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Women Celebrate Black Fatherhood in New Anthology

By September 17, 2013 No Comments

Bet on Black: African-American Women Celebrate Fatherhood in the Age of Barack Obama is the book every father should want his daughter to write. Through this collection of thoughtful essays, twenty women wrestle with the much maligned image of the Black dad and shed light on the touching relationships they have with the dynamic fathers in their lives.

Inspired by President Barack Obama’s commitment to encouraging and supporting responsible fathers by creating the President’s Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative, Bet on Black is a standout among the trove of songs, movies and books about motherhood. Too often in popular culture, Black fathers are either absent or characterized as deadbeat sperm donors who have little regard for the families they leave in their wake. Bet on Black shatters these stereotypes.

The book’s editor, magazine industry veteran Kenrya Rankin Naasel, was raised by an amazing single dad, and she is joined here by 19 fantastic writers: Keisha-Gaye Anderson, Lakeia Brown, Harriette Cole, Corynne L. Corbett, Hillary Crosley, Michelle Duke, Amber Efé, Ashley Foxx, Rochelle Tillery-Larkin Ford, Maya K. Francis, Chee Gates, Ayren Jackson- Cannady, Stefanie Brown James, Tara Pringle Jefferson, Thaisa Eileen Jones, Yanick Rice Lamb, Karen Good Marable, Chidimma Ozor and Charli Penn.

“This book is incredibly near to my heart—just like my father. After years of hearing how terrible Black men are at taking care of their children, I realized that it is important to share the positive stories like ours. And I knew we weren’t alone; this book proves that,” Naasel says. “The men you’ll meet on the pages of Bet on Black represent just a fraction of the dads whose children count on them to quietly handle their business at home every day. I’m excited to share their stories in these beautifully written essays.”

Bet on Black is sure to shift the dialog about what it means to be a Black father in the United States. From the girl whose dad pulled double duty to fill the space left when her mother died, to the woman whose brother has successfully raised six children from behind bars, the stories in this powerful anthology expose the Black dad as something that, while not perfect, is a human, loving presence in the lives of his children.

Learn more about Bet on Black: African-American Women Celebrate Fatherhood in the Age of Barack Obama at BetOnBlackDads.com.

The book will debut on October 8, 2013, and the launch tour will start later that week, with Naasel and select authors making appearances in Philadelphia, Penn. (Oct. 10); Washington, D.C. (Oct. 11); and New York City (Oct. 12).

Interviews with the editor and writers are available by request. Additional information, media assets and a media kit can be found at BetOnBlackDads.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

DENOR Brands + Public Relations is a public relations, marketing and brand strategy firm in Tennessee, Louisiana and beyond. The agency specializes in developing communication strategies that influence public policy, programs, and partnerships in the education, nonprofit, and small business sectors.