Jeff, Jeff, & Jada

Jeff, 33

Jada, 10

Jeff Jr., 5

"The day of their birth. Man...it was priceless. I was there the whole time. I watched the whole thing. Holding them for the first time...priceless. You'll never get that feeling again. It was different with both of them. It's never the same feeling. It's a one time thing. It's like playing in front of a million people or like winning a super bowl, but bigger. That feeling is crazy."

"Being a Black father, man...it's beautiful. I come outside and I hold my head high. Everybody knows I'm a great father, man. Anybody around here could tell you when they see me, they see my kids. It's not a place I go that they're not with me. It's like, they know I'm their hero at the end of the day."

"It's hard out here. The school system sucks. My daughter goes to Lafayette. Lafayette is more of a Portuguese population..not too many Black kids there. She has some minor problems there. You know, kids being kids. Not only the racial part but there's also some jealousy 'cause a lot of kids like her. She feels kinda' isolated sometimes so that can be tough for her."

I have a few fears raising them with how these kids are now. There's been a few schools that kids ran up in with weapons, bringing guns to school. There's just no guidance for a lot of kids out here. A lot of kids in Newark need father figures in their lives. You also have a lot of young fathers and young mothers, and it's hard for them."

"I want to save more to go on more family vacations with them. We go places and stuff but right now I want them to see more than just Newark. I want them to see other parts of the world. Different states and countries. Different environments."

"Education is everything for them right now. 'You do what you gotta' do in school and I'll get you what you want as far as sneakers, clothes, whatever.' Education is a big thing. It means a lot in both families. Their mother's and mine. A lot of kids are lost. We're losing a lot of babies to these streets. And a lot of kids are just dropping out of school at like, 16. I'm down to keep them in school and to show them that they could get more out of life. A hundred percent."

"She got so much personality - she's an outgoing person. She doesn't have any problems. She's friendly. I could see her being a business owner. Whatever she chooses I'm down for her, a hundred percent. I give her different options. She likes to dance now, so I got her in dance school. She tried basketball, she did cheerleading. At her age she don't really know what she's into. They change their mind like every five minutes but if she wants to try it, I'm down to let her try it out and I'll support her. I'm not gonna' turn it down for her. I want her to try new experiences... If she don't like it, she can move onto other things but it's up to her to do what she wants to do."

"I try to be equal with both of them. It's a little tougher on her because she's the oldest and he's still the baby, but I teach them the same principles. She's no better than him; he's no better than her. Right is right, wrong is wrong. I explain to her that he's the little brother and since she's his big sister, she's his protection. I explain to him that because she's his protector, he gotta' see her as one of his heroes."

"The hardest part about parenting is being their protector. Making sure they're always good. Making sure nobody harms them. Making sure they have everything they need. I never want to see them sad, you know what I mean? I always want to keep them happy."

"My daughter's getting to a certain age where she's gonna' start liking boys and I haven't had that father-daughter talk yet so I don't know how it's gonna' go. I don't know how to approach it yet but I'm working on it."