How Netflix’s ‘Color Book’ Movie Gets Black Fatherhood Right

We all know that Father’s Day can look a little different for everyone, with the realities, challenges, and emotions associated with the holiday manifesting themselves in a variety of ways. But even with all its complexities, there’s still beauty and intimacy to be found in the journey of fatherhood, which is a message that especially rings true in Netflix’s upcoming film, “Color Book.”

Directed by David Fortune and starring “A Thousand and One” actor Will Catlett, “Color Book” centers around the relationship between a widowed father named Lucky and his son Mason, who has Down syndrome. After commemorating the loss of Lucky’s wife Tammy, the two decide to go catch a baseball game together in an effort to restore some sort of joy and peace within themselves. However, their quest would prove to be anything but peaceful, thanks to the myriad challenges they face along the way, including car troubles, short tempers, and a terrifying train scene that quietly breaks your heart until it reaches its end.

But while the game may be the ultimate destination for these two, the real payoff happens in the journey and learning that transpires between Lucky and his son. Despite his approach to parenting being vastly different from that of his wife, the film still does a good job of showing how Black fathers can still hold space for tenderness while dealing with the weight of the world on their shoulders.

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Even with the mounting challenges that arise, grief that feels suffocating at certain moments, and desperation for stability clinging to every moment, “Color Book” showcases the more vulnerable side to Black fatherhood that we don’t often get to see onscreen—despite the fact that we all experience it in real life. And as Fortune tells it, that’s exactly why it was important to make this film in the first place.

“The focus was not just to write films but to craft images of love, intimacy, compassion, vulnerability, sensitivity, and hope within the Black American experience,” Fortune said of the film. “‘Color Book’ challenges the narrative of absentee fathers and men devoid of emotions by offering a glimpse into the life of a single Black dad raising his son with a disability. Growing up, I viewed Black men as present figures and leaders within our communities, contrary to the stereotype of absenteeism. It was crucial to reshape societal perceptions of Black men and allow audiences to see the shared humanity in us all.”

From Catlett’s point of view, he felt that taking on a film of this caliber gave him “a unique opportunity to shed light on the often overlooked experiences of Black fathers, particularly those raising children with special needs.” He later shared his hope that the film would “spark meaningful conversations” and “shine a light on the beauty and humanity within every family, regardless of the challenges they face.”

Through and through, “Color Book” is a love letter to Black dads everywhere and serves as a reminder that masculinity, fatherhood, and emotional vulnerability can all coexist harmoniously. It’s also an important reminder that Black dads deserve the space to experience all of their emotions, and that their presence in our lives is as beautifully nuanced as they are necessary.

“Color Book” arrives on Netflix on June 19.