Critical Race Theory and African American Fatherhood: Countering the Mainstream Narrative

Fatherhood has become a prominent research topic within the fields of education and family studies, particularly about White middle-class fathers (Cab rera, et al., 2007). While limited studies have explored fathers of color (Bush & Bush, 2018; Lemmons & Johnson, 2019), specifically African American fathers (used interchangeably here with Black fathers), researchers have habitually examined them through a dominant cultural lens. Employing traditional fatherhood frameworks (Lamb et al., 1985; Palkovitz, 1997), investigators have consistently focused on deficits in Black fathers' income, residential, and relationship status, therefore neglecting the unique parenting skills, experiences, stories, and strengths that Black fathers offer their children (Author, 2018b). This article uses two tenets of Critical Race Theory, 1) centrality of race and racism, and 2) challenging the dominant ideology (Ladson-Billings & Tate, 1995; Lemmons & Johnson, 2019; Solórzano et al., 2005), as analytical tools to assess current literature on African American fathers. In closing, the authors provide recommendations on how Critical Race Theory can advance the African American fatherhood research literature.