Obama Black Fathers

On Father's Day 2008, Senator Barack Obama addressed the Apostolic Church of God about the importance of African-American parents being involved in their children's lives. He talked about how his own father left him when he was two years old and how more black fathers need to take part in raising their children.MSNBC: Obama tells black fathers to engage their kids (June 15, 2008)

Obama told the black congregation that more than half of black children are living with only one of their parents which makes them more likely to live a life in poverty and 20 times more likely to end up in prison.ABC News: Obama Tells Black Dads: Be a Real Father (June 15, 2008)

"Too many fathers are also missing. Too many fathers are MIA. Too many fathers are AWOL. Missing from too many lives and too many homes. They’ve abandoned their responsibilities, they’re acting like boys instead of men, and the foundations of our family have suffered because of it. You know and I know this is true everywhere, but nowhere is it more true than in the African American community."—Barack ObamaEmbed Producers: Obama Goes to Church(June 15, 2008)