Summary

Mitchell Jackson begins “Composite Pops” by explaining that fathers are important, even necessary. There is a myth that a single mother can play the role of both father and mother. Jackson argues that this is not the case. Single mothers do extraordinary work, but they are not the same as fathers. Jackson’s biological father was not in his life for many years. He found other men to play fatherly roles.

Big Chris was Jackson’s mom’s partner when he was a baby. He was a recent parolee as well as an intelligent and hilarious man. Big Chris and Jackson’s mother were together until Jackson was 10 or so years old. He treated Jackson like he was his own. Even after Big Chris and Jackson’s mother split up, Jackson was still one of Big Chris’s boys. In 2009, Big Chris...