Every January we celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and how his activism paved the way for all who came after him. Though King was best known for his work in the civil rights movement, he was also a dad to four children: Martin Luther King III, Dexter, Yolanda, and Bernice. It's been more than 50 years since his assassination, but his impact on the world has never changed, and there are so many Black celebrity dads who have created strong bonds with their children and are making lasting impacts of their own.
Read on for quotes from famous Black fathers on parenthood, love, and everything that comes with raising children.
Barack Obama on What It Takes To Be a Dad
"Any fool can have a child; that doesn't make you a father. It's the courage to raise a child that makes you a father."
Will Smith on Black Fatherhood
"There's so much negative imagery of Black fatherhood. I've got tons of friends that are doing the right thing by their kids, and doing the right thing as a father — and how come that's not as newsworthy?"
Stephen Curry on Women's Equality
“I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that the idea of women’s equality has become a little more personal for me, lately, and a little more real. I want our girls to grow up knowing that there are no boundaries that can be placed on their futures, period. I want them to grow up in a world where their gender does not feel like a rulebook for what they should think, or be, or do. And I want them to grow up believing that they can dream big, and strive for careers where they’ll be treated fairly. And of course: paid equally."
Denzel Washington on Compassion
"The strongest, toughest men all have compassion. They're not heartless and cold. You have to be man enough to have compassion — to care about people and about your children."
John Legend on Fatherhood
"It humbles you. You start to realize you don't have all the answers."
Mahershala Ali on Spending Time With Kids
"You gotta be really deliberate with how you choose to spend your day because those are the moments you're away from your child."
Kobe Bryant On Being a Girl Dad
"Be thankful that you've been given that gift because girls are amazing … I'm a girl dad."
Dwyane Wade on the Gift of Fatherhood
"I love being a dad. Fatherhood is the best thing that could happen to me, and I'm just glad I can share my voice."
Jay-Z on Spending Time With Blue Ivy
"I thought I would be more inspired to have all these new feelings to talk about, but I really just want to hang out with my daughter."
Jamie Foxx on Being There
"I think the best thing to try to do is allow your daughter or your son to know that they can come to you for anything."
Jesse Williams on the Adventure
"It's wonderful — a new discovery every day. It's great, and I'm loving it."
Michael Jordan on Advice From His Father
"My father used to say that it's never too late to do anything you wanted to do. You never know what you can accomplish until you try."
Idris Elba on Loving His Children More Than Anything Else
"I love, love children. I love being a dad. It's one of the joys of life. In fact, you can take it all away from me tomorrow, but don't take away my children."
Chance The Rapper on Raising a Daughter
"I have a daughter who's going to be raised in this world, and my music and my art are powerful tools in getting that to be formed the way I want it to."
Chris Rock on Being a Proud Father
"Every day I’m proud to be a dad. When you have kids, there’s no such thing as quality time. There’s just time. There’s no, 'Ooh, his graduation’s better than going to the mall'. It’s all kind of equal. Changing her diaper and her winning a contest, it’s all good."
Kanye West on Being Protective
"One of the things was just to be protective, that I would do anything to protect my child or my child's mother. As simple as that."
