Longing for Daddy

As children slowly age into adulthood, they depend on their parents to teach them fundamental things as they journey to discover who they are. They turn to their moms and dads to be given lessons on trust, integrity, love, morality, and even relationships, so the absence of daddy can have a detrimental impact on children.… Continue reading Longing for Daddy

My Father Couldn’t Hug Me And I Refuse To Repeat History

T he day my father passed away is a day that will forever remain etched in my mind; not because of the loss, but because of the way his death brought us closer. He battled pancreatic cancer for nearly a year and the decline happened so fast the entire day still feels like a dream.… Continue reading My Father Couldn’t Hug Me And I Refuse To Repeat History

A Letter to My Father

It wasn’t until we stopped speaking that I realized that we haven’t had a real conversation at any point in life. Sure, there have been talks, but they’ve always been one-sided, and I don’t think either of us realized it. Truth is, I’ve been living in your shadow for so long trying to be just… Continue reading A Letter to My Father

Explaining Baltimore to My Six-Year-Old Son

Editor’s Note: With the latest sickening domestic atrocities spinning incessantly in the 24-hour media cycle, the Baltimore protests almost seem like ancient history. Almost. At the time, we received an essay from a black father and husband about the challenges of discussing the protests―and the racial state of affairs in America―with his two small children.… Continue reading Explaining Baltimore to My Six-Year-Old Son

Foundational Love

Back in the days of cassette tapes, my love for underground and varied hip hop sounds crossed paths with a song titled “The Foundation” by one of my favorite artists of the time: Xzibit. The word foundation has two primary definitions: the first being the lowest load bearing part of a structure; the second, an underlying… Continue reading Foundational Love