FatherHood.

“The strongest, toughest men all have compassion. They're not heartless and cold. You have to be man enough to have compassion - to care about people and about your children"

~Denzel Washington~

Birds Eye View

There is a magic moment when a child asks you to pick them up. It is a request of trust... unlike jaded adults, there is no fear of being dropped. Pleading eyes that want to enjoy the view, see what you see, and enjoy the steady rhythm of the ride. Legs tired... you will carry them. Eyes closed... they rest easy in your arms. God, thank you for the strength you instilled in these fathers' arms.

~eHw~

GrandFathered

I was blessed to know both my grandfathers and one of my great-grandfathers. The older I get, the more I appreciate how their existence in my life tethers me to the chain of Black men who came before me. The perspective of this generation removed has always provided me with a different set of eyes to look at our current society. I catch glimmers in my DNA when I walk the streets and feel the excitement they must have felt when they first walked the streets of Chicago after leaving the south. I can only imagine the dope suits that they wore as they hit their stride while walking on Michigan Avenue. I don't need the suits, but God willing, allow me to hit my stride.

~eHw~

The Grip

They say you can tell a lot by the way a man shakes your hand... I have met plenty of men and I have never judged them from the way our hands have clasped.

It may be a good indicator of the character of that moment, but it has become clear to me over time, that there are plenty of men with strong grips and weak moral character.

But the grip of a loving Black father holding their child's hand never lies. Firm enough to instill reassurance but never tight enough to cause pain... always ready to remove them from harm.

There is a movable subtext to every hand I ever had to shake in regular society. The purity in which these Black men grip their children's hands is apparent to anyone who has nobility in their own heart.

~eHw~

The Stroll

On this date in 1899, a Black man patented the Baby Buggy. His patent number is #405600.

That day William H. Richardson walked to a Baltimore patent office and received one that changed the way baby carriages are made. It was his idea to use a special joint to allow a bassinet to be turned to face the operator. He created the first reversible baby carriage. Several changes were made that allowed his carriage for the wheel to turn individually, which meant that the vehicle could turn 360 degrees in a smaller turning radius.

White-English architect William Kent invented the baby carriage in 1733 for the 3rd Duke of Devonshire's children. Many of Richardson's design modification are still in use today.

Source: Jackie’s Historical Facts: W.H Richardson improved the first baby carriage.