Welcome to Cool Dads™, a series in which our resident cool dad, Nick Grant, helps us all get dressed.

Growing up as a biracial kid in the D.C. area, you get exposed to the good, bad, and ugly within our society at a fairly young age. I was lucky enough to understand who to trust and who not to trust well before I think I was supposed to. I had black friends. I had white friends. And sometimes, my black friends hung out with my white friends.

Now, I live in Iowa. And so does my son, who has not yet truly had to understand what it’s like to be biracial in a place that doesn’t truly understand what it’s like to be biracial. But Lord knows I’ll be here for him when the time comes.

Everyone, not just black people, should celebrate Black History Month, and pay homage to those who’ve paved the way for ALL OF US to fight against the odds, overcome adversity, and succeed beyond the imaginable. It also helps some of us understand how privileged we are today, as we look back on the pain and suffering others have had to endure in the name of equality. And it should make us realize that we still have a long, long way to go until our society is truly equal. So, as a part of Black History Month, I’ve tried to explain to my son that he is different, but not deficient. He can be whoever he wants, and no one can tell him otherwise because of the color of his skin. And if they do, there’s a 6’3″, 205lb., biracial dad who’d like to have a word with them.

My Black History Month picks:

Off-White Black & White ‘Temperature’ Scarf



Thee Teen-Aged! Thee Union Jacket



Union Los Angeles Denim Jeans



OAMC Angela Davis T-Shirt



Filling Pieces Runner Sac Knits