ORLANDO— Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate, Rep. Byron Donalds, is making the case for how “critical” and important it is for children, especially black children, to have a father figure in their lives.
"It’s critical. Having a male role model in the home. There is almost no substitute for it; there really is no substitute,” said Rep. Donalds when asked on the importance of young black kids having a father figure during an interview with The Floridian.
While Rep. Donalds outlined the importance of children having the guidance of both a mother and a father, he emphasized how important a role a male figure is in the upbringing of children.
“God’s design is the right design. Husband and wife, mother and father, raising your kids,” added Donalds.
Does the lack of fatherhood in the black community lead to incarcerations?
According to Donalds, it does. The married father of three boys believes that “there is nothing like the discipline of a father,” adding that male students are “excelling” in classrooms nationwide where there are significantly more male teachers.
“ When you are young, there is nothing like the discipline of a father,” said Donalds. “We are seeing that in classrooms across the country in schools where you have more male teachers, it’s actually the male students who are excelling more, paying attention more, actually following the code of conduct of the school because they see a male role model in their life. It may not be in their home but in their lives, so I think fatherhood is essential to a lot of them.”
Donalds continues, saying that a male father figure or role model would help adolescents “navigate” through their developmental years.
“I think its dealing with your trajectory in life, having that male role model who is challenging you, helping you to kinda navigate the pitfalls of adolescence as a young kid you can’t see, but someone who has that experience can see it,” he concluded. “That fatherly role model really helps to set in part the self-image of a child, and that helps to formulate their trajectory in their life."
Donalds has been endorsed by President Donald Trump.
WATCH
