Impact Detroit Magazine Impact Detroit Magazine 2013 | Page 14

A Letter to my Son
A

As I sit here to write this
letter to my son I’m reminded
of the Joys of Fatherhood.
I‘m a 27 year old young
African American who
believes in taking responsibility
for my child. My son Amari
is eight years old and “we
have built a bond so close
that nothing can ever break
it.” Writing this letter to him
gives him something to
cherish. Hopefully he can
keep the tradition going and
write a letter to his son or
daughter one day.
~Marvin J. Chatman~

mari as you become a
young man and you’re at the
age to have your own family, I
want you to Respect, Cherish,
and Love your family
unconditionally. I want you to
remember this particular story.
One day we were siting at the
park as we often do just having
a casual conversation. You
turned and looked at me with a
very sincere and as a
matter of fact look
in your eyes and
said "Dad, I want to
be just like you
when I grow up." In
that moment I had
to fight back tears.
As a father those
words to me are just as sacred
as, I love you. When you spoke
those words to me, it gave me
chills. It really made me stop
and look at life in a whole new
perspective. Just to know that
you are looking up to me as a
role model and not a ball
player or someone else means
the world to me. I know I have
to be very cautious of the
things I say and do, because
when I turn around I'm being
mimicked. That means a lot to
me as a father. There is a
stereotype that African

American men don't take care
of their children., I’m well
aware of that, but I think there
are a whole lot of African
Americans fathers that do take
care of their children they just
don’t get recognized for it.
When I look into your eyes son
I couldn't imagine not being
there for you.
You inspired me to be a better
person when you told me you
wanted to be like me when you

“We have built a bond
so close that nothing
can ever break it.”
grows up. Hearing you say
that at such an impressionable
age made me feel some kinda
way, it gave me more drive to
be successful, because I want
you to be better than me. My
hopes and dreams for you are
far beyond anything imaginable.
You love playing basketball
and you are very competitive in
the sport. The passion you had
at two years old was amazing.
Believe it or not you would sit
down with me and watch a
whole basketball game. Right