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photo courtesy of bossip.com

Dear Daddy’ Documentary Calls Fathers to Step Up for Their Black Daughters [VIDEO]

Dear Daddy, filmmaker Janks Morton explores the emotional consequences for black girls and the women they become. Host Michel Martin speaks with Morton, Jasmine Bowden, who was featured in the film, and Jonetta Rose Barras, author of Whatever Happened to Daddy’s Little Girl?

Read part of the transcript below that gives a better understanding of what the filmmaker was trying to convey in the film:

MORTON: Well, this is a continuation. “Dear Daddy” is step two in a film from last year entitled “We Need To Talk,” where we talked to women who were older, 35 and above, about the effects of fatherlessness and, for some reason, that movie doesn’t resonate well with young girls. So, to take a different cut, we interviewed women like Jasmine, younger women, so they can connect or see someone that is going through this experience right now.

MARTIN: Where did you find the young people whom you interviewed in the film?

MORTON: I’ve worked with this Boys and Girls Club here in Washington, D.C. for the past four summers. I’ve seen them every summer. I’ve made a mistake every summer. I’ve been the answer man. I talk too much. I’ve been that adult who did not listen empathetically about what was going on with them. Finally had them write the letters and – just open your ears and shut your mouth – and this wave of emotion just began to pour out.

MARTIN: Jasmine, why did you want to talk about this? And I appreciate your being willing to talk about it, not just in the film, but also with us because, obviously, it’s not an easy thing to talk about.

See part of the documentary below: