March 2024

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Matt Prestbury was once single dad raising two kids while working as a kindergarten teacher. It dawned on him that there were no online communities for single fathers to support each other. “I’m very much an introvert, but I knew that I wanted to build a brotherhood in a sense – and I didn’t see anything else like that out there,” he said.

A Close Community

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Prestbury decided to take matters in his own hands. So in 2008 he made a Facebook page for called Black Fathers. “Everything you see and read about parenting seems to be directed towards moms…What about us? I keep saying, ‘We’re here, too.’ It’s unfair to negate the role that fathers play,” he said. Others clearly felt the same way. The group started off slowly but eventually, the page became very popular. Dads shared cute pictures with their kids, fun events in their neighborhoods, and inspirational things to foster support and positivity.

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It Turned Into Something Bigger

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The humble Facebook page became something much more powerful. It was a place for the men to fight against the negative stereotypes that surround them. “I wanted to create a virtual space where fathers could come together and be a resource for each other — and help break lot of stereotypes to change the narrative of what it means to be a black father in America”. Prestbury said. “There used to be the perception that fathers, and, in particular, black fathers, all abandon their children. But I wanted to have stories represented like mine, where the fathers are actively involved in their kids’ lives.”

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Thousands Have Joined

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The page now has over 10,000 members. They schedule official events, such as daddy-daughter dates and workshops. It is a supportive community – the dads give each other parenting tips and professional recommendations. “We have lots of stay-at-home dads and working fathers who play a very active role in their kids’ lives,” Prestbury says.

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Bringing More Attention To Father’s Rights

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Prestbury, who has now remarried and has two more kids, is proud of what the community has accomplished, but he believes that fathers are still often in the background compared to mothers. Most advertising and information regarding parenting is directed to mothers and not fathers. Earlier this year actor Ashton Kutcher also brought attention to this issue when he pointed out that there are often no diaper changing stations in male public restrooms, which is extremely inconvenient for fathers who are alone with their children.

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The Ultimate Goal

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There are plenty of fathers actively involved in their children’s lives and even raising them by themselves, yet the deadbeat dad stereotype persists. “[My ultimate goal] is to make it so that you feel like if you’re not involved in your children’s lives, you’re a fool,” Prestbury states. “Being a father is the greatest joy in my life…I want to encourage other active fathers to share their stories and be public about it. We have so many means now to add our voices. Sing it, write it, post it, rap it, blog it, whatever. Show the world how amazing it is to be a father.”

SEE ALSO: A Sick Dad Surprised His Daughter And Walked Her Down The Aisle.  

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