Black Fatherhood Project

In The Black Fatherhood Project, filmmaker Jordan Thierry leads viewers through an honest and essential exploration of fatherhood in Black America, providing historical context and conversation for an issue at the core of the Black experience today.

Nationwide, 67 percent of Black children live in single-parent families, predominantly with their mother, a ratio that has tripled since the 1960’s.

In the first half of the film, Thierry begins by telling his own family story, then with the help of historians and others, traces the roots of the fatherless Black home, revealing a history much more complex and profound than is commonly known. The film digs deep to explore how Black families functioned in Africa before slavery, and how slavery, racism, and other recent challenges such as mass incarceration affect Black fatherhood. It looks beyond major historical events and discusses their psychological impacts, and calls into question traditional family roles and cultural adaptation.

In the second half of the film, Thierry puts that history into contemporary perspective in a candid dialogue among a diverse group of Black fathers. These dads talk openly about their experiences and the value systems they employ to raise their own families. Their stories serve as positive role models for inspiring other dads to help break the cycle of fatherless families. Thierry closes the film by sharing insights and solutions to ensure the power of a father’s love is not lost on America’s Black children.

FEATURED IN THE FILM

Dr. Wade Nobles, Professor Emeritus, Department of Africana Studies, San Francisco State University
Dr. Charles Lewis, President of Congressional Research Institute, Social Work and Policy and Adjunct Professor, Howard University School of Social Work
Dr. Donald Roe, Associate Professor of History, Howard University
Dr. Ronald B. Mincy, Maurice V. Russell Professor of Social Policy and Social Work Practice, Columbia University School of Social Work

Preview link available upon request. Contact support@videoproject for more information

A Film by Jordan Thierry

53 minutes and 74 Minutes

Scene Selection • Closed Captioned

Grades 9 – Adult

Item #: BFP-1020

Leads viewers through an honest and essential exploration of fatherhood in Black America

Starting at $89

Licensing Options

K-12 Schools, Public Libraries, Community Groups - $89 K-12 DVD + Digital File - $139 Colleges, Businesses, Other Institutions - $245 Colleges (DVD with Digital Site License) - $345 K-12 School District pricing available. Please inquire at [email protected]

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Reviews and Festivals

"Recommended. Thought-provoking...tracing the history of fatherhood in black families from ancient Africa to contemporary America. A good way to start discussions with older teens on the role of fathers in the family."
— Booklist (ALA)

"Recommended. A mature presentation of a topic that is often treated as a taboo by mainstream media, elected officials, and civil rights leaders. The Black Fatherhood Project honestly addresses a significant social problem in contemporary America."
— Video Librarian

"Highly Recommended. Pays homage to fatherhood, and the plight of the black male. Economists, fathers, historians, psychologists, and social workers discuss the history and construct of the black family in Africa and the United States...(and) offer several solutions to mend the broken black family."
— Educational Media Reviews Online

“The Black Fatherhood Project is an amazing film. I’m especially impressed by the way it conceptualizes history and offers personal narrative. The information is timely, relevant, and is critical for addressing fatherhood in the African-American community.”
— Prof. Akil Houston, PhD, Department of African American Studies, Ohio University

"This film is an important contribution to the true image of Black fathers in America...The film captures eloquently the challenges, struggles, triumphs, hopes and dreams of African American men."
— Dr. Joseph White, Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of California, Irvine; pioneer of the field of Black Psychology

“Very powerful...The film brilliantly illustrated the relationship between African American fathers and their children, and the impact of chattel enslavement on the African family unit. The film is successful in presenting an image of African American men that counters the negative and often oversimplified stereotypes of African American fathers…. I highly recommend this film.”
— Ken Morris, Jr., Director of Intercultural Life, Cornell College, IA

“I highly recommend The Black Fatherhood Project film as an effective tool for inspiring reflection and discussion, which can lead to both personal and systems-level changes. The film has benefitted our community, our agency, and more specifically our interventions with the families we serve. The film addresses macro level social constructs which directly affect and influence micro level interactions with families and children.”
— Meg Wills, LCSW, Therapeutic Program Manager, Listen to Kids, Impact Northwest

“Exceptionally well done...addresses the impact of the history of Africa, slavery and institutional racism upon the African-American family today.”
— Kenneth Yarnell, Principal, Aloha High School, Oregon

SCREENED AT
National Alliance of Children and Families Annual Conference
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
Wall Street Alpha’s Gents Mentor Program
North Coast Youth Correctional Facility, Oregon Youth Authority
Portland State University Multicultural Center
Oregon State Penitentiary
Uhuru SaSa Club
Southern Illinois University
KIPP Vision Academy
Ohio University
University of Iowa

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