Family Guys: Black Leaders on the Greatest Job on Earth

Black leaders share what fatherhood means to them.

Fatherhood - The verdict may still be out on how great a president Barack Obama has been, but his deep devotion to Malia and Sasha is unquestionable. "The time goes by so quick," he said of fatherhood in a recent interview. "Understand that there's nothing that's going to be more precious in your life, And when you're on your death bed, that's the stuff you're going to remember — you holding hands with your daughter." Here other leaders share their views on fatherhood as sons and as dads. The consensus is that despite their enormous individual accomplishments, there's no better job in the world.  —Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick) (Photo: Kent Nishimura-Pool/Getty Images)

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Fatherhood - The verdict may still be out on how great a president Barack Obama has been, but his deep devotion to Malia and Sasha is unquestionable. "The time goes by so quick," he said of fatherhood in a recent interview. "Understand that there's nothing that's going to be more precious in your life, And when you're on your death bed, that's the stuff you're going to remember — you holding hands with your daughter." Here other leaders share their views on fatherhood as sons and as dads. The consensus is that despite their enormous individual accomplishments, there's no better job in the world.  —Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick) (Photo: Kent Nishimura-Pool/Getty Images)

Attorney General Eric Holder - "I would not be where I am today without the love, guidance, and support of my father. He taught me to work hard, to dream big, to give back to my community, and to always remember the responsibility I have to be a role model for my own children," said Attorney General Eric Holder, pictured here with his father. (Photo: Courtesy of Eric Holder)

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Attorney General Eric Holder - "I would not be where I am today without the love, guidance, and support of my father. He taught me to work hard, to dream big, to give back to my community, and to always remember the responsibility I have to be a role model for my own children," said Attorney General Eric Holder, pictured here with his father. (Photo: Courtesy of Eric Holder)

Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn - "Fatherhood has been profound, challenging and rewarding. I have always maintained that children learn what they live and fatherhood has granted me the opportunity to pass to, and share with, my children and grandchildren lessons learned from the triumphs and tribulations of a lifetime of blessed experiences," said Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn, pictured here with his three daughters.  (Photo: Courtesy of James Clyburn)

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Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn - "Fatherhood has been profound, challenging and rewarding. I have always maintained that children learn what they live and fatherhood has granted me the opportunity to pass to, and share with, my children and grandchildren lessons learned from the triumphs and tribulations of a lifetime of blessed experiences," said Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn, pictured here with his three daughters.  (Photo: Courtesy of James Clyburn)

Rep. Danny Davis - "Fatherhood means everything: the opportunity to experience knowing that there's somebody who cares, who you can go to and that somebody looks out for you. For the last five years of my father's life, we just had a ball. Everywhere I went on the weekend he was with me. To see him enjoy those last five years of his life just added another dimension to my life," said Rep. Danny Davis, pictured here with his dad, Hezekia "H.D." Davis. "Fatherhood is a sense of responsibility. It gives one a sense of purpose, productivity and usefulness. I am useful because I can convey principles and practices to my own children." (Photo: Courtesy of Danny Davis)

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Rep. Danny Davis - "Fatherhood means everything: the opportunity to experience knowing that there's somebody who cares, who you can go to and that somebody looks out for you. For the last five years of my father's life, we just had a ball. Everywhere I went on the weekend he was with me. To see him enjoy those last five years of his life just added another dimension to my life," said Rep. Danny Davis, pictured here with his dad, Hezekia "H.D." Davis. "Fatherhood is a sense of responsibility. It gives one a sense of purpose, productivity and usefulness. I am useful because I can convey principles and practices to my own children." (Photo: Courtesy of Danny Davis)

National Urban League President Marc Morial - "Every Father's Day, I honor the memory of my father, Ernest 'Dutch' Morial, and the incredible example that he set for my siblings, me and many others," said NUL president and CEO Marc Morial, pictured left, with his parents and brother. "So many Black men raise their biological children and serve as father figures to countless more. We understand that our children don't just need our pocketbooks, they need our presence. Beyond our discipline, they need our direction. As important as the lessons that we teach them is the love that we give them.  My father taught me these things through example, and I hope that one day my three children will say the same."  (Photo: Courtesy of Marc Morial)

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National Urban League President Marc Morial - "Every Father's Day, I honor the memory of my father, Ernest 'Dutch' Morial, and the incredible example that he set for my siblings, me and many others," said NUL president and CEO Marc Morial, pictured left, with his parents and brother. "So many Black men raise their biological children and serve as father figures to countless more. We understand that our children don't just need our pocketbooks, they need our presence. Beyond our discipline, they need our direction. As important as the lessons that we teach them is the love that we give them.  My father taught me these things through example, and I hope that one day my three children will say the same."  (Photo: Courtesy of Marc Morial)

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Rep. Keith Ellison - "Fatherhood is the most important and toughest job I've ever had. It's your job to nurture, guide and raise a human being. And that human being has the potential for great good. I don't think there's any father who hasn't felt a responsibility to make sure their children grew to their greatest potential," said Rep. Keith Ellison, pictured here with his daughter. "The most important lesson my father ever taught me is don't back down, have faith in what you know, beware of self-doubt, never abandon the idea that you might be right." (Photo: Courtesy of Keith Ellison)

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Rep. Keith Ellison - "Fatherhood is the most important and toughest job I've ever had. It's your job to nurture, guide and raise a human being. And that human being has the potential for great good. I don't think there's any father who hasn't felt a responsibility to make sure their children grew to their greatest potential," said Rep. Keith Ellison, pictured here with his daughter. "The most important lesson my father ever taught me is don't back down, have faith in what you know, beware of self-doubt, never abandon the idea that you might be right." (Photo: Courtesy of Keith Ellison)

Rep. G.K. Butterfield - “Fatherhood is love. It’s being your best self for the benefit of your children and the family to come. I was blessed to have a wonderful father. I strive each day to be as good of a father to my daughters as my dad was to me," says Rep.G.K. Butterfield, pictured here with his parents.  (Photo: Courtesy of G.K. Butterfield)

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Rep. G.K. Butterfield - “Fatherhood is love. It’s being your best self for the benefit of your children and the family to come. I was blessed to have a wonderful father. I strive each day to be as good of a father to my daughters as my dad was to me," says Rep.G.K. Butterfield, pictured here with his parents.  (Photo: Courtesy of G.K. Butterfield)

Rep. Donald Payne Jr. - "My father was and still is everything to me; he was my father; my mother because she passed away when I was very young; my mentor; my hero; my most trusted adviser; and my friend. Father’s Day is a day to reflect on how much he not only meant to me, but the millions of lives he touched as an educator, YMCA national president, Newark legislator, and congressman," says Rep. Donald Payne Jr. "But the most important job to him was always being a father to my two sisters and me. Every day, I live my life to emulate my father and hope that he is proud of the father that I have become.” (Photo: Courtesy of Donald Payne Jr)

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Rep. Donald Payne Jr. - "My father was and still is everything to me; he was my father; my mother because she passed away when I was very young; my mentor; my hero; my most trusted adviser; and my friend. Father’s Day is a day to reflect on how much he not only meant to me, but the millions of lives he touched as an educator, YMCA national president, Newark legislator, and congressman," says Rep. Donald Payne Jr. "But the most important job to him was always being a father to my two sisters and me. Every day, I live my life to emulate my father and hope that he is proud of the father that I have become.” (Photo: Courtesy of Donald Payne Jr)

Rep. Lacy Clay - "Fatherhood is the essence of our being; it's what makes a boy into a man. I am grateful to have had a father and I'm grateful that I have a son. It's about your life responsibilities," said Rep. Lacy Clay, pictured here with his father. (Photo: Courtesy of Lacy Clay)

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Rep. Lacy Clay - "Fatherhood is the essence of our being; it's what makes a boy into a man. I am grateful to have had a father and I'm grateful that I have a son. It's about your life responsibilities," said Rep. Lacy Clay, pictured here with his father. (Photo: Courtesy of Lacy Clay)

Rep. Elijah Cummings - "Of all the roles I play, being a father is the most important. I see my children as a gift from God," said Rep. Elijah Cummings, pictured with his two daughters. "My father was a very, very special man. He had seven children and a limited education, but he gave me two great gifts. One, he and my mother made sure that we were connected with God. Two, he made sure we got a good education. Every time I walk into the House chamber I think of him. When I was sworn in by Newt Gingrich, he was up in the balcony and started crying. When I asked him why, he said, 'Now I see what I could have been.'" (Photo: Courtesy of Elijah Cummings)

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Rep. Elijah Cummings - "Of all the roles I play, being a father is the most important. I see my children as a gift from God," said Rep. Elijah Cummings, pictured with his two daughters. "My father was a very, very special man. He had seven children and a limited education, but he gave me two great gifts. One, he and my mother made sure that we were connected with God. Two, he made sure we got a good education. Every time I walk into the House chamber I think of him. When I was sworn in by Newt Gingrich, he was up in the balcony and started crying. When I asked him why, he said, 'Now I see what I could have been.'" (Photo: Courtesy of Elijah Cummings)

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Sen. Cory Booker - “My father, through his actions, taught me to be a prisoner of hope, optimism and change. He showed me and my brother that fatherhood is about the example you set for the next generation to build on and surpass. Every day I try to be a leader and a man that honors his legacy," says Sen. Cory Booker, pictured here with his father.  (Photo: Courtesy of Cory Booker)

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Sen. Cory Booker - “My father, through his actions, taught me to be a prisoner of hope, optimism and change. He showed me and my brother that fatherhood is about the example you set for the next generation to build on and surpass. Every day I try to be a leader and a man that honors his legacy," says Sen. Cory Booker, pictured here with his father.  (Photo: Courtesy of Cory Booker)

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver - "Fatherhood, based on what I've seen in my own father, is the ultimate sacrifice. You put everyone in your family before you. He will tell you, 'Look, at 92, I've had my life. The only reason I want to be alive now is in the event one of my children needs me,'' said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, pictured with his son and father. "For me, there's nothing better than being a father. Maybe the presidency comes in second, but there's nothing better than being a father." (Photo: Courtesy of Emanuel Cleaver)

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Rep. Emanuel Cleaver - "Fatherhood, based on what I've seen in my own father, is the ultimate sacrifice. You put everyone in your family before you. He will tell you, 'Look, at 92, I've had my life. The only reason I want to be alive now is in the event one of my children needs me,'' said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, pictured with his son and father. "For me, there's nothing better than being a father. Maybe the presidency comes in second, but there's nothing better than being a father." (Photo: Courtesy of Emanuel Cleaver)