My Seven Black Fathers: A Memoir of Race, Family, and the Mentors Who Made Me Whole

My Seven Black Fathers: A Memoir of Race, Family, and the Mentors Who Made Me Whole

by Will Jawando

4.7 (183)

4.7 stars from 183 reviews

Published by Farrar, Straus & GirouxPublished 2022-01-01

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Fans of these authors will like this...

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Perfect for you if...

  • You're interested in Black male mentorship and want to understand how communities can break cycles of pain and isolation.
  • You're raising or teaching young Black boys and looking for permission to expand your own role in their lives.
  • You value raw, honest stories about identity, belonging, and the men who show up when it matters most.

Maybe not for you if...

  • You're looking for a purely political critique or policy blueprint rather than a personal story about transformation.
  • You prefer stories where struggle is minimised or glossed over for comfort.
  • You're not open to seeing mentorship as a form of parenting, or fatherhood as something broader than biology.

About this book

Will Jawando's memoir challenges the stereotype of absent Black fathers by arguing that Black fathers exist not only within individual families but as resources for entire Black communities. He contends that the presence of Black men in the lives of Black boys and young men can counter racist ideas and policies. Growing up outside Washington, DC, Jawando—who went by his Nigerian name, Yemi—struggled with school transitions, a divorced white mother, a strained relationship with his biological father, and behavioral issues in class. A formative friendship with Kalfani, a basketball court mentor, ended tragically with Kalfani's death from gun violence. Jawando credits his development to relationships with several mentors: Mr. Williams, a Black male grade school teacher who addressed bullying; Jay Fletcher, his mother's openly gay colleague who introduced him to theater and healthier habits; Mr. Holmes, a high school coach and chorus director; Deen Sanwoola, a businessman who helped him reconnect with his Nigerian heritage and reconcile with his biological father; and President Barack Obama, who employed him as associate director of public engagement at the White House. Today a civil rights and education policy attorney, civic leader, husband, and father, Jawando draws on his experience with My Brother's Keeper, President Obama's initiative addressing opportunity gaps for boys and young men of color, to offer perspectives on mentorship and generational impact.

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Currently 4.7★ from 183 reviews

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Will Jawando

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