Shakar Brumfield, is a life coach, entertainer, author. But his passion is changing the narrative of Black fatherhood.
Born and raised in Brooklyn but currently residing on the Upper West Side, Brumfield, 49,,had an early childhood in which his family constantly having to move from one place to the next.
Behind the physical movement around the city, there was a deeper absence: growing up without a father. During Brumfield’s time in pre-school, his father and mother separated, and he didn’t know what was coming next.
“Right after my mother and father broke up, he got incarcerated, so he spent the greater part of my childhood in prison,” Brumfield said. “But he told me that he was on vacation, so it didn’t really take as much of a toll on me. Looking back on it now, I think it was a sense of protecting me from whatever negative impact it might have, but also protecting him from any kind of shame or embarrassment.”
Having to navigate his childhood without a father meant figuring out school and his early adulthood life on his own. “Not having a father around means that you don’t have a roadmap of how to father,” said Brumfield, “and not having role model parents around, that means you don’t have a roadmap to parenting.”
That missing roadmap showed up in his early teenage years. Brumfield experienced homelessness for the majority of his time growing up. By the age of 21, he was a single dad navigating the city’s shelter system. But through sheer perseverance, he built a stable life for his family and has been doing it for years.
Now a father of three, Brumfield’s life experiences have shaped the way he shows up for his children.
“Growing up without a father definitely impacted the way that I’m a father now,” Brumfield explained. “Realizing that being a good father is subjective, but just being present is what really matters — being present and being available. That’s what really matters to children.”
Brumfield’s drive to communicate positivity extends into his career. After working in a corporate position from 2007 to 2015, he was laid off, which prompted him to pursue his lifelong passion for music and entertainment full-time. He was also diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Since then, Brumfield began searching for his passions. He has performed as a multi-genre vocalist, spanning hip-hop, r&b, soul, gospel, blues, and rock with more than 25 bands in the tri-state area. In 2016, he won the Apollo Theater’s “Making a Star” competition.
Brumfield’s performing name is therealshakar and he uses music as a tool for community empowerment. “I think that’s really where my strengths lie: in entertainment, in my ability to communicate positivity and self-awareness without being preachy,” he said.
His dedication to present fatherhood recently gained national recognition through the Top 10 National Super Dad competition. What began as an on-a-whim entry quickly turned into a platform to empower Black fatherhood and raise support for the Children’s Miracle Network. Without paid endorsements, grassroots support from his community pushed Brumfield to place nationwide.
“I looked at it as an opportunity to not only share my story, but shine a light on fatherhood in and of itself in the Black community,” Brumfield said. “Especially in the Black community, I don’t see too many Black fathers being championed or celebrated. To know that my community stood behind me and pushed me all the way to the number three position was a feat within itself. Not only that, but my oldest child was actually donating and voting.”
Brumfield’s work in the community continues to grow. Beyond music, he is a certified life coach and author of a three-part inspirational book series (Missing Honesty, Integrity, and Transparency), with a new book, Illuminating Shadows, currently in development.
Brumfield’s philosophy and advice for young people facing adversity similar to what he overcame remain centered on persistence and fluidity.
“The best way to eliminate adversity is not to create any,” Brumfield said. “Do the best that you can with whatever you have right now and take it as far as you can, and when you know you’ve done everything that you can, rest. And do that again. Do not give up, no matter what.”
