Stop Wasting Your Weekends!

Introducing the A.F.R.O.-P. Rating System for Black Families

My wife and I have a weekly commitment: at least one family activity that meets the specific, AFRO-centric needs of our kids. We call ourselves the “JSquad,” and in a world full of chaos, we are determined to raise our children with a particular kind of grounding.

We, the community folks with our children, get caught in the crosshairs. How are we supposed to know if an event is worth our time, our energy, and our money before we go? These places often have minimal marketing, so how can we, the plebes, judge whether it’s the right space for our young people?

I got tired of guessing. That’s why I developed the A.F.R.O.-P. Rating System.

It started because my mommy friends would ask to hang out with us, wanting to know how I was always finding these great, meaningful things to do for little or no cost. I think it’s one of the reasons my wife married me—I had three young kids, she had a teenager, and we both love creating memories tailored to their varying interests. The moment we got married, we started planning all the fun we could have as a blended family. This system was born from that joy and that need.

It’s a tool I created to help Black parents who want to explore new things with their children but have no idea where to start. Because what’s the use of a long list of events if you can’t tell if any of them are right for your family?

The A.F.R.O.-P. Framework

The first four letters—A.F.R.O.—are the pillars of my Afrofuturist parenting approach. They are the tangible guideposts that help me decide if an activity is truly aligned with our family’s values. The “P” is the final, crucial gut check.

• A is for Active Brains: Does this activity encourage critical thinking, problem-solving, and curiosity? Will it challenge my kids to see the world in a new way?
• F is for Focused Art: Is there an opportunity for creative expression? This isn’t just about coloring sheets; it’s about engaging with art that reflects our heritage and encourages our own children’s innovative spirit.
• R is for Real Experiences: Will my kids get to have a hands-on, authentic encounter? We’re looking for genuine connection, not a watered-down, performative display of culture.
• O is for Opportunities: Does this event open doors? It could be an opportunity to meet inspiring people from our community, learn a new skill, or see a pathway for their future they’d never imagined.
• P is for Practicalities: This is the make-or-break. What’s the real cost (in time, money, and energy)? Is it accessible? Is the environment welcoming and safe for Black families?

Bigger Than A Checklist

This rating system is a tool for liberation. America has told a specific, damaging story about us to feed the needs of greedy capitalists. I want us to break free from the weight of white fragility and patriarchy by leaning into who we were born to be, not who this country tells us we should be to keep its money machine moving.

We step out of line by doing something unexpected for ourselves and for our healing. We don’t need to meet their standards or force our children to compete in their games. We just need to foster the innovation, curiosity, brilliance, and compassion that already exists in our own young humans.

The A.F.R.O.-P. system is my way of doing that. It’s a tangible resource to help you get started on that journey. Use it to find the spaces where your family can thrive.

I’ll be sharing my own A.F.R.O.-P. rated reviews of events and places I find. Subscribe to MetaCocoMom to get them first.

What are some of your family’s favorite spots? Share them in the comments below!