One dad overcompensates because of the myth of the absent black father

Zakiya Tafari is a single dad to a 12 year-old daughter.

He sees his daughter every other weekend and every other Wednesday.

Zakiya says dads are often seen as incapable of being caregivers.

"When I went through the court process… I mean my daughter, she was young at the time. She was a girl. I think the stigma was that as a man I can't raise a young girl."

He also has to contend with the prevalent stereotype of the "absent black dad".

"The stereotype and stigma that black fathers face, I mean, it's so harmful and so impactful. There's a lot of messages that say black fathers are not there. They're not involved in their kids' lives. And the reality is far from it."

Zakiya sites research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that found black fathers are just as involved with their kids as white and Latino dads. He also sees that commitment through his work with black dads at Ujima House.

But the stereotype still follows him around.

"A lot of times I feel like I have to overcompensate as a dad...just to challenge and break stereotypes...It makes me feel the need to highlight that I'm a provider...that I'm affectionate to my daughter...that I'm a committed father."