H2TW - Therapeutic Thursday's - When Tough Love Turns Toxic: Rewriting "Father Time."
- Dad Cypher
- Jul 10
- 2 min read
H2TW – Hip-hop Therapeutic Writing
🎤 Therapeutic Thursday Prompt
"When Tough Love Turns Toxic: Rewriting Father Time"
🎶 Inspired by Kendrick Lamar’s Father Time ft. Sampha
✍🏽 Prompt by Dr. JL Adolph
"I broke Jay’s humility to give him the anger necessary to handle the micro and macroaggressions of white supremacy..."— From my upcoming memoir, in conversation with Kendrick Lamar's “Father Time”
As men of color, as parents, as children raised in trauma—we’re often taught that love must be hard. That stoicism is strength. That survival is the only goal. But what happens when that training breaks the very people we’re trying to protect?
✍🏾 Write About One or More of the Following:
What "father time" lessons were passed to you?
Who taught you how to be strong? Was their way healing—or harmful?
Have you ever confused discipline with emotional distance?
Write about a moment you hardened yourself—or someone else—in the name of protection.
If you had a son/daughter/younger self sitting next to you right now, what would you apologize for, or thank them for surviving?
How has toxic or twisted masculinity shaped your relationships—with yourself or others?
Rewrite one "lesson" your parent/guardian taught you into a healing affirmation.
Example: Old Lesson: “Don’t cry—nobody cares.
”New Version: “My tears are sacred. I don’t have to be strong all the time.”
💥 Optional Hip-Hop Freewrite:
Use this Kendrick Lamar line to spark a short 8-bar freestyle or 1-paragraph freewrite:“It’s crucial… we see the mistakes.”
🧠 Reminder:You don’t have to be polished. Just be real. This is a space for reflection, not perfection.Drop your journal entry in the comments, share a line, or just react if it resonates.
🖤 Your pen has power.
Let's use it.
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