The video contained in this post was a rush job. There are no ifs ands and buts about it. I had been trying to schedule Scott for a shoot all week and when he was finally available, my time was not my own. But I committed myself to making it happen.

What I didn't anticipate was Scott's nervousness. We've discussed fatherhood in the past and also in the days leading up to my taping him. He's a fun-loving bear of a man who speaks with so much pride and passion about being a father I was caught off guard by his jitters about saying the right thing. Or worse, saying the wrong thing.

I knew that if we had to do multiple takes, this guy was going to start overthinking and making mechanical something that comes very naturally to him. So we did this in two takes, albeit with some camera shake, the Sun imposing it's will on us and my overlooking some tiny gaffes in the name of getting the most authentic and raw footage possible.

Unbeknownst to him at the time, Scott gave me some of the purest gold I've ever had the pleasure to watch. I literally have grinned from ear to ear while watching. Especially 2:55 into the video.

I hope you will agree. Fatherhood in Black: Because We Do Exist

Happy Father's Day to you and yours.



Before you go, meet Ross and watch his testimony on what it means to be a father.

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Meet Ross. Ross is an acclaimed photographer, a devoted husband and the proud father of a bouncing baby girl. Ross was gracious enough to take a few moments to share his thoughts on fatherhood with me and is the inaugural subject of my new docu-series called Fatherhood In Black: Because We Do Exist.

The mission of this message is to promote the reality that men of color, particularly African American men, are dedicated, involved and loving parents despite what much of mainstream media promotes and in contrast to what many believe.

Tweet: This Father Really Loves His Daughter http://ctt.ec/3X9fd+ #parenting #fatherhood #dadstalking

This inaugural entry will eventually evolve into a very large project. Please view and share, this video and this blog post, as much as you like as I hope you will share in my personal passion to truly propel and position positive images of fatherhood. We're here, and always have been --- in plain sight.

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Tray Chaney, with son, Malachi and father, Skip.

NAME: Tray Chaney

OCCUPATION: Entertainer (The Wire, Something The Lord Made, Fatherhood)

AGE: 30

STATUS: Married

HOW MANY KIDS: 2

KID(S) AGES: 5 years old


YOUR ONE SENTENCE STATEMENT/FEELING ON FATHERHOOD: Our kids are the future! We have to be there for them!

This is the first in what I hope will be a VERY large and long series of images.

It’s easy to debate with words and emotion the notion of “The Good Black Man” who does what he says and means what he says who short of his own set of God-given flaws is a credit to his family and his community. Some argue he is a mythological being or worse, one that only exists thanks to celebrity or wealth. There are a plenty of examples everywhere. If you don’t see them it may be because you don’t see them. I hate to burst bubbles but President Obama and Will Smith are not the only strong and positive African American fathers in our midst. If you can’t find them it might be because we are everywhere, hiding unsung in plain sight at schools, kids’ sporting events and churches, just to name a few places.

The mission of Fatherhood In Black™ is to give an indisputable face to dedicated, responsible African American fathers nationwide and from all walks of life.

Welcome to Fatherhood In Black™.

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Thanks for reading! To learn more about me, you can read my story.

Tray Chaney from The Wire "goes in" on #fatherhood dropping science like they used to back in the day...

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I know I'm not the best dad.

Many days I won't even claim being a good dad.

I'll never pat myself on the back for what I do.

Nor do I want to receive pats or cookies for it.

It doesn't come natural although some are "naturals".

Thank God I had and still have a model to work from.

The greatest teacher I've ever had.

My dad.

Thanks, Dad.



E.Payne is the author of Investing In An Emotional Letdown and I Didn't Invented Sex. For the past 3 years he has posted 600+ articles about fatherhood, marriage and everything in between here at Makes Me Wanna Holler.com. To learn more, click here.

What I Wouldn't Give To Have This Time With Her Again...


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Meant to put this up sooner, but I am on vacation after all.

The picture below is entitled, No Words. Submitted and photographed by HomeGirl Quel (Kel) In Austin.



Thanks Raquel!


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