Putting Fatherhood on HOLD!
June 5, 2013 by Las Vegas Black Image Magazine
Filed under Health, Highlights
Las Vegas has one of the nation’s highest rates of unwanted teen pregnancy, with African-American and Latino youth too often chief among those left on the margins by early parenthood. However, some young men of color are making a conscious decision to delay fatherhood, so they can freely pursue their dreams before even considering the prospect of starting families. Two of them, both 17-year-olds playing in Coach Gene Tate’s Junior Giants baseball organization, recently explained to Las Vegas Black Image why they are taking such a proactive stance.
Azaan Ali: “I currently attend A-Tech High School because I want to have a higher education if my plans to play in Major League Baseball don’t work out. I haven’t witnessed any of my male friends becoming fathers in their teens, but I have seen some young girls at school become mothers. The way I avoid becoming a father too soon is to think about my long-term goals, and consider how becoming a father in my teens — or before I am mentally and financially prepared — will affect my dreams. I don’t have a job, or any money coming in, so my life would be drastically affected. I keep myself busy with playing sports and doing many other things. I want to be a good father — when the time is right and I have completed my higher educational plans. But right now, I stay away from it.”
Walter Johnson: “I love living in Las Vegas and playing baseball. I attend West Prep High School, and my favorite subject in school is government; I find learning about laws interesting and I look forward to going to college. I am aware of one of my friends who just became a father. I also have a girlfriend, but I avoid the situation of becoming a young father by staying busy with sports. I play baseball, but when our team isn’t meeting, I will play basketball. I keep myself occupied, because I see many of my friends becoming fathers who are just teenagers. I am not thinking about becoming a father until I am 25 and have completed college and my career pursuits.”