BLACK FATHERS: PROPS DUE

We constantly hear the statistics or stories about black men who abandon their children, but what about the tons of fathers who don't?

Well DAUGHTERS OF MEN: PORTRAITS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN AND THEIR FATHERS (Amistad/HarperCollins, October 30) is a tribute to those men that stood by their girls and helped to make them the successes they are today. In the coffee-table book, filled with beautiful photographs of both father and daughter, author Rachel Vassel includes stories from a diverse collection of women--CEOs, actresses, educators, journalists, and musicians. And many of the names and faces you'll recognize like Yolanda Adams, Beyoncé, Cathy Hughes, Mary Mary, Rene Syler, Tisha Campbell-Martin, and Tracey Edmonds. These woman share remarkable stories about the love and support of their fathers.

You'll hear from Cathy Hughes about the fact that when she was sixteen and pregnant, it was her father who told her, "You know, this could very well be the turning point in your life. You don't know who God is going to bless you with...You just need to make the best of the situation." Today, Hughes' son is the president and CEO of her multimillion-dollar corporation, Radio-One.
What's interesting is that Vassel, the author, didn't grow up with her father. In fact, while exploring the power of the paternal bond for the makings of this book, she sought to rebuild her relationship with her own father and simultaneously recognized that she was surrounded by strong male role models including her grandfather and brothers.

In the introduction, Vassel, who held a career in corporate America before pursuing a creative one, writes, "The most important thing I noticed during this project was that there are many paths to great fatherhood. Each of the fathers profiled in this book had a unique style of parenting, yet they were all successful parents. What they have in common is a strong dedication to their daughters. Upon reflecting on her father's sacrifices, one woman I interviewed said in tears, "Fatherhood is free." I immediately understood what she was trying to convey. She meant that no matter what his financial circumstances may be, any man can be a great father if he puts in the time."

I don't have much more to say about this book, but, buy it! Buy it for yourself. For your daughter. For your father. For your brother. For your son. For a friend. DAUGHTERS OF MEN is a powerful testament to the importance of black fathers.