Black people deal with a lot of scrutiny and criticism on a daily basis — but we all need a break from that. We’ve reached out to our moms and to black men in general, but now we’ve got some words of encouragement for the black fathers out there.


 

  1. Thank you for being the first man to introduce me to sports!
  2. Thank you for making my standards for relationships and dating so high that I don’t bring just anyone around to meet you. If a partner meets you, they’re likely “the one.”
  3. Thank you for teaching me how to be a man when society only saw me as a thug.
  4. Thank you for pushing me to learn more about black history and culture so that I grew up knowing who I am and whose I am.
  5. Thank you for teaching me the value of hard work but also reminding me not to take myself (or life) too seriously
  6. Thank you for making me listen to your music on road trips, even when I rolled my eyes as you told me about the “good ol’ days.”
  7. Thank you for always believing in me and cheering me on, even when I didn’t ask or expect you to.
  8. Thank you for being on the frontlines fighting for your family.
  9. I didn’t always show appreciation, but your advice about careers, school, finances and more has been so helpful for me.
  10. You provided an example of what a man is, not only for our family but also for the other families that interacted with us.
  11. You taught me how a man should really treat a woman.
  12. Thank you for always fixing things for me! From household things to finances and more.
  13. You sacrificed more than I could have to make sure that my education was a priority, and not an afterthought.
  14. It’s okay to cry or be sad. Many people in our society say being a man and being black means showing no vulnerability, but don’t limit yourself and your feelings for them. Being strong is about expressing your essence despite what ignorant people will say.
  15. Fatherhood is too quickly stripped from your body. Your love is too often not spoken about.

WHAT DO YOU THINK BLACK dads DESERVE TO HEAR MORE OFTEN? SHARE THIS POST WITH THE dads IN YOUR LIFE VIA FACEBOOK BELOW!