These Are the Worst Black Dads in Film, TV
Thanks to the new film “Is God Is”—which follows a set of twin daughters on a quest for revenge after their own father burnt them and their mother in a house fire years prior—there’s been renewed conversations about bad Black dads onscreen.
Whether you’re thinking about true gangsters like Ghost and Kanan from the “Power” universe or the famous, allegedly abusive Jackson family patriarch Joe Jackson, or Will Smith’s dad Lou from “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” who left audiences with a gut punch after he left his son for a second time: there’s sadly been no shortage of horrible fathers in TV/film that make us all grateful for the positive male figures in our own lives.
So it’s in that vein that we thought we’d take a look at some of the worst Black dads in movies and shows. And trust us when we say, these are some bad fellas for a myriad of reasons. Let’s take a look!
“Monster- “Is God Is”
We all know Sterling K. Brown to be a feel-good, lovey-dovey dad on TV; so seeing him make a turn into a self-absorbed, narcissistic abuser in “Is God Is” was a true shock to the system. But then again, you’d have to be crazy to literally burn your wife and kids up, right?
Joe Jackson- “Michael”
While Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs may be everyone’s OG Joe Jackson thanks to “The Jacksons: An American Dream,” Colman Domingo did what needed to be done in the recent film about the family, “Michael.” He was equally menacing and overbearing, and even though his children turned out successful—we can’t help but wonder if it really took all that much to begin with.
John Harris- “Waiting to Exhale”
First of all, shoutout to Michael Beach, who seemingly loves to play horrible men. Secondly, how dare he cheat on Angela Bassett’s character with a white woman and then try to use the kids to get back at her during their divorce proceedings? Talk about a trifling man.
Troy- “Fences”
“What law is there, say I got to like you?” That was the question Troy threw back at his own son’s face after he asked why his father never liked him. What kind of way is that to talk to your own kid? Sure, you may not have to like him, but you didn’t have to degrade him like that.
“Mister”- “The Color Purple”
Granted, Mister learned his abusive behaviors from his own father, but just because something is handed to you doesn’t mean you have to accept it. Mister chose to still be a menace to women and kids, and he didn’t deserve any of them.
“Ghost”- “Power”
Similar to another character in the “Power” universe (more on that later), James “Ghost” St. Patrick pulling a gun on his own child is just next-level horrible parenting. We don’t care what the context was; there was surely another way to handle this.
Luscious Lyon- “Empire”
Literally throwing your son in the trash when he doesn’t act the way you want him to is the epitome of an “ain’t shit father.” We knew toxic masculinity was bad, but seeing it displayed towards a child is just cruel.
Lou- “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”
Popping back up after so many years just to get your kid’s hopes up for a special trip, only to leave as fast as you showed up? Yeah, Lou, your offenses just keep piling up. You’re never seeing that “Best Dad of the Year” trophy.
Rowan Pope- “Scandal”
Has there ever been a more sinister and complicated dynamic between a father and a daughter onscreen? Rowan Pope and Olivia went for blows in the most diabolical ways in “Scandal”. We just know their family dinners were awkward as hell.
Frank Mitchell- “Moesha”
For the most part, Frank Mitchell was really just being a good, albeit strict, dad to Moesha. But come on now, hiding a son for all those years? That doesn’t paint him in the best light at all.
Beau Willie- “For Colored Girls”
HE DROPPED HIS OWN CHILDREN OUT THE WINDOW TO THEIR DEATH. Michael Ealy, while we love him and will let him move on from this role—we still have to give you a severe side eye for this because you were absolutely a horrible person in this film.
Kanan- “Power Book II: Raising Kanan”
Are we really gonna argue over a man who killed his own son the way Kanan did in this show? We think not.
Alton Saint
Franklin Saint’s father, Alton, was such a complicated man whose history and messed up future made it nearly impossible for him to connect with his son or his wife. And while he may have made a point or two, it’s ultimately prayers down for him.
