The Black Fatherhood Podcast

Judge Mitchell, presiding Judge of the Juvenile Division in Dane County, oversees a myriad of juvenile and child welfare, family and civil cases.  Judge Mitchell joins us today to talk about what fathers need to know about identifying and securing their parental rights, and the challenges many men face once 'in the system'.

Black dads can too easily be excluded from the social welfare system, challenging their ability to be gainfully employed, engage with their children, and sustain a good quality of life. Dr. David Pate, Associate Professor and Chair Emeritus of the Social Work department at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, joins us to talk about the effects of social welfare policy on the lives of Black men and their children.

On a mission to "spread as much joy as possible", Dexter Patterson, aka The Wisco Birder, is dedicated to making birdwatching welcoming for all birders around the state of Wisconsin.  As founding member of The BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, Dexter joins us to share in a "community of people of color who love the outdoors and the birds and beauty of natural Wisconsin and wish to connect with others who share the same passion."

As our next guest writes, "Fatherhood, while immensely rewarding, comes with its own set of challenges. As a black father, these challenges are often compounded by societal pressures and stereotypes that can weigh heavily on your shoulders."  And we agree.  Kenneth Braswell, a life long advocate for responsible fatherhood and mental health, joins us to talk about the challenges - and joys - of Black fatherhood. 

Exclusive Interview:  In August 2020, Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, was shot seven times in the back by a white officer outside an apartment complex in Kenosha, Wisconsin.  The shooting, which happened in front of Jacob's children, prompted national outrage with riots and protests breaking out across the country.  But despite his new identity as a contemporary civil rights icon, the first word Jacob uses to describe himself is "father."  Today we're speaking with Jacob Blake about Black Fatherhood, and how that fateful summer night shaped his role as father, then and now.   After the episode, for more information on Jacob and the work he's doing to "plug power to purpose", go to www.edifye.org.

Mental health is too often overlooked and under appreciated in the Black community.  Dr. Rheeda Walker, an award-winning professor, psychologist, and author of The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health, join us to talk about the mental health crisis in our community today, and how "in order to reclaim a life worth living, you must first reclaim your mind."

Abandoned as a baby to the British foster care system, best-sellling author Alex Wheatle grew up without any knowledge of his Jamaican parentage or family history.   Alex joins us to share stories from his new memoir "Sufferah" - of his early years at the notorious Shirley Oaks children's home in London, through the Brixton Uprising, to the front porch in Jamaica of the father who abandoned him as an infant 24 years later.

Kwame Alexander, one of America's most beloved writers, joins us to talk about Why Fathers Cry at Night - a collection of poems, recipes, and letters to his family about the beginnings of love, the ends of love, being a father, and a son.

From his childhood on the streets in Uganda to his life as an adoptive father and foster father of over 30 children, our guest, Peter Mutabazi, has an extraordinary personal story that weaves together countries, continents, social strata, and family – at every possible level.    

Fred Conley, a community icon in Madison, Wisconsin, saw the need for representation at Christmastime and went to work.  Shifting careers from a lifetime of experience as a police officer, Fred embraced his new role as a cherished holiday icon for Black children across the country.

We've long known that social policies disproportionally affect Black families. Dr. Tiffany Green, Assistant Professor in the Departments of Population Health Sciences and Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and co-chair of The Black Maternal and Child Health Alliance of Dane County, joins us to talk about one social policy in particular, Birth Cost Recovery, and how it impacts Black fathers following the birth of their children.

The national mythos of a predominantly white working class leaves little room for black workers or any opportunity to glean lessons from their histories. Today we're talking about the origins of the Black working class with Dr. Blair Kelley, a historian and scholar of the African American experience, and author of, "Black Folk: The Roots of the Black Working Class."

George Floyd spoke, and no one listened. He cried, and no one responded. Black people are crying out and America is not listening and not responding, because it hears the noise and not the pain. Written at the height of racial unrest during the pandemic, this poem captures the emotional complexity throughout these traumatic experiences.

Language is an art, and how we express it matters. Author and poet F. Douglas Brown and Loyola High School (LA) Principal Jamal Adams - each masters of language - share how they're using their talent and skill to change the narrative of the boys they teach as they transition to becoming men.

Why don't we think of Black people going swimming, surfing, fishing, birding, or camping? Why are there still spaces we assume Black people shouldn't be?  James Mills, outdoor journalist,  guide, and National Geographic Explorer, joins us to talk about how Black Americans, in both perception and practice, fall into what he calls "The Adventure Gap".

In addition to having appeared in numerous television shows and comedy clubs across the country, Felonious Munk is also a proud father whose greatest achievement might depend on whether or not he can get his young son to *just try* Ethiopian food. Comedian, social commentator, actor, producer - and dad - Felonious joins us to talk about the highs, lows, and everything in between when it comes to parenting.

The Shakur family - legends in American history - forever shaped the fight for Black liberation. Writer and journalist Santi Elijah Holley joins us to talk about his new book "An Amerikan Family: The Shakurs and the Nation They Created" - a sweeping and detailed account of family, history, culture, and the deeply rooted influence fathers - and father figures - have on their children. In this episode, we also hear a brief update on Jacob Blake's health from his brother Pauly Jackson.   In the summer of 2020, Jacob was shot seven times in the back - in front of his kids - by a white officer in Kenosha WI, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.  The protests and national outrage that followed forever linked Jacob and his family to the Black Lives Matter movement, and made them instant - and prominent - figures in the ongoing struggle for racial justice.

How do we continue in relationships with people who've hurt us - especially those closest to us? Esau McCaulley, theologian, professor and author of "How Far to the Promised Land: One Black Family's Story of Hope and Survival in the American South" joins us to talk about family, religion, poverty, grace and forgiveness.

Jack Johnson, boxing's first ever African-American world heavyweight champion, broke color barriers and changed the sport forever.  But he didn't do it alone.  He had an important father figure in his corner.  "The Royale," a play based on the life of Jack Johnson is currently on stage and today we're speaking with Jamal James, the actor playing the title role.

With society placeing so much emphasis on fathers and sons, the essential bond between fathers and daughters is often marginalized. David Miller, speaker and author of Dare to Be King, joins us to talk about the unique challenges Black fathers face in raising Black daughters, and how the challenges can be compounded by public policy.

The negative narrative surrounding Black men and boys needs to change. Guest Brandon Frame, Founder & Chief Visionary Officer of TheBlackManCan, Inc. (an award-winning nonprofit that amplifies the stories of what Black Men and Boys can do), and Senior Director of Social Emotional Learning at The Urban Assembly, joins us to talk about how he's working to change the narrative through educating Black boys in lessons on everything from the simplest task - how to tie a tie - to the most pressing danger - how to interact with police.

Aaron Perry, the first African American diabetic to complete the Ironman Triathlon, has dedicated his life to building and strengthening himself and his family. He's a father, son, and a brother, and we'll be speaking with him today about his work to build healthy relationships in the community and at home.

Supports and resources that focus on Black fathers are scarce, and fathers' access to these supports for fathers is limited. Dr. Latrice Rollins, Assistant Professor at the Morehouse School of Medicine in the Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine and Prevention Research Center, and the director of the National African American Child and Family Research Center, joins us to explain how any move towards father inclusive services must embrace two levels of involvement: "Father Awareness", and "Father Friendliness".

Roy Wood, Jr. is a nationally acclaimed comedian and actor, and a regular correspondent and guest host on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. But his most important job is being a father. Roy joins us to talk about parenting his son in a media spotlight, growing up with the legacy of his own equally famous father, and how being your own person can begin a legacy for generations beyond yourself.

Season 2 of the The Black Fatherhood Podcast launches June 2023.

In this emotional, loud, unstructured, fun, and stirring episode, Eric and I reflect on the process that lead to this superb project - The Black Fatherhood Podcast. We trace this back from a germ of thought to the current product and make connects to the larger workings of the Thomas Resilient Youth Lab (TRYl). We talk about some of our favorite moments on camera and behind the mic, the many behind-the-scenes bloopers, and the insightful experiences and conversations with have had with our inspirational guests. We end with some thoughts about how you can make best use of the podcast episodes, and share feedback we have received for listeners as far afield as Ashland, Wisconsin; Castries, Saint Lucia; Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago; Slovenia; and Colombia.

Meet the brain and creative heart behind the Black Fatherhood podcast and find out what drives him, and how this project was born. Dr. Alvin Thomas is the director of the Thomas Resilient Youth lab (TRYl). Eric Crawford turns the spotlight on the director to try to provide rich context to this labor of love and Dr. Thomas' vocation of educating, validating and elevating Black fatherhood and Black families. 

Is there a prototype for the Black family? Is it a necessary structure for today's realities, and are what challenges assail the structure and efficacy of the Black family? In this provocative discussion, Dr. Lucian Yates III and Mr. Floyd Stokes join us to shed light on suburban living, subsidized parenting, and to dissect and examine these and other issues related to Black families. 

How has fatherhood changed in the minds of Black families? How are Black men thinking about fatherhood, and how are researchers and community activists thinking about this critical role? In this episode I speak to two women who have been at the forefront of Black fatherhood research and community engagement Dr. Cleopatra Caldwell and Dr. E. Hill Deloney. Together they talk about what first brought them to this work with Black families and with Black nonresident fathers. They explore the changes they have seen in fatherhood research and philosophy and share their wishes for the field.  "Without Black men harnessing their reproductive energies to focus on building one stable relationship with an intentional mother of their children I see Black fathers continuing unnecessary, burdensome challenges. However, if we remain adequate and focus on the connection between the health of their children and a stable intimate union Black men will be convinced to move the needle to healthier Black families."  (Dr. E. Hill Deloney)

Depression and mental heal problems undermines mothers' ability to positively impact their children's development. Though the research on the impact of fathers' mental health on children's well-being is still limited, the impact is similar to that of mothers. But, once you have noticed signs that you are struggling with some emotional and mental health challenges, where can you find help? How do you find help? Dr. Danielle Hairston-Green and Dr. Adrian Gale help us explore these and other questions within the contexts of the lives of Black men.  Black men are countering the myth that they must live with muted emotionality, that they must carry the weight of life and responsibility on their own. Black men are speaking up about their challenges - we need to listen.

What might some of the early warning signs of mental health struggle look like? Hear from Dr. Adrian Gale, PhD assistant professor in Social Work, Mr. Eric L. Crawford, therapist and counselling doctoral student, and Mr. Shannon Reed, a young entrepreneur from City of Milwaukee. We have gathered another powerhouse team of Black men, fathers, and professionals to talk about the experiences of mental health across their identity spaces.   Our institutions often lament that Black men are less likely to seek mental health support, but Black men's requests for help are more likely to go unheard and unheeded because our helpers are not trained to appreciate and speak to the life experiences and vicissitudes of Black men's lives.

This is one of my most powerful conversations, and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. With so many social, financial, political, and familial challenges facing Black fathers, the conversation on men's mental health has to be normalized and elevated. Our esteemed guests for this conversation are family medicine practitioner Dr. Britt Gayle, MD., Men's Health Manager for the City of Milwaukee's Health Department, Mr. Darryl Davidson, and Mr Eric L Crawford, a therapist focused on the success and healthy existence of Black families. This group of Black men, fathers, well-trained professionals illuminate mental health and its applicability to the focus of the Black Fatherhood podcast - educating, validating, and elevating Black men.   One of the easiest ways to humanize Black fathers is to first see them as men, and people, outside of their essential familial roles. Black fathers have to be allowed their vulnerabilities, their challenges, their areas of growth, as much as we celebrate their strengths and importance.

In this exciting conversation with Dr. Qiana Cryer-Coupet and Mr. Kenneth Braswell we explore how Black fathers nurture the goals and dreams of their children, but also how fathers' own goals and dreams of fatherhood and purpose influence their roles. How would you answer these first two questions which we used to pique this conversation: "What were your first dreams as a parent when you first laid eyes on your baby? How did you imagine your relationship with your child would be?  Black men want to be the best fathers they can be. Black fathers are the most involved, most committed, but still the most stigmatized. We exist to Educate, Validate, and Elevate Black fathers.

The family is a system, and if one part is not working well, then all the other parts become strained. Parenting is meant to be a team activity, still many carry the weight of the full team. Dr. Shauna Cooper, Dr. Waldo Johnson, and Mr. Dwayne Curry return to this podcast to extend our conversation on co-parenting as teamwork, especially involving Black fathers. Together, our guests address critical issues including repairing broken co-parenting relationships, the benefits to the child and the family, and how parents traverse conflictual issues in their parenting dynamic.  A respectful, and successful co-parenting relationship, whether for parents who live together or not, is critical to the health of the child. Beliefs matter - always assume that Black dads are interested and want to be involved.

Join our conversation on communication and monitoring practices with Dr. Shauna Cooper, Mr. Derek Phillips, and Mr. Kevin Bremond. With so many challenges facing Black children, it would not be strange if Black fathers and parents, by extension, felt they need to keep close tabs on their children's every move. But when does this become overwhelming and unhelpful for the child and the family system? We discuss what parental monitoring looks like and how Black fathers create trust with their children while also nurturing the child's necessary independence - and more so, how do Black fathers do this in collaboration with the mother?         When Black fathers speak, communities change, families are strengthened, children blossom. Black fathers are reclaiming their voices and honing their messages to self, family, and community.

We talk to two curators of music, Dr. Olajide Bamishigbin (Jide) and Mr. Leotha Stanley. Jide represents the hip, new swagger of the hip-hop generation and is a walking iPod shuffle of rap and Black music. Mr. Stanely is a composer, a music maven, and a connoisseur who uses music to heal and create community. Together they engage the dicey but necessary conversation of the influence of music and art on Black Fathers, and Black culture by extension. They challenge us to reflect and encourage us to build and support families and Black men.                     The prevail messages to Black men and boys deny them their tears, their fears, and define them only through a devaluing of their sisters and mothers. In this conversation, we challenge Black fathers to correct that messaging and contribute to healing themselves and their families.

In this episode, I speak to Dr. Maria Johnson and Dr. Ronald Mincy about the unspoken social contract men are born into, and by which we often measure fatherhood - to protect and provide. Together, these academics and experts provide an in-depth social, cultural, economic, and historical analysis of the protector and provider roles and how it applies to Black fathers. We also explore how the roles of protector and provider are evolving and how Black men are embracing and expanding how they sustain their families.  Black men have always been fathers, and remain the most involved group of fathers across many domains of childcare activities. Black fathers love their children. Black fathers support their families. Back fathers continue to work hard for their families and communities.

Dr. Courtney Cogburn and Dr. Justin Harty tackle the expansive discussion on what it means to be Black in America, and the specific implications for Black men and Black fathers. Exploring the impact of Black pride on physical and mental health, the speakers reflect on the historical and current significance of identity and connection to the culture for Black fathers, and how this influences their role in families and communities. The Black family system includes the Black child, the mother, and the father. Each adult in the system is critical to the future of the child and, by extension, the Black community.  Supporting Black fathers is an act of resistance rooted in the deep and storied history of Black peoples. 

We are proud to announce the official release of the first 2 episodes of our podcast. Two new episodes will be released weekly to complete the 15 episode season.  Listen on spotify, google and apple podcasts, the TRYlab, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Video of the conversations will be posted to youtube @Dr.Alvin Thomas. Like, follow, and subscribe. Write a review, and share the podcast with your friends and family. 

In this episode, I speak to four fathers who represent a large section of the lifespan and with varying but intersecting experiences that influence their fatherhood commitment. One father talks about being raised by a single dad, another talks about his life first as a stepfather and then a biological father, yet another talks about incarceration during the early years of his daughter's life, and another reflects on how his young fatherhood changed his life - each reflects on how these experiences inform their commitment to their children and family.  Black fathers are involved. Black fathers are present. Black fatherhood is not the automatic negative stereotypes that have been perpetuated.

This episode features three individuals who are powerhouses in their areas. Their collective expertise represents that of parent, author, researcher, educator, academic, activist, public health leader, and poet. This conversation explores how the individual identities of man, parent, and Black, individually and intersectionally color Black men's fatherhood experiences.  Black fathers are human beings first. Appreciating and supporting their humanity before applying any roles and identity expectations is key to realizing healthy fathers and healthy families.