It’s because, well, I am you, I was you, and I see young and mature men like us everyday that too often express there issues with their fathers in unhealthy ways. I want you to know that I both understand and empathize with how you feel and the need to express your triumph over an obstacle that you perceive is responsible for the struggles you’ve had in life. Like you, I am a Black man who’s pent-up rage for my absent father drove me to do what I believed to bethe right thing, for the right reason, and with the right justification. What I’ve learned, however, is that it was ALL wrong.
All over this country, Black males are looking at, following, and emulating everymove you make, because you are a model of hard work and success who encapsulates a pattern and process they can follow to achieve their own goals and success. Many of these same males have come to know a world where the manresponsible for their existence (their fathers) did not contribute to theirlives in the way they needed, desired, or deserved. This is the reason I am writing you an open letter about your Instagram post (http://instagram.com/p/knuBWwCTPf/) –I believe that your brave disclosure can bring you and others closer to understanding, forgiveness,and healing of this fatherless pain and anger. This is my prayer and heartfelt desire.
If you’re like many of my friends and family you’re probably saying to yourself, “Whatever,” or, ‘Shut the $% up; you don’t know what you’retalking about!” That’s cool, because I said the same thing most of my life. Infact, about five months ago, I was completing a documentary called”Spit’in Anger: Venom of A Fatherless Son.” During the filming Iinterviewed Iyanla Vanzant, Dr.Jeff Gardere, Terrie Williams, Judge Mablean, Dr. Jeffery Shears, and even spoke to former MLB All-Star, Gary Sheffield. All the people I thought would help me tell this story of why Black men and boys harbor so much pain and anger as a result of father absence.