GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — There’s a new film premiering this weekend at Celebration Cinema Rivertown hoping to fight against the stereotype painting Black men as bad fathers.
Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Clay Roberts is a father of five. He’s now happily married, but previously went through a tumultuous custody battle. That led to him writing the book “Super Dad” to help others navigating custody battles and the child support system.
“People needed to know about the things that I went through and how you can work with the child support system to ensure time with your kids and a fair assessment through the courts so that you’re not being railroaded just paying for a kid and you’re never getting to see that child,” said Roberts.
That book then became the inspiration for his new film, a documentary called “Generational Fatherhood.” In the film, you’ll hear from 11 different dads and their different journeys as parents.
Roberts was just 15 years old when his father was murdered. It was a few years before he became a father himself. He says our experiences play a big part in the parents we become.
“The purpose of this film is to essentially shed light on exactly what we do go through as men. We are human. We do have issues of our own from how we were raised, and these things all impact us. It all shapes us as who we are as a society, as a man and as a parent,” said Roberts.
The movie premiere will be a red-carpet event, Saturday, February 24, 2024, at 6 p.m., at Celebration Cinema Rivertown.
There will be a Q & A session afterward and representatives from the Kent County Friend of Court will for those who need legal advice.
Roberts also has a nonprofit called All Things Fatherhood, a support group and safe space for local fathers.
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