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Fatherhood...What You Ought To Know! - Melinda Robertson
Fatherhood...What You Ought To Know!
Melinda Robertson
Morris Publishing
ISBN: 0977269019
Reviewed By Sarah Givens
Official Apex Reviews Rating:
In Fatherhood...What You Ought To Know!, Melinda Robertson traces the parallel paths of Tony Woods and Raynard Channing, two Black men faced with the uncertain prospects of looming fatherhood. Tony, however, is an older man who hasn't seen his son since abandoning the mother of his child in high school; Raynard, affectionately known as Ray-Ray, is just starting high school himself, and fatherhood is the last thing on his mind. Both men, regardless of their personal feelings in the matter, soon find that their situations so closely mirror one another that the common bond of accountability proves to be much more significant than either could have imagined.
For his part, Tony can hardly be blamed for being an absentee father: only fifteen when he got his girlfriend, Nicole, pregnant, his parents reacted so severely that they moved to a different town and enrolled him in a different school in order to avoid the fallout from the pregnancy. Furthermore, they informed Tony that they gave money to Nicole's parents in order for them to get her an abortion - an arrangement they apparently failed to fulfill.
On the other hand, Ray-Ray, also fifteen, recklessly engages in unprotected sex for his own benefit, and, upon discovering that his girlfriend, Bree, is pregnant, immediately accuses her of trying to trap him. Naturally, he refuses to accept responsibility for the child being his and looks for ways to explain away the need for him to be a part of her situation at all.
A series of unexpected developments, however, bring a heightened sense of maturity to the consciousness of both men, and they are soon able to view their situations through the light of greater understanding, grasping the real impact of their actions past, present, and, potentially, in the future. Grounded by the love of family and friends offering both sound advice and stern "tough love," Tony and Ray-Ray ultimately take their proper place at the table of fatherhood, welcoming challenges seen and unseen along the path of responsibility.
Fatherhood is a telling treatise on the current state of fatherless homes in America, especially those of African-Americans. Statistics aside, the lack of fathers taking real responsibility for their children has a more detrimental impact on greater society with every passing day, the effects of which manifest themselves in school drop out rates, unemployment, gang activity, and teenage pregnancy, to name a few. Robertson does an excellent job of displaying such real effects in the lives of her protagonists, and her narrative serves as an invaluable teaching aid on the proper ways to handle such issues, namely by facing them head-on rather than retreating from them or treating them like they're someone else's problems.
Most significantly, Robertson does not villainize the fathers portrayed in her story, but rather displays them, flaws and all, as full dimensional flesh-and-blood beings who make the same mistakes many of us make from day-to-day, and thus can hardly be faulted for simply being human. In detailing their various reactions to the unexpected occurrences in their lives, Robertson's characters do an effective job of holding a mirror up to our own lives and making us think twice about whether or not we'd act the same way.
The most powerful message of Fatherhood, though, is its reminder to us all that, while a mother can't teach a boy how to be a man, she can, at the very least, help him become a better overall person. This is reflected most strikingly is these words from Ray-Ray's mother, Sylvia, regarding Ray-Ray's treatment of Bree and their child:
"You are going to stand by her, and whatever decision she makes about this baby. Ray-Ray, you may have gone into this situation as a wet behind the ears, snot nosed, too hot to handle fifteen year-old boy, but if I have anything to do with it, you will come out of it as a man. You're going to do what real men do, and that is be a father to your child. Do I make myself clear?"
Such a poignant statement echoes the heart of what's lacking in many of the homes of fatherless children today: responsibility. In her own words, Robertson states that she believes breaking the cycle of absentee fathers is a step towards rebuilding the African-American community. Fatherhood is a powerful testament to that sentiment, and one that needs to be taught in classrooms, churches, and community centers all across the country.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Melinda Robertson (Fatherhood...What You Ought To Know)
Apex Reviews: Thanks for joining us for this interview, Melinda, as well as for sharing Fatherhood with us. We truly appreciate this opportunity to learn more about you and your writings.
Fatherhood is such a timely tale, and its powerful messages are so pertinent for today's youth. How do you think it will be received?
Melinda Robertson: The book was released in April of this year and the response has been incredible! New Hope Baptist Church in Ft. Washington, Maryland just ordered 20 copies for their youth ministry last week.
AR: How did Tony and Sylvia meet in the first place, and what made Tony decide to become a father figure for Ray-Ray?
MR: Tony and Sylvia actually met at the grocery store and exchanged numbers. After numerous telephone conversations, they had lunch a few times and Sylvia eventually invited Tony over for dinner to meet Ray-Ray. Tony was quite impressed with how well Sylvia was raising Ray-Ray, and it made him wonder how the son he abandoned in high school was being raised.
AR: You do a very clever job of drawing parallels between Tony's and Ray-Ray's journeys into greater responsibility. Was that a planned progression from the beginning, or did it emerge as you developed the story?
MR: Why, thank you! Actually, it was planned from the beginning because I wanted to show readers how relevant Tony's high school experiences were to Ray-Ray's and how those experiences would eventually strengthen their bond.
AR: Given their staunch opposition to abortion, exactly what religion do Bree's parents belong to?
MR: They are Baptist and have never believed in abortions because they were raised to believe that having an abortion is the same as murder.
AR: During their initial conversation regarding Bree's pregnancy, her mother, Mrs. Morales, takes a personal jab at Ray-Ray's mother, Sylvia, condescendingly judging her parenting skills based on her status as a single mother. Do you think this is a common position taken by those critical of single parent homes?
MR: Absolutely! As a single mother, I know first hand how society tends to view single mothers. Many assume that the standards single mothers have for her children are somewhat lower than the standards a married woman may have for her children. Although I'm a single mother, I put my daughter through Syracuse University for five years and she's now a licensed social worker in D.C. with her Master's Degree. So you see, contrary to what some may believe, single mothers are capable of raising productive citizens.
AR: Regarding the snub that Ray-Ray gives Tommy's father at the funeral: is that a subtle message to readers? If so, please explain.
MR: Yes, because I wanted to show readers how little respect Ray-Ray had for Tommy's father, who Ray-Ray felt was being portrayed as the proud father at the funeral. Ray-Ray knew first hand how much pain Tommy was in since his father left and wanted to make sure Tommy's father knew it.
AR: Your previous book about motherhood was featured on nationally syndicated radio shows, and you're an in-demand speaker for youth groups all across the country. Thus far, what kinds of responses to Fatherhood have you gotten from readers?
MR: Since the release of "Fatherhood . . . What You Ought to Know!" I have taped a segment of The Life and Times, a talk show hosted by Alexander Mosby, conducted several workshops and have been commended for writing such a timely book. The District Chronicles did a cover story on me and my plight to combat teen pregnancy and The P.G. Gazette wrote an excellent article about my "Fatherhood . . . What You Ought to Know! In addition, I have received orders from various youth organizations all across the nation.
AR: What's next in your busy schedule?
MR: I am in the process of trying to get my books implemented into school curriculums for middle and high schools to educate our youth about the seriousness of parenthood. I plan to continue conducting workshops to inspire our teens to follow their dreams and be all they can be. More importantly, I want to be an encouragement to the thousands of teen mothers out there and let them know that they have to 'break the cycle' so that their children will aspire to be more than just somebody's baby momma! I did it, and so can they!
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share with our readers?
MR: I challenge readers to purchase copies of my book(s) for the teens in their lives (i.e. daughters, sons, grandchildren, Godchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, etc.) to teach them what NOT to do! I have received emails and phone calls from girls thanking me for writing my first book, "Motherhood . . . What You Don't Know!" because they thought they wanted to have a baby until they read my book. Boys growing up without their fathers who have read "Fatherhood . . . What You Ought to Know!" have thanked me for making them understand that their father's absence doesn't have to determine their destiny. "Motherhood . . . What You Don't Know!" and "Fatherhood . . . What You Ought to Know!" teaches readers to think about the consequences of the choices they make BEFORE doing something that could very well cause them their lives, or change their lives forever. They are REAL!
AR: Thanks again, Melinda, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!
MR: Thank you!
Melinda Robertson
Morris Publishing
ISBN: 0977269019
Reviewed By Sarah Givens
Official Apex Reviews Rating:
In Fatherhood...What You Ought To Know!, Melinda Robertson traces the parallel paths of Tony Woods and Raynard Channing, two Black men faced with the uncertain prospects of looming fatherhood. Tony, however, is an older man who hasn't seen his son since abandoning the mother of his child in high school; Raynard, affectionately known as Ray-Ray, is just starting high school himself, and fatherhood is the last thing on his mind. Both men, regardless of their personal feelings in the matter, soon find that their situations so closely mirror one another that the common bond of accountability proves to be much more significant than either could have imagined.
For his part, Tony can hardly be blamed for being an absentee father: only fifteen when he got his girlfriend, Nicole, pregnant, his parents reacted so severely that they moved to a different town and enrolled him in a different school in order to avoid the fallout from the pregnancy. Furthermore, they informed Tony that they gave money to Nicole's parents in order for them to get her an abortion - an arrangement they apparently failed to fulfill.
On the other hand, Ray-Ray, also fifteen, recklessly engages in unprotected sex for his own benefit, and, upon discovering that his girlfriend, Bree, is pregnant, immediately accuses her of trying to trap him. Naturally, he refuses to accept responsibility for the child being his and looks for ways to explain away the need for him to be a part of her situation at all.
A series of unexpected developments, however, bring a heightened sense of maturity to the consciousness of both men, and they are soon able to view their situations through the light of greater understanding, grasping the real impact of their actions past, present, and, potentially, in the future. Grounded by the love of family and friends offering both sound advice and stern "tough love," Tony and Ray-Ray ultimately take their proper place at the table of fatherhood, welcoming challenges seen and unseen along the path of responsibility.
Fatherhood is a telling treatise on the current state of fatherless homes in America, especially those of African-Americans. Statistics aside, the lack of fathers taking real responsibility for their children has a more detrimental impact on greater society with every passing day, the effects of which manifest themselves in school drop out rates, unemployment, gang activity, and teenage pregnancy, to name a few. Robertson does an excellent job of displaying such real effects in the lives of her protagonists, and her narrative serves as an invaluable teaching aid on the proper ways to handle such issues, namely by facing them head-on rather than retreating from them or treating them like they're someone else's problems.
Most significantly, Robertson does not villainize the fathers portrayed in her story, but rather displays them, flaws and all, as full dimensional flesh-and-blood beings who make the same mistakes many of us make from day-to-day, and thus can hardly be faulted for simply being human. In detailing their various reactions to the unexpected occurrences in their lives, Robertson's characters do an effective job of holding a mirror up to our own lives and making us think twice about whether or not we'd act the same way.
The most powerful message of Fatherhood, though, is its reminder to us all that, while a mother can't teach a boy how to be a man, she can, at the very least, help him become a better overall person. This is reflected most strikingly is these words from Ray-Ray's mother, Sylvia, regarding Ray-Ray's treatment of Bree and their child:
"You are going to stand by her, and whatever decision she makes about this baby. Ray-Ray, you may have gone into this situation as a wet behind the ears, snot nosed, too hot to handle fifteen year-old boy, but if I have anything to do with it, you will come out of it as a man. You're going to do what real men do, and that is be a father to your child. Do I make myself clear?"
Such a poignant statement echoes the heart of what's lacking in many of the homes of fatherless children today: responsibility. In her own words, Robertson states that she believes breaking the cycle of absentee fathers is a step towards rebuilding the African-American community. Fatherhood is a powerful testament to that sentiment, and one that needs to be taught in classrooms, churches, and community centers all across the country.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Melinda Robertson (Fatherhood...What You Ought To Know)
Apex Reviews: Thanks for joining us for this interview, Melinda, as well as for sharing Fatherhood with us. We truly appreciate this opportunity to learn more about you and your writings.
Fatherhood is such a timely tale, and its powerful messages are so pertinent for today's youth. How do you think it will be received?
Melinda Robertson: The book was released in April of this year and the response has been incredible! New Hope Baptist Church in Ft. Washington, Maryland just ordered 20 copies for their youth ministry last week.
AR: How did Tony and Sylvia meet in the first place, and what made Tony decide to become a father figure for Ray-Ray?
MR: Tony and Sylvia actually met at the grocery store and exchanged numbers. After numerous telephone conversations, they had lunch a few times and Sylvia eventually invited Tony over for dinner to meet Ray-Ray. Tony was quite impressed with how well Sylvia was raising Ray-Ray, and it made him wonder how the son he abandoned in high school was being raised.
AR: You do a very clever job of drawing parallels between Tony's and Ray-Ray's journeys into greater responsibility. Was that a planned progression from the beginning, or did it emerge as you developed the story?
MR: Why, thank you! Actually, it was planned from the beginning because I wanted to show readers how relevant Tony's high school experiences were to Ray-Ray's and how those experiences would eventually strengthen their bond.
AR: Given their staunch opposition to abortion, exactly what religion do Bree's parents belong to?
MR: They are Baptist and have never believed in abortions because they were raised to believe that having an abortion is the same as murder.
AR: During their initial conversation regarding Bree's pregnancy, her mother, Mrs. Morales, takes a personal jab at Ray-Ray's mother, Sylvia, condescendingly judging her parenting skills based on her status as a single mother. Do you think this is a common position taken by those critical of single parent homes?
MR: Absolutely! As a single mother, I know first hand how society tends to view single mothers. Many assume that the standards single mothers have for her children are somewhat lower than the standards a married woman may have for her children. Although I'm a single mother, I put my daughter through Syracuse University for five years and she's now a licensed social worker in D.C. with her Master's Degree. So you see, contrary to what some may believe, single mothers are capable of raising productive citizens.
AR: Regarding the snub that Ray-Ray gives Tommy's father at the funeral: is that a subtle message to readers? If so, please explain.
MR: Yes, because I wanted to show readers how little respect Ray-Ray had for Tommy's father, who Ray-Ray felt was being portrayed as the proud father at the funeral. Ray-Ray knew first hand how much pain Tommy was in since his father left and wanted to make sure Tommy's father knew it.
AR: Your previous book about motherhood was featured on nationally syndicated radio shows, and you're an in-demand speaker for youth groups all across the country. Thus far, what kinds of responses to Fatherhood have you gotten from readers?
MR: Since the release of "Fatherhood . . . What You Ought to Know!" I have taped a segment of The Life and Times, a talk show hosted by Alexander Mosby, conducted several workshops and have been commended for writing such a timely book. The District Chronicles did a cover story on me and my plight to combat teen pregnancy and The P.G. Gazette wrote an excellent article about my "Fatherhood . . . What You Ought to Know! In addition, I have received orders from various youth organizations all across the nation.
AR: What's next in your busy schedule?
MR: I am in the process of trying to get my books implemented into school curriculums for middle and high schools to educate our youth about the seriousness of parenthood. I plan to continue conducting workshops to inspire our teens to follow their dreams and be all they can be. More importantly, I want to be an encouragement to the thousands of teen mothers out there and let them know that they have to 'break the cycle' so that their children will aspire to be more than just somebody's baby momma! I did it, and so can they!
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share with our readers?
MR: I challenge readers to purchase copies of my book(s) for the teens in their lives (i.e. daughters, sons, grandchildren, Godchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, etc.) to teach them what NOT to do! I have received emails and phone calls from girls thanking me for writing my first book, "Motherhood . . . What You Don't Know!" because they thought they wanted to have a baby until they read my book. Boys growing up without their fathers who have read "Fatherhood . . . What You Ought to Know!" have thanked me for making them understand that their father's absence doesn't have to determine their destiny. "Motherhood . . . What You Don't Know!" and "Fatherhood . . . What You Ought to Know!" teaches readers to think about the consequences of the choices they make BEFORE doing something that could very well cause them their lives, or change their lives forever. They are REAL!
AR: Thanks again, Melinda, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!
MR: Thank you!