We had no A/C in our apartment home in humid Miami, no credit cards, no cable bills,
no cell phone bills. We never ate out. None of the stuff we spend money on today.
Thank God. Five daughters with cell phones...imagine that. I haven't seen that 9-
person family plan yet, even in this era.
My dad was proud of his work ethic, proud of the people he worked for, and work with.
My Father's work virtues made an impact continues to be very strong for me.
Look, I know mothers get all the press and our mom did her thing. Our full-time
mother and wife even worked as an Avon Lady. She used me as a prop as she would
drag me along to her appointments with her. She was a truly remarkable human being.
She would live to be 98, two years short of her goal of 100. Always a Mother!
My mother was spectacular in her maternal responsibilities. One day I may put her
impact on me on paper. However, my focus is on dear 'ole dad right now.
Why? Like so many other factors that were bene cial in our dad's make-up. My focus
is on my dad.
My father, like so many black fathers, probably wouldn't mind a little positive, fair print
these days. These memoirs are not in defense of any improprieties or malicious wrong-
doings any dad may be guilty of. It's simply overdue accolades for the worthy.
I’m not alone in the opinion, fathers being a bit different as a whole during my early
childhood/teen era (The '50's-60's), Our fathers' fathers had to deal with even worst.
Today with widespread divorce rates, every dad is an increasingly challenging situation
waiting to happen. I know a lot of one parent situations that made it work and those
who strive to make it work. I also know in today's 'Me' rst environment, there is a lot
of sel shness going on that makes it easy for some to say "I'm Out!"
I'm aware that there are many parents who endured, have or had a my child rst
mentality. That's not the norm anymore. Too much social media, self-centered "It's All
About Me!" I get it...Just My Thoughts.,.
In the era of (pre-1940's) when our black fathers seemed to have thrived as role
models, it was quite different. There was no discussion on who was the patriarch of
the family, who was the main bread-winner. Who typically dished out discipline.