The Data That Proves the Myth of the ‘Absent’ Black Father Is a Total Lie

October 14, 2016 / Complex News

Guess who’s even more engaged in parenting than white dads? It couldn’t be those supposedly “absent” Black fathers we’ve heard so much about, can it?

You’ve probably come across this myth before – the idea that the struggles in Black communities wouldn’t be so bad if not for the supposedly out-of-control problem of absent Black fathers.

In this Complex News video, Tamara Dhia breaks down some of the years of research from a CDC study that exposes the myth of the absent Black father as completely false. You might be surprised by what she shares if you, like many people, have been hearing for years about this “crisis” among Black dads.

But this shows why we should be looking elsewhere for the cause of struggles in Black communities – like, say, the whole problem of systemic racism, for a start?

With Love,
The Editors at Everyday Feminism

Click for the Transcript

Tamara Dhia: Hey guys, what’s going on? I’m Tamara Dhia for Complex News. With racial tension at an extreme high in America right now, it’s always refreshing to see a stereotype get completely debunked.

CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Pop Culture

Tamara Dhia: In a study conducted by the Center for Disease Control, the myth that Black men are absent fathers was debunked. When outlets report on Black fatherhood, it is often depicted as a crisis, further reinforcing the idea that Black men are not there to raise their children. But the data that the CDC captured paints a completely different picture. In a study built upon years of research, reports indicated that Black dads are actually more involved with their kids on a daily basis than other racial groups.

From changing diapers to playing with their children, and helping with homework, Black fathers were statistically more hands on than white and Latino fathers. Terra Cote Bressler of Think Progress noted that: Equal numbers of Black dads and white dads tend to agree that it’s important to be a father who provides emotional support, discipline, and moral guidance. There’s one area of divergence in the way the two groups approach their responsibilities. Black dads are even more likely to think it’s important to financially provide for their children.

The study also compared dads that were living with their kids and those who are not, and Black fathers were significantly more present. So for those arguing that the turmoil occurring in places such as Ferguson, Baltimore, and Black communities across America as the result of absent, ineffectual fathers – I’m talking to you, Rand Paul – maybe it’s time people stop pointing all the blame at underprivileged parents who are doing their best to raise their children and take an honest inventory of what’s really holding these communities back.

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