Black dads go public with support for their kids with autism — and each other
ATLANTA (AP) — 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.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Toronto Star
5 hours ago
- Toronto Star
‘A confirmation that our lives matter': Star columnist Royson James to be appointed to the Order of Ontario
It was never just about getting the story. Over a 40-year career at the Toronto Star, Royson James wrote many columns and stories that helped change this city and province for the better, but he never lost sight of what was important: The people behind them, the ones who shared their tales, especially those that he could use his platform to help. While he may have changed their lives, James also knows they changed his. On Monday, James will be appointed to the Order of Ontario, along with other honourees, who have contributed to this province in countless ways. 'It's not like I'm this great novelist who goes up to the mountain or into the desert and then returns with this great novel. I go out every day and talk to people. I listen to their pain, I listen to their suffering, I listen to the triumphs, I listen to their complaints and then I weave a story out of that,' said James. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Royson James is welcomed by Star owner and publisher Jordan Bitove at a gathering to celebrate James', appointment to the Order of Ontario. R.J. Johnston Toronto Star Starting off as a reporter who covered Scarborough and North York, eventually working Toronto, he was a health reporter, then joined the editorial board, and in Jan. 1, 1998, the first day of Toronto as a Megacity, he was appointed City Hall columnist, a role in which he played a huge role in some of the biggest stories of the time, until 2016 when he retired from being a full-time columnist, though he continued as a contributor until 2024. 'I'll be honest, when I was bureau chief, sometimes you'd be like, Royson, where are you? Like, where's your column? And he'd be off talking to somebody from the community about something and it would launch some program that would help people,' said Vanessa Lu, the Star's former City Hall bureau chief. One example Lu recalls, was when James worked with a woman named Patricia Landry, who he called the Plant Lady, at the City's Parks department, and they came up with a plan to give away plants that the city didn't need. 'There were all these little tidbits of his life that were just beautiful, not to mention the fundamental things he was involved with at the Star like on carding, and getting more Black reporters into the newsroom,' said Lu, referring to the Star's coverage of the police practice of stopping, questioning and documenting Black residents in non-criminal encounters. Beloved by colleagues, he was a champion of Black journalists, offering advice and support. Former city hall bureau chief Vanessa Lu (left ) Royson James (centre) and Ashante Infantry (right) laugh at the party to celebrate James appointment to the Order of Ontario. R.J. Johnston Toronto Star 'Royson and I belong to an exclusive club — Black journalists employed by the Toronto Star,' said Ashante Infantry, a former City and Entertainment reporter. 'Royson has been instrumental in expanding and sustaining our ranks, both figuratively, as a mentor and beacon of Black pride and professionalism, and literally, shepherding some of us into the company.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW When Infantry joined the Star on a contract in 1995, she wasn't aware that it was because of the actions of James and the few other Black reporters pushing management, saying they had a blind spot and weren't hiring young reporters of colour. She didn't learn until working here for years that he had sent a note with several young candidates names to the city editor, adding at the end: 'No finder's fee.' When asked about this influence, James is nonchalant. 'It's in the DNA, I guess. I look out for the underdog. I look for people who I know might be in distress or who are walking a difficult road, especially if I'm walking it myself. So if I see a Black journalist, I'm saying hello. Excuse me, but I see a Black janitor I'm saying hello, much less,' said James. In a career filled with awards, there are a few that stood out to him. There were big stories like the Star's work on racial profiling, or a special section highlighting the important roles of 50 Jamaican Canadians or t ravelling to Ghana to mark the 200th anniversary of the end of the slave trade. News Paralyzed gymnast waits for miracle Say a prayer for Taylor Lindsay-Noel. Hers is the flip side of Olympic glory. The elite gymnastic prospect is paralyzed following a catastrophic News Paralyzed gymnast waits for miracle Say a prayer for Taylor Lindsay-Noel. Hers is the flip side of Olympic glory. The elite gymnastic prospect is paralyzed following a catastrophic There was the story of Taylor Lindsay-Noel. In 2008, she was a 14 year old gymnast who was on a path to the Olympics, when she attempted a difficult move that left her a paraplegic. James was the first to shine a light on her story, and Star readers donated to the family to help her mother build an accessible home. Now Lindsay-Noel is a accessibility influencer with her own line of organic tea that was featured as one of Oprah's favourite things, an update that James wrote in 2020. ' I didn't really understand the impact that it would have, but it made a huge impact on my life. We had an overwhelming amount of support from strangers and the public,' said Lindsay-Noel, about that first column. She said there was a moment in their last interview, when they both realized what a full circle moment it was. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'Having Royson being the person to write that and have that follow up all these years later to say, like, 'remember this girl that we talked about and how we said her life wouldn't be over and we asked everyone to pray for her. Look at what she's doing with her life now,'' said Lindsay-Noel. James recently held a celebration to mark his Order of Ontario honour, with friends, former colleagues and also many of the subjects of the stories that were meaningful to him. Premier Doug Ford — who affectionately calls him 'Roysie' — sent a video message of congratulations, as did former Mayor John Tory, who also attended. James could be a flame-thrower of a columnist when he needed to be, but he performed his job with integrity and honour. Even some of those singed by his words, like those two former politicians, respected him. As for what the award means to him, it's a validation of his life's work. 'It's a confirmation that our lives matter, that the people and things that I wrote about were significant and important enough for the people of Ontario to notice and to appreciate,' said James.
Toronto Sun
9 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
Galapagos tortoise celebrates his 135th birthday and his first Father's Day at Zoo Miami
Published Jun 15, 2025 • 1 minute read In this image provided by Zoo Miami, Goliath, a 517-pound (234-kilogram) Galapagos tortoise at Zoo Miami, meets his first offspring on June 12, 2025 in Miami. Photo by Zoo Miami / AP MIAMI — A South Florida zoo's oldest resident celebrated his 135th birthday and his first Father's Day on Sunday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Goliath, a 517-pound (234-kilogram) Galapagos tortoise at Zoo Miami, became a father for the first time earlier this month, zoo officials said. 'Goliath is my hero, and I am sure he will soon be an inspiration to many others!' Zoo Miami spokesman Ron Magill said in a statement. 'He is living proof that where there is a will, there is a way and to never give up!' One egg out of a clutch of eight laid on Jan. 27 successfully hatched on June 4, officials said. Besides being Goliath's first offspring, it's also the first time one of the endangered reptiles has hatched at Zoo Miami. The animals' numbers were drastically reduced before the 20th century by human exploitation and the introduction of invasive species to the Galapagos Islands. Modern threats include climate change and habitat loss. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. According to Goliath's official record, he hatched on the island of Santa Cruz in the Galapagos on June 15, between 1885 and 1890. The island group is located near the equator in the Pacific Ocean, several hundred miles west of mainland Ecuador. Goliath arrived at the Bronx Zoo in 1929 and moved to Zoo Miami in 1981. He has bred with several different females during his time at Zoo Miami, but he has never sired an offspring. The new hatchling's mother, Sweet Pea, is estimated to be between 85 and 100 years old. Both parents are doing well in their public habitat, officials said. The hatchling appears to be healthy in a separate enclosure. Wild hatchlings are not raised by their parents. Sports Sunshine Girls Editorial Cartoons Toronto & GTA Relationships
Toronto Star
10 hours ago
- Toronto Star
Remains of Air India crash victims are handed over to relatives
AHMEDABAD, India (AP) — Authorities have started handing over remains of the victims of one of India's worst aviation disasters, days after the Air India flight crashed and killed at least 270 people, officials said Sunday. The London-bound Boeing 787 struck a medical college hostel in a residential area of the northwestern city of Ahmedabad minutes after takeoff Thursday, killing 241 people on board and at least 29 on the ground. One passenger survived.
