Essence Magazine celebrates black fathers
Essence magazine has a feature this month celebrating black fathers. Included in the spread are Boris Kodjoe, Xzibit, Coby Bell, and Kenny Lattimore. Here are the highlights:
ActorBoris Kodjoe, husband to actress Nicole Ari Parker Kodjoe, father to Sophie Tee-Naaki, 2, and Nicolas Neruda, 7 months.
On being a dad: Having kids gives you wings and makes you feellike a superhero. Fatherhood has taught me unconditional love, againand again, and a depth of emotion that I’ve never experienced.Sometimes I wonder, ‘What was I doing before?’
On raising a boy and a girl: My older sister always kept me in check, so I knew having a girl firstwould provide a great influence on the behavior of my son. Theirdemeanors are different — she’s very sweet and affectionate, and he’s areal boy, very stoic. Sophie loves her little brother and kisses him all day long. Nicolas is the happiestbaby in the world.
Singer Kenny Lattimore, husband to singer Chanté Moore and father to Kenny, Jr. (K.J.), 4, and stepfather to Sophia, 10.
On a special connection: K.J. and I share the same , and after he was born, I rememberwanting to be with him every second. Because I was molested as a child,I want to make sure that his innocence is protected. He was a verycalm, quiet baby, and everyone said, ‘Oh, he acts like his dad.’ Iwondered if we’d have the same personality, but I can see how his lifeexperiences are beginning to take over.
On blending families: My 10-year-old stepdaughter, Sophia, spends time at both our house andher dad’s [actor Kadeem Hardison], and we all spend Christmas together.K.J. loves Sophia to death, and I spend quality time with her, lookover homework, and make sure to give her hugs and kisses, just like herparents.
Click below for photos and interview highlights from Xzibit, who wants to send a ‘stellar human being into the world,’ and Coby Bell, who talks about his ‘two-for-one special.’
Rapper Xzibit, father to Tremayne, 12.
On fatherhood: I was 19 when I found out I was going to be afather, and I still had a lot of growing up to do. But kids are bornwith a clean slate; you have to help make the person. He hasopportunities that I never dreamed of when I was his age. I can see hispotential, and I’m proud.
On raising a young man: Tremayne’s mother and I share custody, and I stay very involved in hislife. He’s asking about sex now. Instead of getting angry about wherethe questions are coming from, I give him the right information. I wantto send a stellar human being into the world.
Actor Coby Bell, father to twins Jaena and Serrae, 4.
On fatherhood: The day I found out my wife, Aviss, was pregnant I was running aroundscreaming, dancing and acting a fool. Then when we realized we werehaving twins, I thought, ‘We’re getting the two-for-one special!’Everything they do amazes me. When I look at them, I think, ‘Wow, thoseare my kids.’
On parenting girls: I’m raising two young Black women in America, and I know I have to prepare them for that, one day at a time. Most of all, I want my daughters to be good people who are strong and proud of who they are. And I want them to be happy.
Source: Essence
Thanks to CBB reader Akentunde.
