THE PURSUIT OF FATHERHOOD

This story was not about Chris Gardner the entrepreneur, author, philanthropist who was homeless and became a top earner at Stearns & Co. Whose book “The Pursuit of Happyness,” became a New York Times and Washington Post #1 bestseller. Also in December 2006, Will Smith starred as Gardner and received Academy Award, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations for his performance, Gardner being an associate producer on the film. It is more about a single father who when faced with extreme obstacles in life, including homelessness, was determined to put fatherhood above all and pursue it with extreme diligence. Fatherhood and the well-being of his so were his main motivation for success. We as men should watch this movie again, and you will see that it is not about a homeless man who became rich. Rather it is about a homeless father pursuing fatherhood by any means necessary, and doing it the right way; his financial success was just a byproduct of that pursuit.

As a single father for 25 years, and a net worth way into the millions and awards from many socially conscious organizations, Gardner still demonstrated his concern for the well-being of children through his work with and on behalf of organizations such as the National Fatherhood Initiative, the National Education Association Foundation, and the International Rescue Committee. Gardner is still very committed to Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco; where he and his son received assistance in the early 1980’s.

So I honor Mr. Gardner not because of his success in wealth or because of his many awards, but I honor him for showing all men especially African American men that being a father is obtainable no matter what your condition in life is. I think the book and the movie should have been entitled “The Pursuit of Fatherhood”, but who am I this great story is not my story. But I will say this-this book should be a mandatory read in our high schools.

Have you ever noticed that the word “Happiness” is spelled wrong in the title? Why? Will, it doesn't matter whether "happiness" is spelled correctly, only that children have it.

And for this Chris Gardner you get the WHO'S YOUR DADDY? Award!

“There is no greater cause, for which a man should sacrifice himself for; and there is no greater duty that he will ever perform than that of fatherhood. “And yet with all our imperfections and human mistakes, to them, we are the closest thing to God.” ~Excerpt from WHO’S YOUR DADDY?