‘Father’s Day’: Film Explores Black Girls Growing Up in Fatherless Homes

November 1st, 2011 - By Brande Victorian

Black Girls Growing Up in Fatherless Homes
The number 64 is a running theme throughout the trailer for a new film in the works titled “Father’s Day” that looks at the effect growing up without a dad has had on children from such black homes. Sixty-four corresponds to the alarming percentage of African-American children that grow up without a father. Many people discuss the effect on boys, but the results for young women are less often brought to light.

Directed by Ashley Shante, founder of Dear Diary Productions, the coming film is based on her personal experiences related to coming to terms with effects of growing up fatherless that she had been unaware of. Although the film is not an autobiography, it is closely based on Ashley’s own emotional experience of growing up fatherless and her self-exploration through diary writing. Plus, the impact of a book called “What Ever Happened to Daddy’s Little Girls?,” by Jonnetta Rosa Barras, started her on her journey.

Ashley connected with friend and actress Squeaky Moore to bring the film to life and is currently trying to raise funds to begin production. The trailer is pretty heart-wrenching and speaks to the feelings of rejection and abandonment many children and even adults still feel as a result of not having a father in their home. Being a part of that 64%, I can certainly relate to one woman’s comment in the trailer below — Father’s Day is just another Mother’s Day for me, too.

Check out the trailer below. How do you think films like this might help African-American women deal with not having a father? If you have faced a similar fate, how have you coped? Are you planning on making a donation to fund this film’s mission?

Brande VictorianBrande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

 

 

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  • Pivyque

    Ok, I am a little confused. Is it about fatherless homes or growing up without a father? There is a difference. I grew up in a fatherless home, but my dad was still involved in my life. At any rate, I believe that both parents should be involved in the child’s life. If that’s not the case, the parent involved needs to cover all bases to make sure the kid grows up to be happy and healthy and realize what they are worth.

  • just tell the truth!

    Black women need to wake up! I know it must be hard growing up without the example of a decent father figure at home. Its hard having to navigate the dating pool not having an example of a good dad to measure a man by. BUT…..if he has other baby mamas, no job, no car, no life, in his late 30's or 40's and still playing the field….this is an obvious case of someone who you should NOT jump in bed with. Think about your unborn child he/she comes into the world innocent he/she should not have to suffer through an emotional and desperate decision you made to partner with a LOSER. Evaluate the men you meet and open yourself to other men besides black men because if you limit yourself to just brothas then you will end up disappointed (the truth check the stats) . I am no condemning ALL black men because my father was a great example of what a dad should be. We need to take more responsibility because these statistics make us look dumb and desperate!

  • L-Boogie

    Fathers are important!

  • let'sgetreal

    THANK YOU VERY MUCH BLACK MRS!!!!!!!!!!!!

    SICK AND TIRED OF THIS 'YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A DAD BECAUSE I DIDN'T AND I'M OK' ATTITUDE!!!!!!!!!!

  • A BLACK MRS

    ….I come from generations of married Black people on both sides of my family…so does my husband. We are ruining the very notion and existence of the Black family by our women CHOOSING to have thousands of kids everyday with no husband to speak of. We're doing it to ourselves and it is a shame…..

    BLACK WOMEN you hold the key and power to change this cycle. Demand more for yourself, demand more for your children and set a standard in your family if one doesn't already exist. NO WEDDING, NO WOMB!

  • A BLACK MRS

    Black folks need to stop hoping and take action. Stop promoting that having a child out of wedlock is a good thing, because it is not. A baby is an infant for a very short period of time. Before you decide to FORGET to take your pills or tell you "man" he doesn't need to wear a condom tonight, talk to a fatherless ADULT around you 1st and see if it's worth the risk. And I don't care if you're a rich single mother, it's still not a good look. Black people are the least marrying race on this planet. There are cultures of people who live in huts even today that practice the thousands of years old ceremony of MARRIAGE AND PRODUCING A FAMILY WITHIN A MARRIAGE. Please stop glorifying illegitimacy with the pregnant, unwed -Nia Longs of the world plastered on our publications (EBONY). Stop telling our young girls that "BLACK GIRLS REALLY DON"T ROCK" because they're good enough to KNOCK UP but not good enough to marry 1st

  • efox

    I didn't have my father growing up either. I didn't meet him til I 13. And you know what I learned…. that maybe it was for the best that this man wasn't in my life. What could he have taught me? How to be irresponsible? How to have multiple children, by several people, even if you're married? That it's ok to be lazy and it's better to chase tail then chase your dreams? I grew up with feelings of rejection cause I felt like my father rejected me. When I meet him, I realized there was nothing wrong with me; it was him. Lucky for me my grandfather stepped in and was my "father." I never felt without. Ever. Just don't assume that having a father in the home is the best option. It comes down to personal choices in the end. Yeah, a father can teach you, but it's up to you to listen. Like my father says: "yeah, I know what I said, but I don't know what you heard." There are some people with fathers and they make horrible decisions and there are some without and they are thriving.