Benjamin Was A Loving Black Father
Deep Space Nine gave Star Trek fans their first lead black commanding officer in the form of Benjamin Sisko. The show took things a step further by making him a single father. By killing off Jake’s mother in the first episode, Deep Space Nine left a hole for Benjamin to assume both a fatherly and motherly duty in Jake’s life. The loss of Jennifer Sisko also left space for a deeper emotional connection between Jake and Benjamin due to their shared grief over her loss.
At the time, many portrayals of black father-son relationships were not as loving as Jake and Benjamin’s. Their relationship was important in demonstrating that deeply connected relationships between fathers and sons may occur regardless of the color of one’s skin. They normalized father-son relationships for blacks on television and provided an example for both fathers and sons of any race to follow.
Emotion And Affection Were The Norm
Perhaps the most notable aspect of Jake and Benjamin’s relationship was the affection Benjamin would show Jake throughout the show. In many scenes in which he greets Jake, Benjamin can be seen hugging and kissing him. Despite Jake’s status as a teenager for much of the show, he is often delighted by his father’s displays of affection.
Additionally, Jake and Benjamin are often observed having emotional conversations, and Jake is not shy about confiding in his father for any emotional problem he may have. The portrayal demonstrates that men do not always need to be as stoic as society would suggest. Letting one’s guard down and expressing emotion or affection to those they love can be just as powerful and strong as remaining emotionless in a given situation.
The Impact Of The Relationship
The relationship between Jake and Benjamin demonstrated what it can mean to “be a man.” The relationship allowed the show’s writers to explore a more tender side of both characters with messaging that is necessary in a society that often encourages men not to lean into their emotions. True strength comes from the ability to be vulnerable, and both characters were always better for it.
Although Star Trek has not revisited such a deep parent-child relationship since Deep Space Nine, they laid the groundwork for where the franchise could go in the future. Additionally, the show provided a template for how these relationships can be portrayed on television in general.