Black fatherhood is a beautiful thing. While certain narratives would have us believe that good black fathers don't exist, the fact of the matter is that they are out there, even if pop culture chooses to ignore it. We've seen great black dads on the small screen, from James Evans on "Good Times" to Uncle Phil on "Will Smith."
But there have been some great black father's on the big screen, too. Whether it's Christopher Gardner's message of determination in "The Pursuit of Happyness," or the wisdom of Furious Styles in "Boyz n the Hood," here are nine moves that perfectly highlight the many sides of black fatherhood.
Willie Jones - "Friday"
In "Friday," John Witherspoon plays Willie Jones, the father of perpetual slacker Craig (Ice Cube). It's a character played mostly for laughs, but in one powerful moment when he discovers his son with a gun, he gives some profound advice on what it means to be a man:
"You kids today are nothing but punks... so quick to pick up a gun. Scared to take an ass-whooping. This [holding up fists] is what makes you a man. When I was growing up, this was all the protection you needed. You win some, you lose some. But you live to fight another day."
"You kids today are nothing but punks... so quick to pick up a gun. Scared to take an ass-whooping. This [holding up fists] is what makes you a man. When I was growing up, this was all the protection you needed. You win some, you lose some. But you live to fight another day."
Furious Styles - "Boyz n the Hood"
In the cult classic film, "Boyz n the Hood," Laurence Fishburne plays Furious Styles, the father of teenager Tre Styles. Having dodged a life on the streets, himself, he's desperate to save his son from going down the wrong path. In this scene, he explains to 10-year-old Tre what it means to be a father:
"Remember this: any fool with a d*ck can make a baby but only a real man can raise his children."
"Remember this: any fool with a d*ck can make a baby but only a real man can raise his children."
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Jake Shuttlesworth - "He Got Game"
In "He Got Game," Jake Shuttlesworth (Denzel Washington) must repair a broken relationship with his son, after being away in prison. In this scene, the father and son play an emotional game of basketball where, even as his son mocks him, Jake reminds him: "I'm teaching you, son. I’m teaching like I always taught you."
Mufasa - "The Lion King"
OK. Yes. So, technically, Mufasa is a lion father, not a black father -- he was just voiced by the great black actor James Earl Jones. And yet, it's impossible not to include this heartfelt scene between Mufasa and his young son, Simba.
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