WV PICKS – Black Fathers

Black Fathers I was visiting the National Fatherhood Initiative website (www.fatherhood.org) lately and their tagline caught my eye — “Fathers Change the World One Child at a Time.” This wonderful statement not only sums up the mission and purpose of this organization, but it also speaks volumes about the changes we see in the roles of fathers and father-figures today. In the past, a lot of attention was placed on the impact fatherless homes had on the lives of children. Today, that focus has shifted and every effort is given to honor those fathers who are involved and committed to the day-to-day care of their children. So this month I feature books that present a variety of perspectives on fatherhood � past and present. But more importantly, these titles simply prove how much –Fathers We Need You!

Black Fathers: A Call for Healing
by Kristin Clark Taylor
Doubleday
0385502494
Paperback

Our fathers of yesterday–and the countless, faceless fathers of today who too often go unnoticed and unappreciated–are the reason we need to rejoice. These strong black men were and are the backbone of the family unit, holding things together as the stress and strain of daily life does all it can to stretch and tear apart the fabric of our family lives. These are the men we celebrate. These are the fathers we thank.

My Soul To His Spirit: Soulful Expressions From Black Daughters To Their Fathers
by Melda Beaty (Editor)
Souldictates Pub
0976562413
$19.95; Paperback

Finally, a book that helps all women understand their relationships with men.

The Pursuit of Happyness
by Chris Gardner
Amistad
0060744863
$23.95; Hardcover

The astounding yet true rags-to-riches saga of a homeless father who raised and cared for his son on the mean streets of San Francisco and went on to become a crown prince of Wall Street. This is more than a memoir of Gardner’s financial success, this is the story of a man who breaks his own family’s cycle of men abandoning their children. Mythic, triumphant, and unstintingly honest, The Pursuit of Happyness conjures heroes like Horatio Alger and Antwone Fisher, and appeals to the very essence of the American Dream.

The Shirt Off His Back: A Novel
by Parry �Ebony Satin� Brown
One World/Ballantine
0345491246
$6.99; Paperback

In this debut, originally self-published and one of the first works in the new Striver’s Row imprint, a devoted single father must fight to keep his daughters when his ex-wife breezes in and demands custody.

The First Part Last
by Angela Johnson
Simone Pulse
0689849230
$5.99; Paperback

Bobby’s a classic urban teenager. He’s restless. He’s impulsive. But the thing that makes him different is this: He’s going to be a father. His girlfriend, Nia, is pregnant, and their lives are about to change forever. Instead of spending time with friends, they’ll be spending time with doctors, and next, diapers. They have options: keeping the baby, adoption. They want to do the right thing.

Daddy’s Girl
by Breena Jacobs, Neva Austrew (Illustrator)
Bookworm Books
0974942324
$15.95; Hardcover

Illuminating the special relationship between fathers and daughters, this rhyming storybook contains colorful illustrations that capture the intimate moments of a day in the life of a father and daughter�from helping each other prepare for the day and commuting to school to bonding over dinner and getting ready for bed. The child-parent theme of family connection makes this a perfect story for adults to read to toddlers or for young readers to enjoy on their own.

Kevin and His Dad
by Irene Smalls, Michael Hays (Illustrator)
Little Brown
0316798991
$16.99: Hardcover

Kevin feels excitement, pride, pleasure, and love as he spends an entire day working and playing with his father.