FatherHood... A Silent Film

Some captured moments speak for themselves. The best photographs can capture a whole story in one image.

Yet, as I began my journey of capturing virtuous Black men doing their best to be virtuous Black fathers, it became clear to me that these moments played out in a series of snapshots.

I realized that being a Black father is like being in a silent movie. The world has given you a soundtrack and everyone is waiting with bated breath for you to live down to their expectations.

In the old silent movies, the expressions and movements of the actors had to be exaggerated because they could not record their voices and the film technology was not good at picking up the nuance of natural movement.

I think this is why we miss so many tender moments when we see Black fathers. There is no exaggeration. Tender moments are subtle and need context. You cannot hear their strong voices because no one captures the sound. You cannot see their commitments because their movements are overshadowed by music and social technology they did not create. Technology and music that is dead set against the nuance of Black FatherHood.

Who has time to watch a silent film that you were told never existed?

~eHw~