FATHER FRIENDS
As a black father of four, Matt Prestbury was fed up with the stereotypes. It was 2009, and the narratives around men like him painted pictures of absentee dads for whom expectations were low and praise was scarce.
“There’s that myth that we are not around,” said Prestbury, a North Baltimore native and assistant preschool teacher. “But if you look at other groups, there’s expectations that the father is there. We’re looked at as such an anomaly.”
Out of frustration, Prestbury created a closed Facebook group called “Black Fathers,” a virtual place where men could connect, commiserate and shatter stereotypes with their own stories. They shared fatherhood milestones like births and graduations, posted motivating articles and videos, and exchanged tips on overcoming the challenges and confusing moments that fatherhood can bring.