Where Are My Brothers?

So I was sitting in the parking lot of Walgreen's today and I looked next to me and I saw a young black woman with two kids, no husband or man visible and I watched her struggle to get the kids together, get inside the store and run her errand. Then I looked over at the car next to me and I saw almost the exact same thing, except this woman had three kids. I proceed to look at the faces of both women and I saw strength, frustration, and a determination to be and do for their children. I got out the car and helped both women put their groceries in the car and God told me to"bless the woman with three kids with gas money for the week." Being obedient I proceeded to give the woman $25 (all the money I had) and I told her God told me to do it and that her breakthrough was coming. The woman was in shock and with a face welled with emotion she said, "thank you, you have no idea how bad I needed this." I began to think, where are the men?"


I was a fortunate one growing up. My dad, despite being young and probably very scared, stuck in their with my mother. He raised his children and worked hard everyday to assure that my sister and I had the best he could provide. My father, like his father before him, aspired to be more than just sperm donors they wanted to be real fathers and real men. They were men who disciplined their children, worked tirelessly to make sure their kids progressed in career and education further than they did during their time. Therefore it's hard for me to watch so many black women do it on their own.

Where are the men? Where are the fathers? Where?... I can't help but ask the question after looking at the world outside my window. I watch children hang out on the street late at night and watch young women dress and act in very womanly ways and I wonder where is dad to say, "come home."

As I anticipate watching the upcoming CNN documentary "Black in America" I'm expecting to see a large part of the discussion to be the absense of the black father.