by
Black Girl With Long Hair
Facebook was set ablaze on July 25 after Frank Somerville, a white TV reporter in California posted a photo on his page of him combing his adopted black daughter’s hair with the caption:
So for those of you who think tv can be glamorous, this is how i spent my morning, learning how to take out my daughter’s braids. It takes a long time and a lot of patience!
Within a few days the photo had been shared more than 2,500 times and received more than 12,000 likes.
Somerville followed up with a statement a few days later,
It’s not often that I am speechless, but I am floored by the response to the picture I posted, and by how touching and personal many of them were. To me the picture shows a dad doing what a dad SHOULD do, and loving every minute of it. The birth of my first daughter, and adopting my youngest daughter, are the two best moments of my life, and I feel like the luckiest dad in the world that my family is interracial. I can’t thank all of you enough. And remember CHANGE HAPPENS ONE PERSON AT A TIME!
The picture is definitely touching, and brings to mind Clifton Green, another white father who adopted an Ethiopian girl, and soon became responsible for her hair care.
Ladies, what do you think of the photo?
249 Responses
I was skeptical, but this nicotine free vape actually helped me cut my habit by half already!
Black, white, green, or blue…we are different and for one to express an innocent thought on a diverse part of his/her life is merely their choice and shouldn’t be judged. Great job dad, at least you tried!
But he appears to be doing the very best he can. My dad never even attempted to comb my hair, from what I can recall. White people, or people in general, should absolutely be able to adopt Black children if they are willing to love and care for them as though the child were their own. I encourage MORE people to adopt children as long as they are able to give them a clean and safe, loving home! Also, my husband is White and I’m Black, and when we have kids, we will consider them to be Black/African. There are lots of men with Black/African children, whether these children are their natural born children or adoptive. As long as these men love and care for their children, there is nothing wrong with that!
first of all this comments is stupid , first look at the comp that is using this is a NO NO for Afrikan hair ,this child is going to hell right now the romentisation cause a white man is DOING HER HAIR ThE WRONG WAY .. please there is nothing touching i this picture ,everybody raise your own this is a real reason white should not raise African childreNS POOR GIRL .
I think it’s just normal. I don’t really understand the reason why some of the black people are criticizing the pictures
Omg! So freaking precious! This is just to adorable.
Honestly I keep seeing comments regarding unkempt hair on little black children. I have a really bad feeling that these comments are just the expression of internalized shame over the natural frizzy, kinky texture of nappy virgin hair. The funny thing is that our ethnically distinct hair texture is not as undesirable to others as it is to those who this internalized shame. I love big frizzy, nappy, kinky, tightly wound, wild hair. I love to see little girls and boys proudly wearing their ever expanding afros and natural hair. I don’t find it unkempt. I go down it absolutely stunning and beautiful. And this fifty year old mom who never permed or straightened or otherwise attempted to tame my own multi-ethnic child’s majestic nappy mane is currently working on growing out my own Angela Davis inspired black and proud “natural”. Hallelujah!
actually there has been quite a few slideshow pictures of African american Dads and men who are uncles that showed them braiding, parting, and wrapping the hair in buns of little girls hair. That slide show of pics circulated at least four times within two years. African american men definitely does their little diamonds hair too. (unbelievable folks)
I love this! I think it’s great that white parents are taking care of the children they have adopted with varying textures of hair. I love that they are asking for help, learning techniques and taking on the job. I love that there is more information on how to take care of black textured hair so that there isn’t this ignorance. This is great and needs to be encourage. Hopefully there will be a cultural shift and more white people and black people will stop trying to make our hair”acceptable” and just accept it!
My father never did my sisters and mines hair growing up, but my children’s father did when they were little. White, black or other it really depends on the man and race has nothing to do with it.
I think it is amazing that this father is taking the time and energy to do his daughter’s hair but I’m at a loss as to why he had to post a picture like this. I don’t doubt that he loves his daughter but this feels like a self validation picture more than anything. It could be half and half, taking out braids is time consuming and an apropriate response given his reason for the picture, but it’s like…. okay…..why was this such a pressing issue to premeditate a picture to post the following evening. Sorry if this is incoherent, theres just a weird air about this thing like he’s trying to prove something. I of course can be wrong.
Outstanding…. FYI… there are plenty of African American men who does their kids hair, they just don’t post it up for the whole world to see… Sorry to disappoint those of you who thought differently.
I’m so in love with this! I’m not against whites adopting blacks and vice versa (or any race in that matter). I’m against not learning how to maintain their hair (or any race in that matter/can go multiple ways). I hate seeing young black girls walking around in this crazy hair state becuause the parents are uneducated about their hair (although this can go many ways). If that was an adopted white child her hair would not be matted, breaking, and falling out. I’m happy she had braids, and I’m happy hes taking them out! Wanna know why?? Becuause he is taking them out and not leaving them in to get matted, nappy, tangled, and cause breakage! He is doing what a father should AND what a white father with african american children should do, take care of their children and ALL aspects of them!
Father does daughter’s hair. Alert the press. Why is this news?
I just hope he starts from the ends and works his way down. Oh, and moisturize! Make sure he moisturizes her hair…And buys her a scarf to wear at night. Does he know about the co-wash?
I am half black and half hispanic. Most of the time my black mother was the one who took care of my hair when I was a child. My father would offer his hands to braid my hair whenever my mother was out running an errand. He was never very good at it but it was nice to know that he cared even about whether or not my hair was done. That had nothing to do with his race, more to do with who he is. I grew up knowing many multiracial kids and children who were from all over the world. Some of my biracial black friends did have nonblack mothers who were the primary caretakers of the girls’ hair. And they did a fantastic job. Better job then some of the black mothers I knew, most of which would have someone else do their daughters’ hair anyway. I have yet to meet a nonblack mother of a multiracial child who doesn’t know how to take care of and style their child’s hair. Most of these mothers I knew did NOT ask advice from ANYONE. They figured it out themselves, like any other mother.
Nice job! He appears to be doing a caring job! He is very focused! I feel the love! God bless them always!
Beautiful and very touching
My fondest memories of my dad are of him combing and trying to braid my thick curly hair. He always looked as intense as this fella, yet all the while I sat quite patiently, resting in that love. Sometimes one of his braids didn’t want to lay correctly, but I didn’t care. This was one of the few times I sat quietly — I was quite a “tom-boy.” She’s only going to remember, “My dad used to comb my hair for me…” Please don’t color the love.
Seeing ANY Dad doing his daughter’s hair is lovely. Consequently,
any other statement is just not important. Hair bonds us to our parents like nothing else. May God’s blessings, courage and insight be with all adopted and biological parents.
Most non white people don’t know what racism/white supremacy is or how it works so yes they are offended because of ignorance.
I think that it is very judgmental to say that most biracial children go around looking unkempt. First, there is an enormous amout of importance placed on hair that doesn’t need to be there. Second, biracial hair is different. Until recently , products and advice for how to care for it were nearly non-existent. Everyone either just let it go, or fried it into submission. Now that is finally changing. I for one, find it terribly offensive when women give me cards or phone numbers for “someone who will relax that for you.” What’s wrong with my daughter’s natural hair? It’s healthy, thick, and long. So it’s a little wild too. I take care of it. She goes to an amazing natural stylist. It’s beautiful, and I don’t care it anyone thinks it is unkempt.
I grew up in a white home both my parents (I was adopted). I’m Biracial and my point of view is they do they best they can. My mom went to black friends that she had for advice always, and both my parents learned how to manage my hair. I can’t believe all the rude comments i see there are more important issues. I am proud to be adopted my parents honor both my races and cultures. I’m offended because if in fact these kids are adopted like i am we learn at a young age skin doesn’t matter. We adopted kids have other important things to worry about.
First of all, the little girl has silk curly hair making it easy to comb. Whether it will stay that way is unseen. The mere fact that “dad” is tickled pink that he is taking care of his children and one of the responsibilities is combing his little girl’s hair is commendable. My husband couldn’t even cut our boys hair, so I did the hair cutting in the house. I see nothing wrong with this pic, he adopted this child and must care very much for her. Racism is a pain in the arse!
I think this is fabulous just for the simple fact that I have seen WAY TOO OFTEN that a good number of white mothers will allow their biracial children’s hair to be unkempt, matted, and tangled. And fathers usually don’t tend to know how to do little girls’ hair. So to see a white father taking the time, energy, and love to maintain his black daughter’s hair is great.
SN: I have not set out to offend anybody with the comment about white mothers with biracial babies. I am just stating what I personally happen to see on a regular basis.
I’m African American and I see others seeing racism in this. The man just posted the picture of himself doing his daughters hair. If there is racism, it’s not on his part. That newspapers and blogs picked it up, isn’t his doing. As for making black men ‘look’ bad, they can only do that to themselves. Your feelings are your own and if you CHOOSE to feel bad or think you look bad, then you should ask yourself why. Many of you are just overly sensitive. Sometimes it’s good to take things at face value. By the way, most black men aren’t jumping at the chance to do their daughters hair. That’s women’s work for them. He’s married and could have just as easily left it to his wife to do. But he wants to LEARN how to care for her and about her as a black person. As one poster stated who knows him, she has African American role models in her life. So, please, put away your attitudes.
I agree with you on biracial children and that tangly coily hair. I don’t understand why white mom’s especially don’t go to the black husband’s family to get advice on moisturizing and training the hair of the child or go to an ethnic hair supply store. It annoys me that these kids hair look so unkempt. It’s a simple solution. And the little boys hair could be kept cut instead of growing as long as a girl’s.
Biracial hair isn’t the same as black OR white hair. My mother-in-law doesn’t know how to do her own hair, and would have just said to put in a relaxer. Everyone else just recommended grease or oil. All of which was awful for her hair. It’s only recently that products and advice for biracial hair has been available. I learned by trial and error. Don’t be so quick to judge. And there is nothing unkempt about natural curls. Matted hair is a disgrace no matter a child’s race.
My mom is white she always went for advice she went to black people for advice when i was younger. quit judging us adopted people or kids who have a white parent. I’m disappointed that there are people like this in the world. You are quick to judge and you aren’t even trying to understand what we go through. Just stop this.
I agree. My white mom was FABULOUS when doing my hair (which is multi-texture, but mostly 4a). She never even went to the black side of the family. She just researched my hair type and stayed clear of relaxers and other texture manipulators. I grew up with my long, healthy hair in braids, twists, afro puffs, and the occasional flat iron when I was a bit older. Judging biracial kids (like myself) and/or adopted kids with a white mom is wrong, and not all mothers neglect to take care of the children’s hair.
It’s funny you mention that as sometimes I wonder why white mom should get advice from black moms on how to threat their daughters hair as osot of them answers would probably be to relaxed them. Being black doesn’t mean you automatically know how to handle your hair. In fact it takes some a lifetime to understand how to care for their hair. That’s why many black woman hide their hairs under weaves or relax them.
Seriously on the “making black men look bad” thing. My black dad combed my hair all the time when I was a kid.
Sooo…just a few questions?
If he didn’t adopt her, would you? Have you tried?
Are you an adoptive parent? Since all this talking does nothing to help children who need a family.
She had to get her hair combed, right?
Frankly, because I am not going to post a racially charged post doesn’t mean that I forgotten one damn thing about MY history. Be clear, I know the facts. Here is what I also know, that every child needs a familial to provide food, clothing, adequate education, love and care. I also know I am not looking to adopt at this time, are you? Somewhere would these kids be with the state? In foster care, lacking possible stability and proper care? I am not going to go racial on this one, just not doing it. Let be clear, I don’t believe that just because these children went to white families it is better or worse, but it is a family. I am going to to accept it as just that, these little girls were getting the care they needed from a member of their family. Instead of attacking this and downplaying it reach out and mentor these little girls, these dads will face bigger issues than HAIR. They need to some how develop a network that can support and teach these little girl to become Black women. So step up and do that! It’s call being productive and effective.
i’m thinking that that blue comb had better be wide-tooth, because that little girl’s ends are lookin mighty sketchy!
Seriously, I feel your pain. Removing braids (they look like box braids) takes a long time. That is why I rarely do my daughters’ her hair in that style.
Real men do what they gotta do! You go daddies, those little girls are precious!
I just want to bring this article to light. Have a great day all.
When our youngest daughter was little, my hubby was responsible for washing, conditioning and detangling her hair. This became part of their Saturday night weekly routine, and they both looked forward to their special time together.
One Saturday night, I had some friends over and they were so amazed that my husband “took the time” to learn how to care for our daughter’s hair. In our family, it was completely normal, and was just one of the things that made our home run more efficiently.
I look forward to the day when, regardless of race, more men are involved in the day-to-day care of their daughters. That’s what I saw in the photo – a dad being a PARENT. And that made me smile.
so adorable — whenever my dad did mine, it never had quite the ‘finish’ mom would put on it 😉 but I think I loved it even more. Hope Mr. Somerville has some wide-toothed combs in the stash tho lol [and maybe a tangle teaser]
It is so precious, not only for this dad but for any dad to comb their daughter’s hair…..just precious.
I can remember a time my dad tried to comb my sister’s and my hair. OMG it was a mess. Mom walked in the door just in time. My sissy, who was definitely a daddy’s girl, was pissed that my mom changed her hair. Me? I wanted my hair “did” right. This pic reminds me of the love my dad had for us and how my sister adored him so so so much. That day she wanted to wear the style he gave her. RIP Eldridge Dickey you will always be remembered.
aLove It the fact that A MAN is doing his daughters hair is precious and refreshing. A white man doing his afro childs hair is that much more special love it your guys rock !
Umm, wow. I don’t dispute that there is a long and painful history that everyone should be aware of, but how can you find evil in something that totally isn’t? My daughters both have natural hair, and my husband will do it if necessary, but it’s not his favorite thing to do. That this man is willing to take on a task like that and think nothing other than that it is something a father should do it admirable. I don’t think he is saying he is a better parent than a black man, only that all fathers, regardless of race, should just be involved in their kids’ lives.
This is awesome!!! You know how much PATIENCE, time, work and dedication it takes for natural women to do their own hair… Just IMAGINE this father’s frustrations and joys from dealing with hair unlike his own! Im sure it took him a long while to even learn how to manage and conquer his daughter’s hair!!! Thumbs up, dad! This isnt about race nor history. Its about love and dedication and SELFLESSNESS! Stop being so, judgemental and spiteful, black people! (and yes, for the record, Im a black, natural woman!!)
love to see a man that comb his daughters hair love it
That is my Local Reporter Frank Somerville….He is a very proud father …we see him often at the grocery store with his daughters…Love it
Eeerrrrr, the issue here is not REALLY that he is white or black or hispanic or whatever. The point is that taking care of someone whose needs are “foreign” to yours is not something that may be easy to do. I explain. Let’s say he also has a natural born “white” daughter. The needs of her hair will be quite different to this cute one pictured in the post. The fact that this father seems willing to learnt about the ramifications of PROPERLY CARING for tyoe 4 hair speaks volumes. He now knows that the fine tooth comb he has on his dresser just won’t cut it ( no pun intended) or that he can’t wash her hair and send her off to school thinking it will just air dry and all will be well. The same goes vice versa. If I adopted a baby of a different race from me, learning about her hair will take some doing and and am sure that my husband may get an eye openeer when he notices the 1st time that the braids/two strand twists just not staying in place, or that the only hair food we have in the house is just too heavy for her hair.
IT IS NOT ABOUT RACE but about his awesome willingness to learn. WHAt we should be praying is that he learns quickyly so that beautiful baby girl there grows up with a lovely set of hiar that was well-treated by both her parents.
Totally agree with that! There are & have been plenty of black father’s combing hair since slavery & before on the Africa Continent before a Caucasian touched a sister’s hair. This is the same old stereotype of news that belittles’ black men and it is a well package advertisement that Caucasians have been doing for years to showcase their superiority over the parenting skills of black people! Sister’s fall for this “white washed” advertisement every time I use to be one of them back in the day. The subtle message “We (Caucasians) can better parent then black ppl! Let us show you how it’s done with love & respect. We lift our little daughters up but you black dad’s disrespect them. The even more sadder part about all this is that black sister’s join in the put down with the comments I see on this board…(if only black men would do the same with their daughter’s, black men could learn from this “white” dad, if only black men would care more about their black daughters as this “white” man is showing he does, black men just don’t care anymore, black men don’t mind making babies that they wont take care of, This “white man” is showing what a “real” dad is suppose to be doing caring for his family, It really doesn’t matter what this “white man’s” color is he’s just loving his daughter but it wouldn’t hurt a black man to take some notes aka “hidden message” black man let me “white man” teach you how to parent…etc). These false stereotypes of ‘massa’ doing a better job of parenting black ppl has been displayed before the world for over 400 years & we as a culture are still brain washed to receive it as truth instead of false. We need to stop being so surprised when we see these false images of “white men” taking care of black babies as if this is awesome – what about the 400 years they killed our black babies, sold them off before they left our ancestors wombs or traded our daughters as christmas gifts to each other for sexual concubines? Is the history how massa treated black grandmothers, mothers, daughters that easy to forget? And what of the insult to the black father that massa did for over 400yrs the by raping their wives & black daughters. Many black fathers who were slaves had to raise not only their children but sometimes the children of other slaves who were sold away from their children, they were combing hair and plaiting hair 7 days a week for over 400yrs but this part of history is never uplifted. Somehow we still uplift the massa over our own parenting skills and praise his care over us as a ppl. History has still not taught us as a ppl to not lift up the massa as a better father and his stereotype image of himself as a savior or as the better parent then ourselves and to our children. Attached images of our roles in parenting during slavery and how our ancestors were really treated during that time in history. If history is to teach black women anything today regarding false images of white men we will not be fooled by these same recycled false images of white men combing our daughters hair; furthermore, by oohing & awing over them like their the better man & this pick is just sick!
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So eloquently stated!! I completely agree. I wish more black women who read this blog would have more knowledge of history and love of self to recognize racial undertones and implications. But that is not so. I’ve noticed that most comments are from those who take the view that the past is the past and has no relevance to what is going on today.
what cynical human beings you are. Looking for racial undertones when there is none. How anyone could look at that photo and think this man is truly trying to make black men look “bad” is pure foolishness. Don’t make things deeper than they have to be.
It’s a beautiful thing that this man feels lucky to have a diverse family. The fact that he’s trying and making an effort to learn to style his daughters coily kinky hair is touching as I’m sure it is something completely foreign to him. Most (caucasian or non-black) people see our hair and feel as though it is unruly or unacceptable. It’s really adorable that he is making that effort.
This picture is in fact beautiful. A picture of ANY man combing his daughter’s hair would be beautiful as it is a gesture not commonly done by men. However, realistically, A black man would not receive praise for doing this act. THIS is not breaking news and does NOT deserve this much attention. That is why there may be the question of if there’s a racial undertone. Some things are more calculated than we think.
It’s news because the man is a TV personality. Get over your complexes people, not everything is about you.
Wow, you might be racist if you think he posted this picture to show how much of a better parent he is than a parent of a different ethnicity. It sounds like you are looking for a reason to justify your hate for whites.
We can’t heal the wounds if we don’t stop picking them. At least he and people like him are willing to TRY.
Thank you and punctuation.
Way to over-think it. I see where you are coming from, but really, grasping for ways playing the continued victim is really unbecoming.
People will judge for themselves based on their reality – I’m black – my mom did not like to comb my hair – my dad never came near to it – he was an advocate for straightening or jeri? curls.
Sooo…just a few questions?
If he didn’t adopt her, would you? Have you tried?
Are you an adoptive parent? Since all this talking does nothing to help children who need a family.
She had to get her hair combed, right?
Frankly, because I am not going to post a racially charged post doesn’t mean that I forgotten one damn thing about MY history. Be clear, I know the facts. Here is what I also know, that every child needs a familial to provide food, clothing, adequate education, love and care. I also know I am not looking to adopt at this time, are you? Somewhere would these kids be with the state? In foster care, lacking possible stability and proper care? I am not going to go racial on this one, just not doing it. Let be clear, I don’t believe that just because these children went to white families it is better or worse, but it is a family. I am going to to accept it as just that, these little girls were getting the care they needed from a member of their family. Instead of attacking this and downplaying it reach out and mentor these little girls, these dads will face bigger issues than HAIR. They need to some how develop a network that can support and teach these little girl to become Black women. So step up and do that! It’s call being productive and effective.
I totally disagree. It’s just a photo of a white man doing his black daughter’s hair. I don’t see any of that putting down of black men, or massa’s superiority , or any thing that relates to slavery,etc in that photo. Some black men who are single dads or want to help their wives out will comb their girls’ hair. I think my dad tried combing mine maybe once & it wasn’t good. I had a mane of long, fine very thick hair & mom was much better at it. So what if he didn’t do it. My hair still got done. As far as black parenting goes, up until the crack epidemic of the late 80s-early 90s, black parents did quite a remarkable job of raising their kids. In the 60s when I was a kid, most black kids I knew came from stable 2 parent homes & if they didn’t live with their parents, they had a stable home with a near relative or foster parent. Kids were taught manners,morals, & respect for self & others . Raised in the church.No street brawls, no atrocious behavior in schools,no rapper style cussing in public ,no music with nasty lyrics & no gun killings by kids. Black parents did a h*ll of a job, all during the worst days of segregation. Massa couldn’t teach them a thing, because if massa had suddenly awakened & found himself transformed into a black person he wouldn’t have lasted five minutes !!
The pictures shown in your response were of our people but they had no choice but to do what their masters told them to do. Do you think that the slave nursing another woman’s baby really wanted to? What about the lady taking care of the little girl. She had to do that to put food of her own famliy’s table. I’m sure that she would rather do any number of things besides that. This man was only showing how the time he has with his family is spent. Nothing more. Nothing less.
As a pre-school teacher I am privy to many scenes in the course of a day but this picture reminds of an incident that happened two years ago that involved a very similar scenario, a white father dropping off and his biracial child picking out her fro before he left. It touched me for two reasons: one it is rare to see INVOLVED fathers period! two He just pulled the pick out and started picking no tears, no fuss on her part which meant he wasn’t rough. I enjoy seeing any child bonding with a male influence because I see disproportionately what happens without it.
I know Mr. Sommerville, and I live in Oakland, CA where he with or without a black child would need to be open and diverse. He’s a great guy, and this picture just personifies it. What’s also amazing and what you can’t see in this picture is how he make sure that his daughter has role models around that look just like her.
Why is it when a father does what a mother traditionally does it is big news, great that he is taking his responsibilities to his daughter seriously but really what is the big deal?
It’s like when Bo Derek had her hair in cornrows all of a sudden it was like wow but cornrows have been worn by black women for centuries and nobody made a big deal out of it.
Double standards again.
Hmm.. I don’t understand why this comment received so many negative votes. But, in essence, I can see the point of the article, as well as how I also kind of see where you’re coming from. I don’t think the person who commented was trying to be negative in any way.
The reason it’s news, I think, is because it’s a bit out of the ordinary to many. A lot of people have not experienced a man, let alone a white man, take care of a little black girl’s hair. While I was studying for my Master’s at Uni, I learned that while ‘dog bites man’ is not news, ‘man bites dog’, is.
Each time my father combed and braided my hair was a big deal it hurt my head but mom was sick. that was in the 1950’s we were colored at the time.” Historical perspective” my hair was tight and unruly. A dad or any man in his child’s life is a big deal today and always, now I am African American. Love does not change, people do.
My dad always wanted to help my mom do my sister and my hair (sometimes he was helpful, sometimes not as much 🙂 ) but that’s all I saw in the picture. Daddies taking care of their baby girls. Puts a smile on my face.
Funny. My white dad never did my white hair. He was still a great dad. I think those who are being critical about people’s dads not doing hair might be missing the generational divide. My husband does my daughter’s hair all the time, but neither one of our fathers would have even had a clue.
Great photo! I love seeing parents and their children. My older brother used to do my niece’s hair ALL the time. If people are complaining about not seeing enough great Black fathers then we should all snap photos of our families doing what families do. I really don’t have a problem with adoption as long as the children are loved and nurtured. There are too many kids without good homes and this is awesome to see such a caring father.
P.S. It doesn’t look like he’s coming through her hair but using the rattail to part like most of us do when we braid or twists. It looks like her hair was done well.
I feel sorry for the little girl when I look at the comb he was using to comb her hair( a fine-toothed rat tail comb. Somebody please tell Mr. Sommerville the kind of comb to use on black hair. (ouch)
He might be using only the tail to undo the braids.
i live in the Bay Area, and we love Frank Sommerville, as he’s a great news reporter, and this beautiful photo just melted me last week! i even commented that now that he knows how to take down braids I’ll be over in about 6 weeks for help taking down mine! seeing a dad doing hair is always sweet..#bayareapride
Love has no color …
I thought this was a sweet photo. I don’t see anything racist at all…just a dad taking care of his little girl!
I don’t understand. What’s wrong with him combing her hair? I wished my dad did my hair…rotfl! I know a brother in the church who washes, brushes, combs, and conditions his wife’s hair! He’s not a barber either.
How cute. As a girl who didn’t have her father around at all to do anything for me let alone my hair I can commend him on his attempt. It is indeed a sweet moment shared between a father and little girl. Bravo to him. My bf is willing with his girls and boys but I gotta get his skills up. Lol.
I love it!
This picture is absolutely beautiful! I love the look of concentration. The love between father and daughter is evident and such a blessing. I agree “Change happens one person at a time.” Kudos Mr. Somerville for sharing your picture!
This makes me think of that LL Cool J TV commercial with his daughter and his attempt at styling her hair and when he was done she stated something to the effect of “It doesn’t look like that when mommy does it.” I thought is was a cute commercial. Anyone remember that one?
OMG! Thanks for bringing up that commercial ! I’d forgotten all about it & it was a fave of mine.Haven’t seen it for years. What product was it for?
It was a coca cola commercial back in ’98…you can see it on youtube:) Too cute!
Wow- it brought tears to my eyes for two simple reasons:
1: it is always beautiful to see the love displayed between father and daughter ( really touches my heart)
and 2; It shows that love really hav no barriers- just a little room to grow and flourish until it becomes so powerful it it cuts down the tallest of trees (so to speak) lol!!
Love it- God is so great – he actually showed us how simple it is to love one another!! It really creates a hopeful picture ppl- there’s still hope for this world!!
I wish more fathers did this…it’s a memory she will always have.
I love seeing men with their kids, especially when they are taking care of them, whether it be grooming or just doing normal everday things. To me this shows the sign of a good father. My parents have been together 52 years and I still have memories of my dad looking after us and even attempting to take care of mine and my sisters’ hair which usually meant just combing it and greasing it. He could not do braids/cornrows to say his life!
As for a white man combing a black childs hair, I think it is beautiful and shouldn’t draw negative comments.
Can we have more pictures of men (black and white men – no any men combing hair –
Wow that angry person just blew everything out of proportion while making Black women look bad in my opinion BUT ANYWAYS….Before I got to those comments I thought this was SOOOO beautiful, I won’t sugar coat, heck no my dad didn’t do my hair ..he wasn’t even around to do that. My mom didn’t know how to take care of my hair either so it was a lose lose but if my dad would’ve tried I can only imagine how great it would’ve made me felt 🙂
This picture is now my desktop background on my laptop. I love everything about this.
That’s love right there. Why people are shocked is beyond me. When’s the last time you saw a black father taking time to learn to do there daughters hair? Hopefully those black fathers will be encouraged to do the same.
I think its great to show MEN that doing their daughter’s hair is a form of love as well. I’ve seen lots of Black fathers comb their daughter’s hair including my own father. I guess it depends on your environment and what you where you were raised. This is not uncommon in the community I was raised in. I think this picture is good for FATHERS to see regardless of race.
SEE THESE ARE THE COMMENTS THAT I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH. NO ONE WANTS ME TO SPEAK MY MIND ABOUT NEGATIVE COMMENTS TOWARDS BLACK MEN, YET PEOPLE LIKE TOTRUE CAN SAY WHATEVER THEY WANT. ITS UNFAIR. I LOVE BLACK MEN AND I THINK IT IS GREAT TO SEE THIS FATHER DO HIS DAUGHTERS HAIR. I ALSO THINK ITS GREAT THAT MANY BLACK MEN DO THIER DAUGHTERS HAIR AS WELL. NO STEREOTYPES ATTACHED!
Hmm… now why would a random black father post or advertise that they do their daughter’s hair. My father did my hair and my sister’s (not that we were pleased with that) and he loved it. My brother does his daughter’s hair just about everyday and my husband (black latino) will not hesitate to do my daughter’s hair (his step-daughter). Black men…men in general who play active roles in their children’s lives have nothing to prove to any body. It’s like air… just because you don’t see it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
I think it is sweet. But sad that people are negative about it and sad that they are shocked. I have a Black father who did my Black hair on a few occasions when my mother had to be at work early; apparently before it was popular or acceptable (at least according to the comments I read). I did not think much of it, because that’s my dad and he wanted to make sure I went to school “looking put together” as he would say.
My father would do the same thing. I always proud to tell others that the pretty plaits in my head were done by my dad.
As someone who was fatherless for the greater majority of my life, I truly love seeing examples of loving dads that are willing to take care of their kids in even the simplest ways, down to doing their daughter’s hair, race notwithstanding. Bravo, sir!
This is lovely. I hope we will see more of this in the near future
I think it’s a beautiful thing. People need to embrace this rather than be negative.
it’s a beautiful picture!!! i’ll never get the time i saw a white dad with his adoted daughter in the beauty supply , helped him pick out things for her hair, the cutest thing ever!
I have even more respect for Frank Somerville than I did previously. He’s our local anchor in the Oakland/Bay Area. Great to see a father take care of his daughter, regardless of how it “came to be”. Bravo Mr Somerville!
Actually, I didn’t see this as racial at all, until the comments about race started. You know what I saw when I looked at the picture? A wonderful man taking care of a child who would have been otherwise unwanted. I saw a man taking care of his ADOPTED child. I saw a man showing love and attention to a child that might not have had the chance to have a family. There are so many children out there, who for whatever reason do not have a family. This picture showed me a little girl who is loved and protected, and is part of a family. That is something all children deserve to have.
Beautiful……..
I think that pictures shows much more than a daddy combing his daughter’s hair. It’s a picture of a man who will do anything for his little girl. It’s a picture of a dad who puts everything into his little girl. And it’s a picture of a dad who is willing to do what it takes to know his little girl. Love it!
And how weird is it that after finding out who he was i read his comment in his voice. Too much. Haha
Hey I watch Frank on the news all the time in the bay. Maybe he will do my hair when I don’t feel like it. LOL.
It is truly amazing to see the negative comments that have been posted. This is a beautiful picture and a beautiful moment of a man taking care of his daughter. For some people the picture conjures up a desire to have shared this type of moment with their own fathers and they should be able to state that without judgment or censure. These photos also shine a light on the fact that our world has changed and is continuing to change. People used to and some people still do question interracial families and interracial adoption because of the supposition that white people would not be able to do black hair. These gentlemen show that with love and patience it can be done. This is a way that we should approach everything with love and patience. And we should make a big deal about any positivity we see in the world no matter what race we are or someone else is. Everyone is always so quick to make a big deal about negative things. If you want to show a wonderful moment between a black father and his children then post that, but don’t take away the fact that this man (regardless of his race) is sharing a wonderful moment with his daughter because you have bitterness in your heart.
@Lex Beautifully stated!
very true! and if you wanna get technicaly, everybody is black. its been scientifically proven.
Pictures of daddies taking care of their little girls are always sweet n’ beautiful. This picture put a smile on my hair (after my confusion went away) and I moved on with my day. Sometimes, a daddy is just a daddy – even when he’s white (and his daughter’s black).
I think this is beautiful.
Why does society need to slam something so refreshing?
I wish my Daddy combed my hair.
I think it’s beautiful too, but I’m happy my Daddy didn’t comb my hair. LOL He did it one time, and I was looking like LL Cool J’s daughter from that Coke commercial. I had to tell him, thanks but no thanks!
I THINK IT IS REFRESHING BUT WHAT WOULD BE MORE REFRESHING FOR ME, IS TO SEE BLACK PEOPLE MAKING POSITIVE COMMENTS LIKE THIS ABOUT BLACK FATHERS. INSTEAD, YOU SEE A LOT OF NEGATIVE COMMENTS ABOUT BLACK MEN NOT DOING THEIR DAUGHTER’S HAIR. IT WOULD BE REFRESHING TO POST IMAGES OF BLACK MEN TAKING CARE OF THEIR DAUGHTERS EVERYDAY, BECAUSE THAT IS THE TRUTH. THAT IS WHAT OUR SOCIETY NEEDS TO SEE. IN THE MEDIA, THEY CHOOSE NOT TO SHOW THIS POSITIVE SIDE OF BLACK MEN. INSTEAD, THEY SHOW US PICTURES LIKE THIS, SO WE CAN FEEL SO HAPPY ABOUT A WHITE MAN. AGAIN, A WHITE MAN. WHICH OUR SOCIETY ALREADY FEELS PROUD OF..WHITE PEOPLE.
I agree. As black people we should acknowledge the black men that do. My father do it all the time and is the most hardworking man there is. I see many unappreciated black men all the time, I guess what? I always make sure to show them love by making compliments, especially when they are hardworking, and I see more black men taking care of things and being more than what is expected of them. I believe that we are used to seeing it, so we think that everybody (especially black men)are doing it. I see black all over everywhere, who are the top notch fathers, uncles, brothers, step fathers, and etc. I believe that black people are always “seen as the worst and last in everything”. We know better than that. Everyting we do we are duplicated (in a water down version). I am Proud of who I am and I am proud of the Black man and woman whom raised me. Let’s start publishing more positive images of Black people.
I love it!!!!!
I knew before I even opened this article that there were going to be negative comments/backlash- and I was right. SMH
I think the photo is great. The fact is some dads will take on the task ofdoing their daughters hair and some don’t no matter what race. I love the fact that he was using a rattail comb!!! At leasthe has the right tools…GO FRANK!!!
Well my dad was perfectly willing to do our hair, but we refused. We didn’t like the outcome when he did it. LOL We appreciated the effort, though. I still think this is an adorable picture. I agree that he SHOULD be doing this and don’t see what the big deal is.
Thank you ALL DADS for doing what Dads are suppose to do– protect and care for their children! Thanks for also showing that dads aren’t just sperm donors with our societal permission to make babies and leave!
A footnote for those loser sperm donors (warning– this is the opposite of TRUE manhood http://yoy50.wordpress.com/2011/04/01/a-powerful-message-for-the-absentee-fathers-you-should-really-be-ashamed/)
Thanks for posting this BGLH! Nice job as usual!
Love, peace and soul (TRAIN)! 🙂
I remember when my dad was on his death bed and his friends use to do my hair to make me look presentable to him while at the hospital but usually it gave him a nice laugh bc my ponytails were going every which way. I did my say “aww” bc he’s a white father touching his black daughters hair but merely for the fact that he had guts to play in her hair, black or white. I went to hair school with men and we always laughed at the really manly guys gripping rollers with their big hands or trying to do a relaxer and not knowing where to go next. It’s one of those things you just don’t see everyday in society. That’s why I like the picture.
Thanks for sharing this story because it is something that needs to be done to make people aware that there are interracial families today, so parents are doing the best they can in those situations. The TV reporter should be commended for his efforts and people need to show support to all the mixed-race families because we are ALL one big family the human race.
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Lol, sure keep on believing that utopia.
So let’s get a post with a Black father doing his daughter’s hair to satisfy the race warriors among us. Then we’ll be even.
Its amaaing the amount of negativity this post has attracted. The whole porpose of this site is to celebratethe dopeness of black hair, which this father is doing by learning to take care of his black daughters hair. No one is praising him as the white Messiah, as I have read in some of the earlier comments. And just because someone said that their Black father didn’t comb their hair as a child dosen’t mean that they are bashinh black men, they are just commenting on their experience. My father didn’tmy hair…it just means he wasn’t responsible for doing my hair, I doubt if he would know how to, but he is still a great man. So for me this is a nice photo to look at. For me, I would have a positive reaction of a Balck man doin his daughters hair. I think so many people are responding to this because lets be honest this is a rare site to see, but it is changing, in all cultures.
Love this! Any time I see a father attempting to do ANYthing with a daughter’s hair, I am touched – regardless of race. When I was a kid, I would often ask my father (a Black man) to do my hair even though I knew he had no idea what he was doing. He would do his best – leaving my hair jacked up until my mom could fix the situation. LOL But I was just happy he tried!
Oh wow, I like! I find it inspiring that more men this century are taking care of their daughters’ hair and being proactive about it.
I just think it’s sad that some people get their panties in a bunch over a picture and make it a racial issue. That’s just utterly stupid. Do people detest this man that much that they must make “Pshhh, that ain’t nothin'” comments? There are bigger issues in the world to argue about besides a white man doing a black girl’s hair. Some people….geez. Smh. Some folk just go too far and don’t know how to be nice. Words full of venom.
How cute to see a father doing his daughter’s hair! 🙂
the point of teh author, IMO, is not that he is a white father and he is combing his daughter’s hair. On the large scale nothing fantastic about that.
THE POINT REALLY IS the fact that he seems to have taken the time to learn the intricasies of handling “black” hair. There is no one on this site who would dispute the fact that they will not take their type 4 self and park it in a salon with a white hairdresser who has no experience with her hair type. That hairdresser would pick up a fine tooth comb, would want to blow dry the hell out of that hair to make it more “managable”, would attack tangles from the root etc…well don’t talk about the styling..I shudder to think what a medium sized twist with braids at the root would look like. POINT TAKEN????
The fact is THIS father appears to be ready and willing to learn the do-es and don’t of his daughter’s hair..who knows he may have already learnt that her hair needs loads of moisture, or that he can’t just wash her hair and let it airdry on the way to school. Many a men would have passsed that buck unto their wife or a black caregiver in the area for example.
What we should be doing is hope that he gets it right, becasue it’s obvious what will work with his other “white” daughter’s hair would not work for this daughter. Let’s pray that he continues to handle it lovingly, not get frustrated, and that she has healthy hair for many years to come becasue of the TLC it has gotten.
+1
+1
Is it me, why hasn’t BGLH not BANNED this Connie1 poster or least remove her trolling posts. Every time post a compliment about a father putting the effort when they didn’t get the chance as a child she jumps in with insulting them about topic they spoke nothing about.
BGLH please remove these toxic posts. They help no one and no one should be yelled at (write on all caps)
Good for him. I think we’ve all seen black children who have been adopted by white parents and those kids look a hot mess from the scalp out. So this is a good, scratch that, a great thing.
As a black little girl, whose father was in the house, if my mother wasn’t home, he had to take me to my grandmother’s or aunt’s house to do my hair. Dude could not do it. There could be a few reasons for that. I grew up in the 70’s. Maybe 70’s Dad’s didn’t do those things. Maybe fathers today are more evolved and more interested. I don’t know for everyone, I can talk about my experience. Maybe he just didn’t think that was his job, Mom did hair, Dad taught bike riding. Matters not. The fact that this father, has taken on all the responsibilities that come along with adopting a black daughter, including hair care, is wonderful!
I see nothing touching about this picture. Why are people patting this guy on the back for something he’s SUPPOSED to do? Let me guess, it’s because he’s white right? We all know it had been a black father the responses would be totally different. Y’all are so pathetic I swear. And people kill me with this -it brought tears to my eyes- bogus. Seriously get a grip. And FYI, both my black mother AND father did my hair. Please stop acting like it’s rare to see black fathers do their children’s hair.
Shrug. Everyone is entitled to his/her opinion, so keep it moving. No one cares if you don’t agree with their comment.
Well you cared enough to respond didn’t you?
Very nice and comforting picture. My dad combed my sisters (three girls) hair when my mom was in the hospital with baby. It was cool because he (dad) was a neat freak. My brother did our hair once too it was a fialure and we had to to school with it. Very good memories though.
Love it!
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Very loving.
That’s a cute photo. Clogged my throat a bit. I hope to every god listening that i get a hubby who is secure in his masculinity to do ”women’s work” without being emasculated and who will love our daughters so much he wont mind being emasculated for them.
Reading these comments makes me realize how fortunate I was as a child to have a father like the one I have. My dad (who is black, if it matters) always made sure his daughters looked presentable from head to toe, even if that meant him brush our hair into a ponytail.
i love it and commend him. I have a puerto rican daughter and took me forever to learn to do her hair properly, and I am AF. Good on Dad.
My dad has combed my hair twice in my life. once when i was 6 and again at 10. I hated the styles he gave me but i loved the fact that he tried. I have an amazing dad and this picture brought back those memories. it warms my heart and reminds me never to take a moment with him for granted. thank you for posting it. I pray i marry someone who will love and care for me and my son just like my dad always has.
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Is that your dad in the photo? He could pass as your boyfriend.
I was thinking the same thing! You two look like you’re the same age!
NICE!
My husband is white. We’re planning on having children soon and he has taken a very sincere interest in learning about my hair so that he can help with our children’s hair…because they will be OUR children. I think if my husband didn’t want to learn, I wouldn’t have married him. LOL! I think it’s great to see white parents educating themselves and taking the time to learn how to do natural hair. It would be so easy for them to slap a perm on their children’s hair and make them conform to what THEY know, which is straight hair. Loving your child is accepting your child for who they are, and that’s beautiful no matter who it is!
I honestly think that this is beautiful. Many black fathers don’t even touch their daughter’s hair so to see this is amazing. Like he said, he is doing what a father SHOULD be doing. Thanks for sharing this!
IVY HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT MANY BLACK FATHERS DONT TOUCH THEIR DAUGHTERS HAIR? HAVE YOU TAKEN A POLL? ARE YOU STEREOTYPING? OR ARE YOU JUST PLAIN IGNORANT? MY FATHER DID MY HAIR GROWING UP. I SEE MANY BLACK PEOPLE ON THIS SITE SAYING THAT THEIR BLACK FATHER DID THEIR HAIR, SO WHERE ARE YOU GETTING YOUR STUPID IGNORANT OPINION FROM? ARE YOU EVEN READING WHAT SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING. BLACK MEN DO THEIR DAUGHTERS HAIR ALL THE TIME. ITS NOTHING NEW!
Are you going to attack everyone for giving their point of view on this site that is different from yours? Seriously???
YES BRIDGET. I AM GOING TO ATTACK EVERYONE WHO GIVES IGNORANT OPINIONS ABOUT BLACK MEN. YES, I WILL DO IT FOREVER. IF YOU WANT ME TO STOP THEN TELL THEM TO STOP WITH THE NEGATIVE REMARKS ABOUT BLACK MEN NOT DOING THEIR DAUGHTER’S HAIR.
Calm down Connie.. It’s never that serious for all caps. Lol. But I’m saying this off of the men in my family.. My mother has 5 brothers and my father has 4. NONE of them touch their daughters hair, including mine. And I know for a fact among many of my female friends only one of their fathers has done their hair when she was younger. So that was what I was basing my comment on… No stereotyping. Simply based off of personal experience. And don’t EVER question my intelligence, my opinion, or anything that I state. You do not know me.
I love this photo! I’m a 44 year old Black woman. My Black father raised me as a single father since I was 3 or 4 years old. And he was responsible for my hair at a young age. He didn’t always do the greatest job (see attached, me on the right, 1973…lol!), but he did get better. And to this day, I never, ever doubt that he’s there for me.
SMH @ the hoopla. We should stop worshiping everything white people say and do…it’s bad for our spiritual health. He doesn’t deserve any pats on the back for doing something he SUPPOSED to do, if he chose to adopt that child. If we insist on commending “fathers” — I’d like to see this much support and applause for black fathers who do the same without any commendations or recognition from black women (as a whole). I guess he got the reaction and fulfillment he was looking for by posting this picture. Let us not go overboard with this as if he’s the second coming or something.
I don’t know if he’s doing what he is SUPPOSED to be doing? How many of our BLACK parents gave us a perm because it was easier to manage? Damage be damned. My mother definitely did. I respect any parent who puts in the extra effort to keep their child’s hair natural. And I do think fathers deserve extra props because they especially had to learn how to do a black woman’s hair. A white man who is succeeding with his daughter’s hair in its original texture should definitely get a shout out. Her hair is pretty long; he’s doing a good job. We congratulate women on this site all the time for managing their hair beautifully. Why shouldn’t we congratulate him too?
I think if the picture was a black man doing his daughters hair there would be th same response. Whether he’s latino, asian or irish people are always moved when a man takes time out from being the stereotypical dad to do “womens work”. I’m black and I lost my father at a very young age and two of my fondest memories are of him styling my hair as a child and teaching me to bake. These things are touching because they take extra effort. It has nothing to do with “white worship”. Trust i would be hopping on that same train if such was the case but this one time i’m taking it at face value.
We both know if it were a black man, he would not get the same response even if he should. Black men do this everyday.
To be fair, most of the “hoopla” is coming from Black people. Hardly any of the comments are from White people congratulating him. I think that says a lot.
I agree, it all boils down unaddressed self-hatred issues and the WHITE Messiah complex. So sad.
My dad did my hair maybe once, but he preferred to clean my shoes and pack my schoolbag. I think my bf would comb his daughter’s hair if he had one, he’s always in my hair
This was a beautiful picture. It brought tears into my eyes. People with the negative comments, need to find a negative site to blog on. It time for us to accept and get out of this racist mode! I congradulate this father for taking the time to do his daughter hair! Kudos!
I think it’s unusual, but very cute and great that he likes it and loves his daughters.
When that is said, I don’t think you have to do this in order to be a good dad. To take and interest and let your child know they’re loved is the main thing not who does what in my view.
In my day as a child (born 1962) it would have been unthinkable, but times change in many ways all the time. But I don’t feel being less loved or anything because my dad didn’t do my hair (I’m also colored and adopted by white parents).
I think its nice. But, I know plenty of black fathers that comb their daughters hair. Including my own father. I see more single fathers now that do their child’s hair. I don’t know, maybe it depends where you grow up because this is not abnormal for me to see. Whether the father is black or white.
Same here. I have seen this scene before, but don’t try to convince the ‘black is whack’ brigade.
“‘Black is whack’ brigade”-I had to laugh! I can’t stand when people have negative experience and blame it on an entire race, especially their own! “My daddy was black and wouldn’t touch my hair with a ten foot pole” and “My mama gave me a relaxer”-I can’t take it. My father, a proud black man, took exceptional care of his daughters and I hate reading comments about how black people neglect their kids because it’s not true. Just because you had a bad experience doesn’t make it true for all of us.
Thank you…some of these comments are dad. My dad was a navy man and did my hair plenty of times as a child. So…though the photo is cute it really isn’t that shocking
Oops sad
Aw makes me think of my dad doing my hair when I was little. I wish I could cornrow like my dad used to. He had plenty of practice before I was born because he was expected to help with his sisters when he was growing up. My mom was just a little gentler though!
My dad used to do my hair and was actually pretty good at it. Touching.
How adorable, I’m pretty sure my husband would not want to do it but if I asked he would do it. He has done it before (taken the braids out and washed the hair) but didn’t do anything to it after that and the next morning of trying to do their hair was a HOT MESS… He was almost banned from doing her hair, LOL!
Nice
These pictures made me say thank god they are taking care of the childrens hair I don’t know how many times I have interracial children with their hair looking horrible not combed it shows pride in your children and your family that you take the time to learn what to do
I don’t know ho many times I have seen Black children where both parents are Black have horrible looking hair. There are many in the Black community that don’t know how to style their children’s hair properly hence our reliance on salons and stylist. I think for any parent it takes time, patience and a willingness to learn. Clearly this father is willing to do this. There are number of Black parents that I know who should take note of what he is doing because their children’s hair looks unhealthy and busted.
WHY DO BLACK PARENT’S HAVE TO TAKE NOTE OF WHAT THIS WHITE MAN IS DOING? WHY WOULDN’T THEY JUST LOOK AT ANOTHER BLACK MAN WHO IS DOING A GREAT JOB WITH HIS CHILD’S HAIR? COME ON PEOPLE STOP IT. THERE ARE PLENTY OF BLACK MEN WHO ARE GREAT FATHERS AND WHO DO THEIR KIDS HAIR.
Connie, go take a Xanax and a nap before you have an aneurysm. Please.
IM OK TATI, BUT I JUST LOVE MY BLACK RACE. I WILL STAND UP FOR IT ANYTIME AND EVERYTIME. UNTIL PEOPLE GET IT THROUGH THEIR THICK HEADS THAT BLACK MEN, WOMEN, MOTHERS AND FATHERS, TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR CHILDRENS HAIR JUST LIKE THIS WHITE MAN IS DOING.
>COME ON PEOPLE STOP IT
Take your own advice. Get away from the computer for a bit. You are clearly too worked up over something so small.
I think it’s FANTASTIC when a father, no matter what his race takes the time to learn how to care for his daughter’s hair. That in itself is exciting.
I think its a wonderful thing my dad did the samething when I was little to help my mom out which I think is SUPER sweet and no its glamorous taking down braids, unless its a braidout lol.
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Bri
I guess for me this is how i grew up. Both of my parents worked. My mom wasn’t always home on weekends to comb our hair so my dad would do it. Still to this day if i need help with my hair he’s there for me. He even helped me put in some tracks when i was 18. Gotta love Dads that do it all.
+1
Similar story, my mom worked nights and many weekends so my dad tried to do me and my 2 little sisters hair and I had a enough hair for 3 people alone! Even when i bc’d at 22, my dad took a brush and showed which directions to brush my hair! THANKS DAD!!
i don’t know what the big uproar is about.it looks like he’s doing a good job.now i’d understand if he made her look like buck wheat or had a black person coming in to do her hair then that would be something to talk about.but he decided to adopt a black child, and he’s taken the steps he needs to learn about her hair and do it pretty well.i think he should be getting way more praise the bashing.
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I agree, it’s not surprising to see a man comb his child’s hair.
it’s not surprising to see a man, or a father, comb his daughter’s hair?
there are lots of men who are hair stylists, and yep, they comb hair.
i’m certain that very few men, particularly black men, are actually combing their little girls’ hair.
+1
MERRY IS BASHING BLACK MEN. THERE ARE PLENTY OF BLACK MEN WHO DO THEIR DAUGHTERS HAIR. JUST BECAUSE YOURS DID NOT DOESNT MEAN ALL BLACK MEN DONT. GET A GRIP!
@connie1 you are negative bitter and hateful. This is a positive thread. And u are rude and nasty
+1
OK TRIA ROBINSON, JUST IGNORE WHAT MERRY SAID. PEOPLE CAN SAY NEGATIVE THINGS ALL DAY ABOUT BLACKS BUT I CANNOT STAND UP AGAINST THAT. RIGHT?
I DIDN’T SAY ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH WHAT THIS FATHER IN THE PIC WAS DOING. I THINK ITS GREAT. WHAT I DONT LIKE IS COMMENTS THAT I SEE ON HERE THAT SAY “VERY FEW BLACK MEN ARE COMBING THEIR DAUGHTERS HAIR.” OR COMMENTS LIKE “MY BLACK FATHER NEVER DID MY HAIR. BLACK WOMEN AND MEN DON’T KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR KIDS HAIR.” THESE ARE THE COMMENTS THAT ARE PISSING ME OFF. I CAN POINT OUT EXACTLY WHO IS SAYING THOSE NEGATIVE COMMENTS ABOUT BLACKS. I WILL POINT THEM OUT, THEN I WANT ALL OF YOU WHO ARE BASHING ME, TO POST A COMMENT TO THOSE PEOPLE BASHING BLACK MEN AND WOMEN. OK?
Who was basking him though? I’ve only seen positive comments so far
*bashing
Kudos to dad! I have a Facebook friend who adopted an Ethiopian child & her brother. She posted a pic of her entire family taking out the girl’s braids. I thought that was love!
White men have sent themselves to the moon. They should know how to comb their black children’s hair! lol
maybe so… but we still have black women that dont know how to comb their own hair.
…aint that the truth!
AGAIN YOU ARE MAKING THIS ABOUT BLACK VS. WHITE WHEN IT IS NOT. STOP SAYING THAT BLACK WOMEN DONT KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR HAIR BECAUSE THAT IS AN IGNORANT STATEMENT. MY MOTHER HAS GORGEOUS HAIR AND SO DO I. IT IS BECAUSE I HAD A BLACK MOTHER AND FATHER WHO KNEW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF MY NATURAL HAIR. SO STOP IT YOU IDIOT!
Connie 1, your comments seriously indicate you have a racial issue??? are you angry that a white dad can take care of his black daughter’s hair?? whats up with all that nasty attitude??
DID YOU HEAR THE COMMENT ABOVE FROM JAZELLE? THAT IS WHAT I AM RESPONDING TO. WHY WON’T YOU RESPOND TO OTHER PEOPLE’S COMMENTS WHO ARE DISCREDITING BLACK WOMEN AND MEN?
And your black mother and father probably taught you how to be militant too.
This is what should happen. White people who adopt Black children, who CHOOSE to parent Black children, SHOULD learn to care for the hair PROPERLY, with proer technique and product. I see too many Black children with White parents who look a hot mess because the paents WON’T learn haircare. White women who have children with Black men need learn as well.
There are lots of black mothers and fathers out there who don’t know how to take care of their black children’s hair as well. If that weren’t the case, there would be no need for this natural hair community because we would have all learned how to care for our natural hair from childhood and many of us probably wouldn’t have been given chemical treatments to make our hair “more manageable” from a young age.
I think it has more to do with education, health and interest than race.
The pictures are really nice. My family is interracial and I am very excited for the day I get to see my husband doing our daughter’s hair, although, for now it’s not curly, so he got an easy out… But maybe the next one will be curly.
God bless!
Aja
+1
So what are white hair communities for? I guess there are white mothers and fathers that do not know how to do their white kids hair too?
Why must everything be a condemnation of black people? Just praise/be touched by the man’s picture without finding ways to make it about how horrible black people are?
Agreed. I hate how people turn this into something it doesn’t need to be, which really is a reflection of their own beliefs that they feel the need to express at any moment.
Most black mothers haven’t properly learnt how to take care of their black children’s hair, yet. Who would then teach the white mothers how to properly care for the hair. They may have gotten wrong advices.
I see a lot of black children with black parents who look a hot mess too. Let’s not be tacky and turn this into a white parent vs black parent dialogue.
I don’t know if any of the ladies were referring to my comment, but for clarity’s sake, I certainly wasn’t try to condemn black parents, or any parent or say how horrible black people are and I haven’t read anyone else say that either.
The point I was trying to make was that it would be nice if all races knew how to care for their own natural hair properly, but many don’t, hence all the forums out there catering to different hair types, so if every black parent out there doesn’t know how to properly care for their own or their children’s natural hair, it wouldn’t be a stretch that white parents of black children, who don’t have a lifetime of opportunity behind them to learn, might not either.
We have all seen children of EVERY race without the best hair care. Some people just aren’t that into hair, some people just don’t know what the heck they are doing and skin color really doesn’t always have everything to do with it. That white parent of a black child with crazy looking hair, might have a white child with crazy looking hair too, if they had a white child. Hair care is not everything to everybody.
Here’s hoping that every parent of every child of every color makes sure their child looks appropriate for every occassion, but that is not always the case. Nobody is perfect and looks aren’t everything, anyway. God bless people who choose to adopt, no matter what color the child is. My husband and I often talk about adopting someday. In my personal opinion, and thats all this is at the end of the day, figuring out how to take care of the child’s hair would be something to figure out later, but the utmost important factor is giving a child a safe and loving place and family to call home for the rest of their lives. Making a loving difference in a child’s life is a really wonderful thing, whether the child’s hair is perfect or pulled into a messy bun, if they have a loving place to lay their head, they are blessed 🙂
I certainly don’t think I, or any other black person is horrible or wish to condemn any parent of any race and given the fact that is is a comment forum where people were asked for their opinion, it would seem like the perfect place for a person to express their own beliefs. Isn’t that what everyone is doing? Sorry for any misunderstanding of my comments, if there were any and God bless!
THANK YOU!!!! You’ve pretty much said exactly what I think!
+100!
lol. he looks so serious in that photo. like he is tryin to get that part right.
but, it’s a nice photo. have any black men posted photos of themselves doing their black daughters’ natural hair?
I thought the picture was darling but i was moved by his comment after his picture had received so much attention. He’s just doing what a dad should do indeed! Awesome.
This is so touching. You know I dont have a father and this brings a tear to my eye. Every girl in the world, regardless of race, deserves a father like this :’-(
I hope one day am going to marry someone like him bc he’s a FATHER.
I agree, I wish my Dad would’ve done at least that.
OH PLEASE, STOP ACTING LIKE YOU DONT SEE BLACK FATHERS DOING THINGS LIKE THIS EVERYDAY. ALSO, WHITE FATHERS WITH THEIR WHITE DAUGHTERS. THERE ARE GOOD FATHERS EVERYWHERE NO MATTER THE RACE. I JUST SAW A PIC OF WILL SMITH DOING HIS DAUGHTERS HAIR WHEN SHE WAS FOUR. NO ONE MADE A BIG DEAL OUT OF THAT.
@Connie1,
understand the relevance of this. it’s always touching to see a Father doing his daughters hair, regardless of race. I see you keep posting the same type of comment every so often… stop trying to Censor everyones opinions. The truth is, some peoples fathers (regardless of race) didn’t do their hair for them, period point blank And they are allowed to be moved by the fact that a father would so gently deal w/ his daughters hair. I am assuming your are natural, so as a natural you understand that taking care of our hair is not always an easy task, some of our parents are FULL black and STILL relaxed our hair for the ease of it. and the picture shows a MAN(first off) taking care of his daughters hair and secondly a WHITE MAN taking care of his daughters non-relaxed hair. Not requiring that she assimilate to what is the norm in his family, but accepting her and her differences & by doing her hair patiently and lovingly helping her accept herself! That is a big deal when ANY daddy does it! You have expressed yourself & we understand your point. you do not have to keep reiterating yourself, stop trying to Censor the feelings of others, a white dad getting credit for doing a job well done does not somehow discredit the black daddies, hispanic daddies, asain daddies who do the same things on a daily basis. Its just not a common sight in the U.S. I know you understand this fact.
@jasminicole
Well said!
Bam!!!! Now maybe Connie will have a seat!!
NO I WONT HAVE A SEAT! I AM ONLY RESPONDING TO THE IGNORANT COMMENTS AGAINST BLACK MEN. IF YOU DONT LIKE IT, OR CAN’T COMPREHEND IT, THEN OH WELL. I WILL KEEP SPEAKING MY MIND. I LOVE BLACK MEN AND BLACK FATHERS. THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE ON THIS SITE SAYING NEGATIVE THINGS ABOUT BLACK MEN, YET NONE OF YOU ARE RESPONDING TO THAT. INSTEAD YOU ARE ONLY FOCUSING ON MY POSITIVE COMMENTS ABOUT BLACK MEN.
+ 1
Very well said!
I NEVER SAID THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH WHAT THIS FATHER IS DOING. I THINK IT’S GREAT THAT HE IS DOING HIS DAUGHTERS HAIR. MY ONLY POINT IS THAT, BLACK FATHERS DO THE SAME. OF COURSE I AM NOT TRYING TO TELL SOMEONE ELSE WHAT THEIR BLACK FATHER HAS DONE, OR HASN’T DONE FOR THEM. I AM ONLY SPEAKING FROM MY EXPERIENCE. IF YOU CANNOT RESPECT MY OPINIONS AND LOVE FOR BLACK MEN THEN, SORRY FOR YOU!
I love it of course. It actually makes me think of how full of bologna men like Steve Harvey are when they say things like, “Men aren’t wired to do any of that stuff.”
Exactly!
I agree with you, it’s the same in Barbados, men actually think there are certain activities that are “women’s work”; although that may change – I see more young fathers taking charge of carrying their children to school and shopping for back-to-school uniforms and books than I did when I was younger – so there’s hope.
say that! @Nikki
lol, Steve Harvey simplifies things for his own comfort, nobody is wired to do anything, we learn to do things because we are social “animals”. (“full of bologna”, that made me laugh 🙂
So great! My father is Black and he NEVER did my hair. I am pretty sure he has no idea how to. I wish I had moments like this with him, he wasn’t around very much let alone to do my hair. Such a special time to share with their daughters. Love it.
I’m with you Nikki. My father NEVER touched my hair. I was little in the 70’s and maybe that’s the difference. This 21st century is so interesting. Go on with your bad self Dad:)
Another child of the 70s here and yeah, my dad never touched my hair but he DID express his opinion about my getting it pressed (and, later, relaxed). Needless to say my mother ignored him…for better or worse…and then when I went (back to) natural 20+ years later he was bothered because it was so short. I’ve BC’d so many times since, he’s used to it now… 🙂
Anyway, that photo is awesome. Any man doing their daughter’s hair is awesome IMO.
It must have continued on into the next decade because I was born in the early 80s, LOL. My father was very far from progressive but like @kifsgirl noted the 21st century has really brought up some changes for the better. It is awesome.
My dad did my hair. Child of the 90’s here. He didn’t do it often because he still followed the old school idea that it was emasculating but when my mom couldn’t and he had to, I loved it. Hair time serves as a great bonding experience and I actually thought he did a better job than my mom! He was less heavy handed and more patient. He didn’t want to upset his “little girl.” My father doing my hair is one of the most positive memories I have of him.
WELL MY BLACK FATHER ALWAYS DID MY HAIR WHEN I WAS YOUNG. SO PLEASE STOP ACTING LIKE THIS PICTURE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL. HE IS A WHITE MAN WHO ADOPTED A BLACK DAUGHTER. SO HE SHOULD LEARN TO DO HER HAIR. THIS IS NORMAL.
Thank you Connie1 for keeping it REAL. That white man learned how to take care of his daughter’s hair by watching/asking WHO????? Black people. So WTH is all this standing ovation stuff coming from? This isn’t a ‘black/ white’ thing UNTIL people start bashing their own people out of nowhere and putting this white guy up on a pedestal. After that, it then becomes a ‘black/white’ issue. Self-hate is a disease and some of these comments are shining a spotlight on it.
I think it caused so much stir because it is super rare to see dads do hair but it is way more rare to see a white father doing his black daughter’s hair. I also love the idea that he took the time to learn how to do her hair, so many parents who have children of a different races/ethnicity (or parents of biracial children or kids with very different texture hair) never learn and their children suffer as a result so this is commendable.
I think you are going over board a bit Connie1. I don’t think the point was to put black fathers down. The point is to uplift any father for doing his daughter’s hair. As many commented above, their black father did their hair as well and this photo brings back fond memories. I would think it does the same for you. Perhaps you should take a moment and figure out why this is so upsetting to you. Wish you the best of luck.
STOP WITH THE IGNORANT COMMENTS ABOUT BLACK MEN. THERE ARE PLENTY OF BLACK FATHERS WHO DO THEIR DAUGHTERS HAIR. MY FATHER IS ONE OF THEM. GIVE IT A REST. SOME OF YOU ARE SO IN LOVE WITH WHITE PEOPLE THAT YOU CANT EVEN RECOGNIZE WHEN YOU ARE BEING DISRESPECTFUL TO YOUR OWN RACE.
@connie1 you are being hostile and angry and speaking in caps. What’s the reason. You seem very angry over something that personally has nothing to do with you. OMG.
I AM ANGRY BECAUSE I AM BLACK AND PEOPLE ARE ON HERE DISRESPECTING BLACK MEN.
Scuse me @connie1 now I am offended. My mom is Yamassee Muscogee and my dad was mixed. This isn’t a racial issue. You being the typical bitter black woman always angry made it racial. People are saying nice things. Positive words. You are being the tyipical nasty black woman. It just gets old
SO WHAT IS A TYPICAL BLACK WOMAN? NOW YOU ARE BEING RACIST AND IGNORANT. YOU ARE GETTING OLD. THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE ON THIS SITE WHO MADE IT A RACE THING. SO READ!
Excuse me? Typical angry black women, wth? It amazes me how whites, asians and mixed people can disagree with something and be judged as individuals, but when a black woman has a different opinion about something, she’s a ‘typical angry black women’. Connie has the right to her opinion just like everybody else. Just because you don’t agree with her, doesn’t mean she’s typical, black and angry. Please go spread your racist ignorant posts somewhere else.
How was that racist?
How are the comments about these ladies PERSONAL experiences with THEIR fathers ignorant? You seem to be the one generalizing here. You don’t know what other fathers do. You can only speak to your experience and let others speak to theirs.
@connie1= Egyptian bella.
@tria robinson=======two shouting idiots.tria when you parrot racist sexist garbage and you are(partly) included in the group being targeted with the racism and sexism, then you are an IDIOT.SO STFU!Thanks.
connie1-another idiot stanning for black dudes most of whom wouldnt spit on you and would diss you even worse but carry on with your ignorance.
LINDY YOU ARE SO IGNORANT. WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT BLACK MEN WOULD DISS ME? BLACK MEN LOVE ME. MY BLACK FATHER LOVES ME. MY POINT IS THAT THERE ARE PLENTY OF BLACK FATHERS WHO DO THEIR BLACK DAUGHTERS HAIR. THAT IS NOT AN IGNORANT STATEMENT. THAT IS FACT. SO LINDY PLEASE GET A LIFE!
Wow! I’ve honestly never seen nothing like this before. It’s beautiful.
Totally agree :).
MY BLACK FATHER ALWAYS DID MY HAIR. SO IF YOUR BLACK FATHER DIDN’T THEN SORRY FOR YOU. DONT PUT THEM ALL IN ONE CATEGORY. BLACK FATHERS ARE THE BEST!
Totally agree! I am so sick and tired of people seeing white people as ‘saviours’. ‘Oh wow, he’s a white male and taking care of his black daughters hair, oh wow so touching’. Sarcasm off. Ugh.
I tooooootally knew somebody was going to say this… Le sigh. Crab in a barrel mentality
Uhm no. I’m just tired of these white people worshipers. It’s sickening really.
@Eloisa…girl, you are a trip. I agree and definitely don’t see whites as saviors.
I just think a man combing his daughter’s hair is nice, though I know of a brother in church who combs, washes, conditions, braids, etc. his wife’s and daughters’ hair. He’s not a barber nor is he gay, just a good Black man. I honor Black men. My dad is a good one. He never did my hair, though…rotfl!
I think folks are making a big deal because he is white.
That’s not what Nisha said and there’s no need to shout. Keep your rage to yourself if you have nothing positive or constructive to say.
CONSTRUCTIVE. OK. MY BLACK FATHER ALWAYS DID MY HAIR. HE TOOK TURNS WHEN MY MOTHER NEEDED A BREAK. I THINK ITS GREAT THAT THIS WHITE FATHER IS TAKING THE TIME TO DO HIS DAUGHTERS HAIR. IS THAT POSITIVE ENOUGH FOR YOU? ALSO, I AM NOT SHOUTING. I JUST LIKE TYPING IN CAPS.