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Atlanta Hawks center Etan Thomas published his first book, Fatherhood:Rising To The Ultimate Challengenot only because he wanted to crusade for active fatherhood, but to encourage those who didn’t grow up with fathers as well.

“The reality of it is 60 percent of the kids are growing up in single parent households,” Thomas says. “So you’re gonna preach negativity to them? That really prompted me to write this book.”

In this exclusive interview with NewsOne, Thomas talks about the time he got into it with NFL legend Jim Brown over Black fatherlessness.

“He basically said that if you don’t have a father in your life, you’re gonna end up in prison,” Thomas recalls. “It strikes a nerve with me… because I heard it all the time when I was younger. It doesn’t have to be that way. You can be the author of your own life.”

Thomas also talks about his work with President Barack Obama’s fatherhood initiative. Watch Etan’s full interview here. And Happy Father’s Day!

MORE FOR FATHER’S DAY:

Friend Request Accepted! What Finding My Dad On Facebook Has Meant To Me

Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA To Show Inmates How to Be Good Fathers

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