Kobe Bryant’s death hit the world so hard this past week. I’m not a basketball fan, I’ve never tried to or claimed to be one, but you’d have to live under a rock to not know who Kobe Bryant was. I couldn’t have told you his number, or what team he played on, or when he retired, but I know he’s one of the GOATS.

I follow so many sports media personalities on Twitter that my entire timeline Sunday was about Kobe and Gianna, remembering them and honoring them and the other victims. I couldn’t open Twitter without crying if we’re being completely honest.

Nothing hit me as hard as ESPN reporter Elle Duncan talking about Kobe being a girl dad though.

It probably seems so small to some people, but seeing good black dads in the media and in real life is so fucking important. Black dads are shown on TV and movies as tough and strict, and that’s if they even exist in the first place. If I had a dollar for every time someone made a joke about that I must not have a dad because I’m black, I could retire. It’s a joke, but it’s rooted in this belief that black dads just aren’t around. They’re unenthused baby daddies and don’t care. And there are for sure cases of that, it’s based on real life, but there are just so many amazing black dads out there that the world needs to see.

And in a world where girls and women are put down and deemed lesser, it’s all that more important to see loving and amazing girl dads. Dads like Kobe, that push their daughters to be the best that they can be in sports, that teach them the same way they would teach their sons. Dad’s that life their daughters up and support them no matter what.

#GirlDad ❤️ pic.twitter.com/06zFE3oSek

— ESPN (@espn) January 29, 2020

Maybe it’s because I’m a girl, maybe it’s because I’m sensitive and emotional, who knows, but I love Dad’s that love their daughters. And obviously, parents love their kids, but you can tell when dads are girl dads. They wholeheartedly support their daughters and love them endlessly.

I know a lot of girls and women, most of the people I’m closest to are women, and I think about how loving and amazing their dads are and it makes my heart happy. The other day, my friends and I were watching the Bachelor and my friend Kate mentioned that her dad had made soup and left some for our friend in the fridge. Jess had told him before that she liked his soup, and he made a point to save her some the next time he made it. It was just so pure and nice. That’s the kind of shit I want in a future husband and father of my children. I want them to care about their kids, and care about their kid’s friends.

My dad is the type of dad that would help any of my friends no questions asked. He’s changed tires, offered to pick someone up at 2am, he falls asleep on the couch when we go out because he’s waiting for us. He’s a girl dad. He loves me and my sister more than anything, and he loves my brother too, but he treats the three of us the same. He taught me how to drive his truck, he took me to see Star Wars, he talks to me the same way he talks to my brother. There’s nothing different, and that’s what makes girl dads great.

The more I write about this, the more emotional I get, so I’ll stop here. Rest In Peace to Kobe and Gianna Bryant, John, Keri, and Alyssa Altobelli, Christina Mauser, Ara Zobayan, and Sarah and Payton Chester.