On Sunday, it is Father’s Day. This title is meant for the men who have a great presence in their child’s life. One who teaches, guides, and loves their child. It can even be given to other male figures in their your who helps. They all should be acknowledged for their guidance. Having a father can affect the relationships their daughters choose. Also, the way in which their sons lead in a relationship. In the Black community, there are many great fathers out there, but there is a stereotype that this number is very small to non-existent. In fact, there are many who are great along with fathers of other communities. It is important to see images of these great fathers to nurture great parents in the future. I grew up watching television shows with Fathers leading their families, today I want to give an honorable mention to these characters.
Here are some of the great TV fathers who lead by example and allow the world to see great images of Black fathers…
- Uncle Phil: On the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, you may have seen Uncle Phil as a stern and mean-looking Father figure to Will in the beginning. In the end, we saw a man who not only was there for his own children but became the example for Will as a young man whose own father was not in his life. Uncle Phil was a leader, he loved his children dearly, and he had a great career.
- Carl Winslow: On Family Matters, Carl also appeared as a stern character as it relates to Steve Urkel. But he turned mush and the relationship him and Steve developed became greater. Carl was a cop who went on to becoming a Captain. He was a strong head of household, but his wife Harriet often kept him leveled in those moments of frustration.
- Michael Kyle: On My Wife & Kids, the title alone spoke on Michael’s priority. He loved his family even when they did things to get on his nerves. We saw a man who was a business owner but who spent a great amount of time with his children. He had a son who was his Junior and not the smartest of children. In the end when becoming a young father himself he blossomed into a man with the help of his father.
- Ray Campbell: On Sister, Sister, we saw Ray, a widower, who was a single father to the daughter he and his late wife adopted. He was a business owner who was quirky but did a great job in providing for his daughter. Now, his daughter’s twin sister who was adopted by a single mother saw him as a father figure and would go to him for advice in certain situations. In the end, he loved both girls equally.
- Cliff Huxtable: On the Cosby Show, we saw a household mixed with laughs and love. We saw a father who as a doctor had a private practice in the basement of his home allowing him to spend more time with his family. We saw a father who had individual moments with each of his five children and later on his grandchildren. We saw a man who loved his wife dearly and was a good example of a well-rounded family.
There were a few other TV Dads out there who were great family men. They may not be on my list, but their influence still lives on. A great father is a amazing thing and having images of strong men in one’s life is important. On this Father’s Day weekend, I hope you enjoy the time with the men who matter.