5 years ago on April 15, I took off the Crown of Manhood and put on the Crown of Fatherhood. It was one of the happiest days of my life and as I held you in my arms for that first time… I knew fear. I was amazed at this precious and fragile little bundle God had blessed me and your mother with. Son, I was profoundly aware that you were our responsibility and that we would have to raise you to be a good man and hopefully… prayerfully a good father in your own time.
One of the most important things a father wants for their child is to feel safe. To know that your father has your back no matter what. As I write this, there are people in the street protesting the death of another unarmed black man by the hands of police. The fear I know now is the fear that I may not be able to protect you from all things. That there are many people in authority who do not see us as people like them. Unfortunately son.. they see us as lesser. Someone they can treat poorly maybe even kill without any punishment.
A lot of people are asking the question, how can they raise their sons in this environment. Even if you do everything right, an encounter with the police, or an angry woman can get you killed.
Son, I don’t know the answer to that question. I don’t think this is a good environment to raise a black son, a young brother. I think the environment needs to change. We need to shape it into a place where we can raise our kids in peace, live our lives in peace without fear of the law killing you for minor crimes, or busting into your home guns blazing shooting everyone in sight.
These are my thoughts now though, a bit in my emotions. I hope that by the time you are able to read this and understand this, the world I envision and hope to help build for you will be a reality. If not, I will still be here. God willing… to watch you put on your Crown of Manhood and hopefully… prayerfully to put on your Crown of Fatherhood. They will have to come through me before they get to you son.
Your Proud Daddy,
James E. McFadden Jr