Honorable Men for Justice

By J.A. Salaam -Staff Writer- | Last updated: Oct 28, 2015 - 7:33:51 AM

WASHINGTON—Fathers Inc., 100 Fathers Inc. and Omega Psi Phi fraternity, held an inspiring, transformational “Honorable Man” rally at the New Bethel Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March and to honor Black fathers. Black Men traveled from across the country to join other fathers and sons to take a stand and pledge to better themselves, community and nation. Joel Buckner set the tone for the evening as he sung and shared words to lift the spirit of those present.

“It starts with us to break the chains, they are broken tonight, no more fatherless children, the generational curse is broken. As fathers there’s an army here to stand up as a mighty force,” said Mr. Buckner

After the Million Man March 20 years ago the crime rate among Black people decreased, fathers became more active in the lives of their children and took more responsibility within the community as mentors, husbands and civilized citizens in society.

Fathers Incorporated launched its “Honorable Man Campaign” to encourage 20,000 Black fathers to sign its pledge. The pledge is designed to provide the principles of being an “honorable man”; in which, these men make great fathers, husbands, mentors and leaders. By gaining 20,000 pledges, this will help to endorse a five-point plan to address: employment and training; health, resources and services, incarceration and child support policy. To date the organization has fathers whom have signed the petition from over 200 cities representing over 1,000 children.

As the night concluded men in the audience were asked to pair up and pin a blue bowtie on one other. The pin is to be worn as a symbol of an honorable man. They stood facing each other and repeated the pledge of Self-Care, Honesty, Distinction, Nobility, Worthiness, Duty & Responsibility, Credibility, Excellence, Mentor and the character of being a giver. After they said the pledge, they were asked to say something inspiring and impactful in one anothers’ ear. They were then asked to come up front and turn around to face the women in the room and promised to be honorable from that point forward.

“There’s always a father factor in every aspect of our lives. Incarceration, teen pregnancy, drug abuse and crimes is because there has been no fathers present in the lives of children. Whenever, you take men out the home, you can destroy the family, the city and nation,” said Pastor Dexter Nutall

“Our communities are in need to change the perception and the filter that’s been given to us as to how society currently views our Black men in respect to fathers. We must replace the filter of that negative, deadly, absent, bad, and dangerous and demon Blackman,” said Kenneth Braswell, Executive Director of Fathers Inc.

Fathers Incorporated is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation and is dedicated to strengthening the community and family infrastructure by encouraging and enabling the positive involvement of fathers in the lives of their children. The organization actively recruits upstanding men and responsible fathers to serve as mentors and trainers who assist other fathers to rededicate themselves to becoming great dads.

For more information visit fathersincorporated.com.

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