Black dads go public with support for their kids with autism -- and each other
ATLANTA — When Tyrone Green's youngest son was diagnosed with autism, his wife was immediately ready to get the 3-year-old the support he needed. But Green was stuck: He had questions about his son's future and an overwhelming feeling of loneliness — like no one, not his wife, not his friends, understood his experience.
' ... (M)y wife couldn't understand what I was going through as a Black father, all these hopes and dreams I had for my kid,' said Green, who lives in Michigan. 'She didn't feel the same way.'
In 2021, he joined a Black fathers' support group and met a few other dads eager to discuss their unique challenges. They started their own podcast in 2023 called AutisHIM, a place where Black dads talk about the wins and setbacks of having autistic children.
Green is among a growing number of Black fathers of autistic children looking to be more visible in the national autism conversation through podcasts, nonprofits and summits that specifically address their experience. These men say that their hope is not only to be considered more than sidekicks to mothers of the children, but also to help other Black dads accept autism diagnoses and not prolong getting kids the help that they need.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects how people communicate, process information and interact with the world around them. Federal data shows that since 2020, Black children have had a higher prevalence of autism spectrum disorder than white children — a change experts credit mostly to better awareness of autism in underserved communities.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently announced plans to have the federal government do a broad study for the causes of autism, even though it's been looked at by researchers for decades. He has said autism is a 'tragedy' that 'destroys families' and that some people with autism will never hold a job, pay taxes or go on dates.
But many people with autism live successful, socially rich and independent lives, which makes a narrative like Kennedy's dangerous, said Michael Hannon, a counseling professor at Montclair State University who studies the social and emotional aspects of autism on Black fatherhood.
It 'can literally diminish hope for any father or father figure or family,' Hannon said of Kennedy's framing of autism.
But affinity groups for Black men who have kids with autism are a successful way to get the dads to engage with their emotions, Hannon said.
'The challenge is convincing people to (talk openly and honestly), because the practice of doing that is rare, not just among Black men, but people in general,' he said, adding that people might think it will reflect on their ability to parent.
Evan Polk said a big part of navigating his 13-year-old daughter's diagnosis was learning to sit with emotions that weren't simply 'happy and mad.' In the beginning, he was very protective.
'I became a helicopter dad,' said Polk, who started AuSome Kicks, an art therapy nonprofit for autistic children near Philadelphia earlier this year. 'I didn't want nobody or nothing to harm her whatsoever. When I found out she was autistic, she'd be outside with knee pads and elbow pads looking crazy.'
He said he later taught his family to be more patient with his daughter, as opposed to traditional parenting styles of being firm and hoping that she would fall in line.
Dr. Berry Pierre said he initially was on the sidelines of his autistic daughter's support team as his wife, Maria Davis-Pierre, did the bulk of advocating.
The Florida couple founded Autism in Black and for the first five years, he said the organization didn't specifically tailor messaging to Black dads.
'Whether it be in schools, the (individual education plan) meetings, the mothers were just there.' Pierre said. 'But as we started to kind of try to go deeper and figure out 'Alright, what's going on? Where are the guys?' we started to realize that a lot of them will be there.'
Many Black dads, Pierre found out, were equally involved as the moms, and Pierre wanted to get more of them talking publicly about autism.
'The dads are there, but we know the general public doesn't realize that yet,' Pierre said. 'So we try to serve as this engine to shine a light on what's really happening. The dads are there, they're attentive. And even with this diagnosis, they're going even harder.'
Some dads, like Nicholas Love in North Carolina, said they first hesitated to openly share their journey of raising their kids with autism in fear that people may not understand.
'I was very guarded for a while in talking about my children both being on the spectrum,' said Love, who is CEO of the marketing agency The Kulur Group. 'Even in how you take pictures that you upload on social media, being cognizant and thinking about, 'Well is this a picture that looks, dare I say, the perception of what normal looks like?''
Now, he's an open book about them, is understanding when employees need a little extra time for urgent family needs and has advocated that men receive more paid leave so they will have time to be more involved with their kids.
'I got to a point where it's like, 'OK, this is my reality … I need to do my part in normalizing this,' Love said.
Green said that while his podcast and platforms like Autism in Black make it easier for Black fathers to share their stories of their kids' wins and losses, he'd like to see 'more support groups out there, more podcasts, more conversations.'
'I see a lot of Black women doing their thing and I highly appreciate that, but I think there definitely needs to be more conversations surrounding (Black fatherhood and autism) because, for myself, I'm a Black man,' Green said. 'I have a Black family, but this is never really the topic of discussion.'
Hunter writes for the Associated Press.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
3 hours ago
- Business Insider
Oppenheimer sees limited near-term impact from Gilead HIV approval
Oppenheimer says that while the firm generally agrees with consensus that Yeztugo 'has multi-blockbuster potential,' its model assumes a slow ramp that initially cannibalizes Descvoy's market share. The injectable Apretude has had a sluggish launch, but Yeztugo is different in requiring only two clinic visits a year, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Opco believes a negative Supreme Court decision in Kennedy versus Braidwood 'would most certainly create near-term headwinds.' Given the current political environment, adoption into more commercially mainstream markets will be needed to realize Yeztugo's full potential, contends the firm. It reiterates an Outperform rating on Gilead (GILD) with a $125 price target Confident Investing Starts Here:
14 hours ago
What to know about sickle cell disease
ABC News' Dr. Tara Narula and Dr. Darien Sutton report on a disease that affects over 250 million people worldwide, with a disproportionate impact on the Black community. June 19, 2025
Newsweek
14 hours ago
- Newsweek
America's Drinking Water is Changing How Babies Are Being Born: Study
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Even low levels of arsenic in U.S. public drinking water may increase the risk of below average birth weight and other adverse birth outcomes, says a new national study led by researchers at Columbia University. The findings, drawn from nearly 14,000 pregnancies across 35 cohort sites participating in the National Institutes of Health's Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program, were published on the medical journal site JAMA Network earlier this week. "It is concerning, but what really stands out as major concern from this study is that no exposure level seems truly safe during pregnancy," Vasilis Vasiliou, chair and professor of environmental health sciences at Yale School of Public Health, told Newsweek. Newsweek has contacted the EPA via email for comment. Why It Matters The research addresses growing concerns about the adequacy of U.S. drinking water safety standards, particularly for vulnerable populations. The findings suggest that health risks may occur from exposure below levels currently considered safe by the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) arsenic limit that was determined in 2001. The study also said that low birth weight and preterm birth are "important predictors of infant mortality and morbidity across the life span," highlighting that low-level exposure to arsenic in drinking water could have prolonged and even fatal impacts. File photo: a young girl drinks some water from a bottle. File photo: a young girl drinks some water from a bottle. Nicolas Messyasz/Sipa via AP What To Know The study found that prenatal exposure to arsenic—even below the current federal standard of 10 micrograms per liter—was linked to a higher likelihood of babies being born preterm, with lower birth weights, or smaller than expected for their gestational age. Preterm birth was noted when a baby had a gestational age of less than 37 weeks, and low birth weight was identified as a weight of less than 2500 grams, or 2.5 kilograms. Both outcomes were observed across multiple racial and ethnic groups, including White, Black, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander families. The authors noted that the risk of low birth weight following prenatal exposure to arsenic was higher among White, Black and Hispanic/Latino birthing parents. "Arsenic's toxicity during pregnancy is multifactorial, involving oxidative stress, epigenetic disruption, placental toxicity, immune dysregulation, and hormonal interference—all of which can independently or jointly lead to low birth weight, preterm birth, and developmental programming of chronic disease," Vasiliou told Newsweek. In 2001, the EPA announced its 10 micrograms per liter standard for arsenic. At the time, the EPA Administrator, Christine Todd Whitman, stated that "the 10 ppb protects public health based on the best available science and ensures that the cost of the standard is achievable." However, some states, such as New Jersey and New Hampshire, have since enacted stricter limits of 5 micrograms per liter. "Arsenic is released from rocks and soil into groundwater, which then feeds into municipal supplies," Vasiliou said. He added that regions like the Southwest, parts of New England, Minnesota, and Wisconsin "are known for elevated natural levels." Human activities like mining, agriculture, and industrial processes "can raise arsenic levels in nearby water systems," he said. What People Are Saying Vasilis Vasiliou, chair and professor of environmental health sciences at Yale School of Public Health, told Newsweek: "I believe that based on this, the EPA should consider lowering the maximum contaminant level below 10 µg/L. The authors explicitly recommend this as a way to help reduce low‑birth weight rates. More frequent testing of public water systems, especially in high‑risk locales, along with investment in treatment technologies, for example coagulation, adsorption, ion exchange, will be essential. Communities with elevated but sub-limit arsenic should be informed about risks, and pregnant people encouraged to use alternative water sources or filtration. I believe that we should continue monitoring birth outcomes in relationship to low-dose arsenic exposure and refine risk estimates across different demographics." He added: "Arsenic isn't the only chemical of concern in tap water; I can list PFAS, 2,4-dioxane and other emerging chemical contaminants. Therefore, pregnant people often face multiple low-level exposures. Even small reductions in one contaminant can yield meaningful health improvements when cumulative." What Happens Next The study's authors urged for further research to dissect the combined influence of arsenic and other social determinants of health. They also stressed the importance of reviewing legacy contaminants like arsenic and updating health-based water safety standards at both federal and state levels.
