I guess the point I'm trying to make is that we as fathers and men are much more important to our children's well-being that we are sometimes given credit for. Lots of similarities, lots of differences. At bottom line, many of us have the same fears and hopes for our children. I'd rather reach than teach.
Many white fathers have the same issues, of course.
We give them a welter of conflicting answers to that question, and then wonder why they are confused. I also do a fair amount of stuff on pop culture, gay rights and media. Really, the column is comprised of whatever happens to catch my interest in a given week. I have five kids. The most valuable lesson I've learned, I guess, is that I'll never be perfect and neither will they.