reality TV shifted the focus to the extremes, leading networks to believe viewers want more drama. So, they hired Ray J at Brandy’s urging and made him into Frank’s offspring. Despite the new perspective it has given him, Frank was just a regular dad trying to get through his kids’ awkward teenage years.
Best Quote: “You have to create your own world and future now because your parents can’t help you anymore.”
Flex Washington
Played by Flex Alexander on ‘One on One’
‘One on One’ was the first show of its kind, following a Black father as he raised his daughter on his own. Flex’s daughter Breanna (Kyla Pratt) moves home with him when her mother accepts a job offer in another country. Flex’s transformation from a slacker single dad who spent two weeks a year with his kid to a devoted, full-time earner and father was encouraging. It has never been attempted on television before, although many men in this country have faced the peril of making that journey. In addition, Flex and Breanna demonstrated how a child may learn to trust and respect a parent who isn’t always around by modeling these behaviors themselves.
Best Quote: “My daughter, she’s got boobs. It’s so tough watching your baby grow; it really, really is. I was there when she stepped into womanhood and had her first period; her mother wasn’t. I didn’t know what to do. I was running around the house trying to find wet naps.”
Julius Rock
Played by Terry Crews on ‘Everybody Hates Chris’
Julius is one of the funniest and most realistic Black dads on television and is based on Chris Rock’s father. Since Julius toiled away at various occupations to provide for his family, he wasn’t about to let them waste away ANY of THEIR hard-earned cash. To put it another way, he was cheap. The analogy to urging one’s family to stop using different household devices to save electricity expenses was both hilariously appropriate and horribly cheap. The only time he ever carelessly spent money was on lottery tickets. The show’s flashback format highlighted the paradigm of the typical Black father from the 1980s, which I like despite Julius’s predilection for frugality going too far at times. When it came to his boys, he was stern, but when it came to his daughter, he was adoring. He delegated most of the punishment to his wife, but he ensured his children knew he always had a belt ready. He may not have been the most nurturing dad, but his dedication paid off for his kids.
Best Quote: “No is negotiable. I can actually change where I go and how I get there. I can actually make my way over to the other side. It’s up to me.”
Ray Campbell
Played by Tim Reid on ‘Sister Sister’
There was no better dad than Ray Campbell. He raised Tamera (Tamera Mowry) after losing his wife, raised her alone for a while, and then brought in Tamera’s twin sister and adoptive mother. He was able to take care of Tia (Tia Mowry) and Lisa (Jackée Harry) because of his successful limo company, and he started to think of them as family. In addition, he represented a more conventional Black father than we had previously seen; he was upstanding and savvy, and he would have had Tamera in Jack and Jill if she hadn’t been so resistant to him. He loved his daughter deeply despite his bafflement.
Best Quote: “The name of the game is efficiency; we have to play that game with our toys and our brains.”
Michael Kyle Sr.
Played by Damon Wayans on ‘My Wife and Kids’
Michael Kyle was unrivaled as the best TV dad in the early 2000s. He represented the modern Black American patriarch. Instead of just slapping them with the belt, he used a combination of psychological and physical manipulation to instill a sense of responsibility in them. In addition to Michael and Jane’s (Tisha Campbell-Martin) teen pregnancy, Michael’s choice to turn his blue-collar career into a thriving company was another example of how the show questioned expectations and pushed limits. The fact that Michael had a vasectomy was a major story factor. Some African fathers of the time may have learned from his ability to blend new techniques with more time-honored ones.
Best Quote: “My father was the guy on the block who said hi to everyone.”
Calvin Butler
Played by Cedric The Entertainer on “The Neighborhood’
Calvin’s character in ‘The Neighborhood’ changes drastically from his judgmental beginnings. Calvin is shown to be a kind father who has attended every single one of his children’s significant life events. He is understanding when they make mistakes and encouraging when they discover their passion. Calvin adopts a neighbor’s child and becomes a father figure to a troubled girl who works in his auto repair business. Despite his fury and harsh tongue, Calvin is a kind parent who supports his kids’ choices even when he disagrees with them.
Best Quote: “It is a big world that we live in, and people have a choice to love who they love.”