I grew up in a two-parent, two-income household in Jennings. I would say I had it pretty good. In the late 1980s and early ‘90s, Jennings was a great place to be. I can remember my dad taking me to Northland or River Roads to shop. I had white classmates and white neighbors. I understood that I was black, but in my limited view of the world there was nothing wrong with that.
From an early age, my father taught me that a man should always work and provide for his family. This is something I carry with me to this day.
With all my fathers’ great attributes, there was still something missing that I now see I needed: emotional support. Most black boys are taught to grow up tough, to man up, not to cry, and that showing their nurturing side makes them weak. Black boys often must go to extreme measures to prove how tough they are. Read more here.