I believe in tough consequences because for Black boys, it doesn’t matter what your socioeconomic background is. The consequences for us are just greater. I want them to understand that.” Madi, the oldest of the House boys, is an 8th grader at Classen School of Advanced Studies. Madi has his father’s charm and style, or as the charismatic pre-teen would say, he’s “pushing pressure” like his dad. “He’s a social butterfly and a smart kid,” said Nkem proudly. “He’s got my name and he spends every day trying to emulate what he sees from me. I try to encourage him to be his own person.” Ten-year-old Jonas Paul is named after his great-grandfather. JP got more than just his name from his great-grandfather; he also received his kind heart and caring spirit. “He loves the arts,” said Nkem. “Like his brother, he plays piano and basketball and enjoys both. He’s super caring. When they’re all grown, JP is the one I am going to be able to count on. He’ll take care of his old dad!” Holding up the rear is the baby of the family, Charles.
“Charles is Charles — he’s the baby,” said Nkem. “Athletically [because of his height], he stands apart from any kid in his age group. He’s also smart. He’s gifted and talented. His teacher just raves about how kind he is.” Nkem is hoping that the end of the day’s activities that began with that piano audition will also be kind to him. JP’s team is down, but the proud dad is still in the game with his son, cheering and uplifting him as his team drags behind. The scoreboard does not end in JP’s favor, but the lessons learned on the court will follow him for a lifetime. The family rallies around their star player, congratulating him on a job well done. The game is over, but the coaching session is still in play. “I tell my kids [and the children I coach] all the time, ‘I’m your coach for life. I’m somebody you can count on for life,’” said Nkem. “I think that’s something our community needs more of – people who care about more than just their nuclear family.” Editor’s note: This article is the third is a year-long series celebrating local dads. Author Lance Evans and husband Chris are fathers of Chrystian and were voted MetroFamily’s 2021 Cool Pops.
THE HOUSE FAMILY LIFE IS FILLED WITH PIANO, BASKETBALL AND MELANIN MAGIC.
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METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / MAY-JUNE 2022 55
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