This archive report was first published on 17 September 2019.
Published on September 17, 2019, by Henry Gekonde, a Nation author.
As I listened to a father speak about his wayward son, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The father's harsh words seemed to mask a deeper pain, one that went beyond his son's perceived failures.
It wasn't until later that night, as I reflected on the father's outburst, that I realized the true nature of his anger. He wasn't upset about his son's choices; he was disappointed in his own failed expectations. The privileges of his son's upbringing should have led him down a different path, one that would have brought him prestige and status.
But this is a common problem in our society. Men today are often more concerned with their own success and material possessions than with being present for their families. They may pay the bills, but they are absent in every other way.
As a result, our sons are growing up with a different set of values, one that emphasizes individualism and self-reliance over family and community. They are looking to hip-hop stars and other celebrities as role models, rather than their own fathers.
It's a problem that has been exacerbated by our own pursuit of wealth and status. We have created a society where men are more concerned with their own success than with being good fathers. And it's a problem that needs to be addressed, before it's too late.
