Why the media's images of dads are so destructive

Frederick J. Goodall, Blogger of the popular fatherhood blog "Mocha Dad" explains how the media's portrayal of dads is so destructive, and shares advice for dads how they can change the perception
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Why the media's images of dads are so destructive

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In the media there's this portrayal of father's as idiot's, he can't do anything right, he is incompetent and the mom has to com in and fix everything he messes up. Well, that isn't reality. Life is not really like that. I don't understand why the media continues to perpetrate this images of dad's. I think it is very harmful for our culture and our society when this things happened. Sometimes I'm out with my kids, I have 3 kids, I am out with them in the store and quite frequently they come up to me and say, "Wow, you are a good dad." Really? Has the bar been set that low that showing up in public with your children is cause for celebration? We have to do better; we have to promote better images of dad's in the media. We have to make sure that the title of father is something that is respected and it is something that dad's have to work on ourselves, we have to uplift the image of father. We have to do better. In many cases I don't say that all father's are perfect, there is a lot of work that needs to be done but we have to take the steps to show that fatherhood matters. We have to do things that make fathers important in our culture again. It starts in each of us. Each dad has to take responsibility to himself for his family, to do what is right, to make the right choices, and show "Hey, that TV show may portray father's one way but here's how things are actually in my family," and that's what really matters.

Frederick J. Goodall, Blogger of the popular fatherhood blog "Mocha Dad" explains how the media's portrayal of dads is so destructive, and shares advice for dads how they can change the perception

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Frederick J. Goodall

Blogger, "Mocha Dad"

Frederick J. Goodall is a writer, a speaker, and a father. In 2008, he started the popular fatherhood blog, "Mocha Dad" to chronicle his life as a dad and to counter the negative stereotypes regarding black fatherhood. He wanted to give readers a first-hand account of a black father who is intimately involved in his children’s lives. Now he uses the blog to not only capture his experiences, but also to help motivate other men to be more actively engaged and involved with their children, families, and communities.

Through his writing, Goodall attempts to address serious cultural and social issues. His articles and essays have been published in numerous magazines, newspapers, and journals such as The Houston Chronicle, Essence, and Folio Weekly. His work has also appeared in the anthologies: Paper Thin/Soul Deep and The African-American Book of Values. In addition, Goodall is a regular contributor to the websites Mamiverse, Goldfishsmiles, Your Teen Mag, and Together Counts. Goodall also travels the country speaking on the topics of fatherhood, men’s issues, social media, and blogging.

Goodall was born in Houston, Texas and graduated from Howard University in Washington, D.C. He currently lives in Houston with his wife and three kids.

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Transcription: 
In the media there's this portrayal of father's as idiot's, he can't do anything right, he is incompetent and the mom has to com in and fix everything he messes up. Well, that isn't reality. Life is not really like that. I don't understand why the media continues to perpetrate this images of dad's. I think it is very harmful for our culture and our society when this things happened. Sometimes I'm out with my kids, I have 3 kids, I am out with them in the store and quite frequently they come up to me and say, "Wow, you are a good dad." Really? Has the bar been set that low that showing up in public with your children is cause for celebration? We have to do better; we have to promote better images of dad's in the media. We have to make sure that the title of father is something that is respected and it is something that dad's have to work on ourselves, we have to uplift the image of father. We have to do better. In many cases I don't say that all father's are perfect, there is a lot of work that needs to be done but we have to take the steps to show that fatherhood matters. We have to do things that make fathers important in our culture again. It starts in each of us. Each dad has to take responsibility to himself for his family, to do what is right, to make the right choices, and show "Hey, that TV show may portray father's one way but here's how things are actually in my family," and that's what really matters.