News — Black father

Keon Wiggins was raised by his step-father, Donzell Powell. In an emotional speech, Keon asked Donzell to adopt him as a Father's Day gift. The video was recorded by his little sister in his home on Father's Day while his mother, Keona Powell, was present along with some other family members. As both get quite emotional, Donzell says yes! These are the kind of stories that we need to see more often on media of strong, loving black families. This is what the black community needs, positivity, and parental figures who step up. What do you think?

A father from South Carolina is full of joy after winning custody of his daughter who was adopted by a new family without his permission. Christopher Emanuel said his girlfriend put their newborn daughter, Skyler, up for adoption without telling him.

“…I was hurt, I was confused because I wanted to ensure that I could be there for my child,” Emanuel said.

In South Carolina, fathers can sign up on the responsible fatherhood registry, an online database through DSS that tells the state that you have a child. Emanuel had filed on February 14, 2014, to be added as Skyler’s father on the registry, which must notify him if her mother puts her up for adoption.

However, when a Southern California family filed to adopt her a few days later (February 19), Emanuel was not added to their paperwork as the biological father. At that moment, Emanuel said he didn’t know if he would ever see his daughter again. But after months of contesting the adoption through a court in Aiken County, where Skyler was born, he got his daughter back; the judge granted him sole custody of his daughter.

“This was my opportunity to prove that I was deprived of that my constitution and state rights were violated,” he said.

“Aiken County Judicial Center this is where it went down at. But when I’m here being in this space it fills me with joy, I feel safe because Aiken County brought my daughter home where she belongs,” said Emanuel, who was inspired by his case to start the Sky Is The Limit Foundation where he travels across the U.S. educating fathers on their parental rights.

As traditional gender roles continue to shift, more fathers are stepping in to assume full-time parenting roles outside of their jobs. However, many baby products have not changed their models to accommodate hands-on dads. Frustrated with the limited options, one Black father decided to fill this gap by creating a brand of diaper bags designed just for men.

Kwame White is the founder and CEO of W.S.E.L Bags, a modern diaper bag designed for full-time dads on the go. White came up with the idea after looking for a bag to carry while he was taking care of his son Kobe. That is when he realized that most of the products he saw were designed to appeal to mothers.

“I think it’s great that women have lots of options,” said White in an interview with via email. “But in 2021, it’s past time for fathers to have great options as well. I wanted to create diaper bags for dads to let fathers know that they are valued too.”

The brand currently carries three different styles in their online store—the Kobe Expandable, Jett, and Jaden. White hopes that the brand will help put a spotlight on fathers who play an active role in their children’s lives and upbringing.

“Traditionally, men worked and women stayed home with the children. Those days are long gone. Both fathers and mothers balance work and family life,” he said. “More than ever, fathers are actively involved within every area of their children’s lives. Many fathers choose jobs or start businesses specifically so they can spend more time with their family.”

White says one of the company’s goals is to help change the negative narrative of absentee Black fathers. Another way he is challenging that stereotype is by hosting fatherly strolls which encourages Black men to connect and fellowship while pushing their little ones in the strollers.