With Father's Day just around the corner, the Ad Council and actor Rainn Wilson's company SoulPancake partnered up to create a series of videos that show the reality of being a father in today's world.  

There are a lot of negative stereotypes regarding black fathers. Claims about black fathers not being involved with their children, having multiple children by different women and not being great role models for them have been debunked in a past CDC study.  

“We were excited to work with Ad Council on this project because the work they do shines an important light that helps connect humans, and we share in that goal,” said Rainn Wilson, co-founder of SoulPancake. “SoulPancake was born to make content that matters, and as a father myself — to both SoulPancake and my son — I can say, this matters.”

One father involved with the series states the value of raising four boys after his own father wasn't around. Derrex believes fatherhood can be similar to training. 

"Fear drove me in the beginning,” he said. 

He would be hesitant to give his sons too much candy or he would tell them to drink more water so they could be the best they could be. As his kids got older, he said he has learned that his sons always knew he was there for them. 

“Dads today want to be a bigger part of their children’s lives, and this partnership with SoulPancake helps us show fathers across the country how they can do this,” said Clarence H. Carter, director in ACF’s Office of Family Assistance, which oversees the fatherhood program. “This new work builds upon the creative efforts of our Clearinghouse’s media campaign, celebrates everything that dads are already doing, and inspires more fathers by emphasizing their critical role in the lives of their kids.”

Since the 1960s, fathers have spent triple the amount of time with their children compared to previous generations.

For Jefferey, time management is the key to raising his three daughters. Jeffery and his wife have daughters that are all under the age of 10 years old. They need constant attention. So Jefferey watches the children during the day and works at night while his wife takes care of them. Raising children that young is tiring — as he admits to not getting much rest — but it is all worth it when they smile, he said. 

“This new series with SoulPancake is an opportunity to see and hear from real dads what research has been pointing to for years: Dads today want to be more involved than ever,” said Kenneth Braswell, director of National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse and Fathers Incorporated.

Watch Derrex and Jefferey talk about their lives as fathers: