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Father Noir: Four Famous Fathers Share Their Reflections on Black Fatherhood
Never underestimate the facility of a photograph – Black Love co-founder Tommy Oliver definitely doesn’t do that when creating his annual one Visual memories “Father Noir”.
Although photography is a preferred and evocative medium, for a lot of many years this art form has often been used as a way to criticize, demean, and demean the Black residents of this country. As Princeton professor Tina M. Campt identified in her book “Image matters: archive, photography and the African diaspora in Europe”, photos “have played a dual role in conveying the history of African diasporic communities because of (their) ability to document and simultaneously pathologize the history, culture and struggles of these communities.”
As an author-educator bell hooks As he explained, to combat the rise of negative portrayals in mainstream media that perpetuate negative stereotypes, Black people all over the world have turned the camera into “a way to counter misrepresentation,” using it as a political tool and a type of resistance. Like his ancestors, Oliver now uses photographs to dispel harmful stereotypes about Black fatherhood.
“When we were filming, it was very awkward because my dad (sometimes) didn’t know what to do,” Powers explained, jokingly admitting that among the hugs seemed automatic. “It was still fun to shoot… except I spotted a variety of things while we were shooting that made me think, ‘Damn, we have got something to work on.’ But I do not see it as something super negative. I feel it’s extremely common within the Black community and (for) Black fathers (and is) definitely something that should be put on Front Street more often so people can recognize it and pay attention to it.
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The photo shoot made Powers aware of the dynamic he and his father might have to work on, but in addition allowed him to understand their unique relationship. Although he couldn’t remember the last time he hugged his father, the actor clearly remembers the temporary moments spent along with his namesake, whom he credits with influencing his taste in music, charisma, character, and even rigorous hygiene practices, which he continues to this present day.
Like Powers, singer Eric Bellinger says it is the little moments he remembers most as he raises his two sons, Elysha and Eazy Bellinger.
Whether they work in Hollywood or the music industry, each of the celebrity dads we talked to emphasized the importance of being present of their kid’s lives, irrespective of how busy their schedules are. For actor Lance Gross, those special bonding moments can happen at home when he builds Lego sets or furniture along with his son Lennon, or abroad when he takes older daughter Berkeley on a daddy-daughter trip to Paris.
“It’s important to spend time with each child individually because, as you know, you need that bonding time to connect and learn about each other,” Gross explained. “The greatest lesson my children have taught me is that there is always room for the heart to grow. Every day I notice that thanks to them, I (and) my heart is becoming bigger and bigger.”
While the title “dad” is commonly related to being the breadwinner, Father Noir’s fathers highlighted the extent of vulnerability that also comes with being a black father today. Looking on the state of the “world falling apart,” Bellinger especially remembers the teachings she teaches her boys, with a special emphasis on positivity, love and dealing to make an impact. Similarly, “P-Valley” star J. Alphonse Nicholson has the identical vulnerability he showed on screen as a father to his son and stepdaughter.
“I’ve learned not to tell my son, ‘Go ahead, man,’ or ‘Hey, no, you should just shake it off,’ or ‘You shouldn’t cry about it,'” Alphonse explained, sharing that with regards to children, he himself gets emotional right down to the smallest things. “These (beliefs) are just things that (were) passed down to me – and after a while you realize, ‘No, I really want to cry,’ or ‘I don’t want to get over this right now; I need some time to process this. So (I) teach them that it’s okay to be upset, but also let them understand it and teach them how to figure out what those emotions are and deal with the problem.”
Whether the daddy embodies your hero, like Gross, or is alien like Oliver, Father Noir underscores the indisputable fact that a toddler calling you “daddy” is a present that comes with great responsibility.
“Black fatherhood is everything. Being there for our children, supporting them, loving them, nurturing them and helping them become the best version of themselves – that’s what it’s all about,” Oliver said. “I’m lucky that I can make a living doing what I love and (I can) create things, but it’s not as important as the time I spend with my children; as a father and as the responsibility of being the type of person they can expect to raise them, support them, love them and do all of these things. So “Black Father” represents love. Represents the longer term. It represents the hopes and dreams of what our youngsters can change into and our role in helping them get to that place.”
