Color Him Father: Stories of Love and Rediscovery of Black Men [Paperback]

Stephana I. Colbert (Editor), Valerie I. Harrison (Editor), Haki R. Madhubuti (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2006

Color Him Father: Stories of Love and Rediscovery of Black Men, is an illuminating collection of true and candid short stories about Black fathers. This collection shatters the predominant negative image of Black men in the news media by offering a balanced perspective – stories about the countless Black fathers who are responsible, committed, and productive role models. What emerges is a stirring message of hope that comes from living, breathing examples.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

" This collection brings smiles to my face. We need more." -- Dr. Haki Madhubuti, poet, publisher, and distinguished University professor

"This powerful & poignant book speaks to the depths of my own soul." -- Dr. Cornel West, Princeton University professor and author --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 219 pages
• Publisher: Kinship Press (May 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0977841863
• ISBN-13: 978-0977841868
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,332,457 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Color Him Father, June 2, 2006

By 

Arlene Green "Arlene" (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Color Him Father: Stories of Love and Rediscovery of Black Men (Hardcover)

This book was one of the best books about fathers that I have read. It touched my heart and nurtured my soul to read such a moving tribute.

5.0 out of 5 stars 'Color Him Father' takes pride in positive African-American male role models!, July 6, 2008

By 

Kevin A. Stanley "writer & reader" (Decatur, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Color Him Father: Stories of Love and Rediscovery of Black Men (Hardcover)

This wonderful collection of thirty-five essays, published in 2006, and co-edited by Stephana I. Colbert and Valerie I. Harrison began as a means of helping Ms. Harrison cope with the loss of her own father. What it grew into was an anthology in praise of great African-American fathers... and of Black Fatherhood. In choosing the 1969 song by The Winstons, Color Him Father, as a source for the book's title, they not only set the tone, but wound up rediscovering the Grammy Award-winning song's writer--Richard L. Spencer, Jr.--who is now a high school teacher, and a proud father himself.

Although the fathers in this collection of stories vary greatly: some were prosperous, while most were working class; some were raucous, while others were stoic, some were disciplinarians, while others were more like big siblings to their children. All of them receive glowing praise from their children. In fact, anyone who didn't have a father like these may read these essays with the occasional pang of jealousy!

The collection's foreword by Dr. Haki Madhubuti asserts why great African-American fathers are so necessary ("Children are a people's investment in themselves, they are not to be taken lightly or for granted."), and suggests six aspects of effective parenting that parents (but especially fathers) can incorporate into their families for success.

The seeds planted by the fathers in this collection have borne some very sweet fruit: six of the essayists are now attorneys/judges; six more are business executives; seven are educators; and eight are authors, poets and/or playwrights. In addition, some of the essayists have worn multiple hats in their professional careers.

Siblings Venise and S. Torriano Berry provide two quite different, but ultimately complimentary remembrances of their father Virgil: a hard-working man with a robust personality and a warm sense of humor, who was still a stranger to his children in many ways. The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Jr. (yes, that one!) provides a short, but humorous tale about a young man's childish mischief, the cost of disobedience, and the depths of a father's love. In My Favorite Green Dress and A Promise for the Seasons, the editors reflect--with humor and melancholy, respectively--on the remarkable fathers that prompted this work in the first place. As the first line of the foreword states: "Responsible fathers matter."

I cannot recommend this book highly enough, both for the fathers in your life and the fathers-yet-to-be, but also for anyone who has to serve as a mentor to or inspiration for young Black men, and as a gift to yourself.

While Color Him Father is presently available only on a limited scale, it is well worth the effort to find.

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, December 2, 2006

By 

Gail Ramsey "Author of TICK TOCK" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Color Him Father: Stories of Love and Rediscovery of Black Men (Hardcover)

While the theme of the book is a father's love, the stories conjured up for me images of my aunties, my mom, uncles, big sisters and brothers - those who cherish us, who take pride in our littlest of things just because we are. The emotions are so raw that I felt the strength of the strong-shouldered dads melt to tenderness. I took pleasure in all the stories, but especially Harrison's A Promise for the Seasons. Only a father can make some things right and this book is a memorable tribute and keepsake.