Fathers • The significance of fathers, grandfathers and otherfathers in helping their sons develop a string sense of their masculinity • Fathers can be physically present but emotionally absent, and physically absent, but emotionally present • Otherfathers play an important role in Black communities

20. Conclusion • Otherfathers are guardians of the next generation and a positive resource in Black communities • Mentorship programs for Black children need to be developed or strengthened. • Despite the distortions of healthy parenting in African-Canadian communities, otherfathers and community fathers remain critical for positive and healthy parenting.

21. Implications for policy and Practice • Develop father friendly policies • Expand definition of father involvement • Develop strategies to engage with fathers • Change view of otherfathers • Develop programs around otherfathers

22. Closing words • What fathers had to say… • “The guilt of not being there… so much shame to my family…I will spend the rest of my life seeking forgiveness” • “I grew up in a community atmosphere…”

23. Black men’s ideas… • “it takes a village…we all have a responsibility…it’s not the quantity of time it’s the quality…” • “we can help make a difference…by giving back to them…their actions speak louder than words…”

24. References for Studies Racism, Violence and Health- visit www.dal.ca/rvh Fatherhood- see video- HIStory: reflections on the Father-Son relationship Across Generations Bernard, Wanda Thomas (1996) Survival and Success: As Defined By Black Men in Sheffield, England and Halifax, Canada. Unpublished Doctoral Thesis, Department of Sociological Studies,University of Sheffield