'How my father shaped my life'

Ebony, June, 2003

Detroit Mayor
Kwame Kilpartick
Father: Bernard
Kilpatrick

"My father, Bernard Kilpatrick, who has a history in Detroit city politics, has influenced me personally to become the confident, self-assured person I am. My father has influenced me in many ways, the most important of which are staying true to God, surrounding myself with intelligent people, doing my homework on the issues that confront me, knowing all that I can about the issues, and building good coalitions. My father has always said that politics is about coalition-building. 'Understand that nobody knows it all' he has told me. 'And don't be subjected to, or let anyone subject you to, something that is not righteous.'"

A father's love is unique and transforming. It's a place of refuge and liberation, and is expressed in many different ways by different dads.

Much is made of a Black mother's influence, and rightfully so. But what about the Black father? He, too, commands and holds a place of honor and respect in the lives of Black children. He, too, deserves recognition for the successes of many of Black America's notable personalities.

On the following pages, several of them--including, Johnnie L. Cochran Jr., Gerald LeVert, Angie Stone, U.S. Rep. John Lewis, former U.S. Surgeon General David Satchel, foundation president Stacey D. Stewart and others--remind us, individually and collectively, that we survived and continue to survive because of strong Black moms and strong Black dads.

Attorney
Johnnie L. Cochran Jr.
Father:
Johnnie L. Cochran Sr.

"My father, Johnnie L. Cochran Sr., is 89 and still lives with me. I still talk to him every day. He is so wise. He's my confidant, role model and mentor. He's a special man, and I seek his advice all the time.

He always, always talked about the value of education, and he gave me a chance to be what I could be when he moved from Louisiana to Los Angeles. Long ago he knew the importance and value of education and found a way for me to go to one of the best schools in Los Angeles [L.A. High School] even though we didn't live in the district.

I was reluctant to get involved in the O.J. Simpson case and when I talked to him, he said: 'Does he need your help?' I said, 'I think so.' And he said, 'You your answer.' He's a great guy, and we laugh a lot."

Singers GERALD & SEAN LEVERT, and their father, EDDIE LEVERT

"My father," Gerald Levert says, "taught me to be humble and treat everybody the way you want to be treated, no matter how successful you are, no matter where you are in your career. He taught me to be fair to everybody. He said to never take for granted that talent that God has given you. Know that it can be taken away; you can lose your voice. There will be good times and bad times, but you still have to be strong. He taught me how to be strong and really get through the tough times. It's not all as easy and sweet as it looks. Sometimes you have to smile for the camera when you don't want to smile for the camera. He taught me how to do that.

Without his direction and help it would be even harder for me. There are some nights when I go to bed confused. I ask why it has to be like this. Why isn't it like I planned it? I have somebody who can explain it all, someone who has been through everything. There is nothing I go through that he hasn't been through. I told my dad that sometimes I just want to jump out a window. He said, 'Do you know how many windows I've wanted to jump out of?'

May dad's been my role model, my confidant, my advisor, everything. Without him I would not be the man I've grown to be. He's a special man. I appreciate the fact that God made him my father, that I am his seed.

He is one of a kind. Hopefully my kids will grow up to feel the same way about me. To know that I'm there for them and how people can be. I want to guide my kids in the right direction, so when they are confused, they can count on me being there for them."

Author Walter Mosley
Father: Leroy Mosley

Walter Mosley, the award-winning best selling author of over 14 books, credits his work ethic and love for literature to his late father. "My father [Leroy Mosley] was a great storyteller and he loved it when I would tell stories. Writing them is sort of an expression of my love for him."

Being responsible and being accountable are also principles Mosley learned from his late father--values which continue to guide him today. "My father wanted me to understand my responsibility. At the end of the day, he wanted me to be able to say that I did everything I could to be right and to do right. When I took that into account, I began to develop my own understanding of where I stood in the world and where I thought other Black people stood. I think Black people are the wealthiest, the most powerful and the most influential group of Black people in the world."

Angie Stone
Grammy-wining singer
and actress
Father: Bobby Williams

"My dad [Bobby Williams] is incredibly upfront and incredibly honest. He's very talented, practical--a singing sensation in my life. He keeps me grounded. Both of my parents, Bobby and Iona, are wonderful. They both sing. She's a kitchen singer and he's a club singer. They've been married for 41 years.