The Hip Hop Doc, Dr. Rani Whitfield, derived his catchy nickname from fusing music and sports with his private medical practice to educate young people on health issues – beginning with his 3-½ year-old daughter. The Hip Hop Doc uses kids’ passions [such as their music, sports and other activities] in order to get them to pay attention to – and fundamentally alter their outlook on – their health. Starting from his Baton Rouge, La., hometown, Whitfield has seen his Hip Hop Doc brand expand nationally through his speaking engagements Tavis Smiley, local radio spots, his new hip hop CD [State of Emergency] and comic book devoted to the health issues, as well as his profiles in Ebony and Jet magazines.
Whitfield is also very passionate about being a major influence in his daughter’s life. The Hip Hop Doc sat down with rolling out to talk five lifestyle changes for hip hop dads:
1. Finding more time for your kids. “That means eliminating some of your meetings and cutting back on basketball with your boys so you can find more time for your children.”
2. Exercising with your family. “With all the health disparities that we see in African American men and women, I want to be around to see my daughter grow up and graduate.”
3. Go on outings with your children: “I have daughter … we got to the zoo on Sundays. I pick a day every week for my daughter. No moms, no grandmas, just me and her and I use that time to bond with her.”
4. Go to a school or program with your child. “I’ll pop up at my daughter’s school and I’ll have lunch with her. That is a big deal for her. And it’s a great bonding period for me and my daughter. I go to all her events: swimming, gymnastics, piano … any program that she’s in, I’m there.”
5. Reading with your child. “Very, very important. Limit the television time and read with them. And as young as she is, she’s making sense of books … she likes for me to read with her.” –terry shropshire
