By
Michael Datcher
Why did Michael Datcher feel that his life story was worthy of writing a book about it? What fences was he trying to raise? If this is a love story, who was affected and by whose or what love? What is all the hype about? And how did he get on Oprah?
The still I rise book club began this month's discussion with the above questions and many more. Of course the discussion was lively, more lively than the agreed upon conclusions. First Observation: Young children, particulary boys, are deeply and profoundly affected by the lack of knowledge or presence of their fathers in their lives. We found this statement to be true of Reggie Rucker's book, From Ghetto to God, as well as true in the lives of children we encounter on a daily basis as teachers, social workers, and involved citizens. At one point, the group admitted to believing the absent father syndrome was a "white thing." After all, having we all heard, known or lived the strong Black woman mystic. Strong Black Women can do anything EXCEPT replace fathers in their children's lives. We were not content to just leave that statement hanging out there. What can we do about children whose potential is stifled by fatherlessness. ANSWER: Open the doors! Let these young black boys know that this is just another obstacle (fence) to be overcome.
In response to the questions in the first paragraph, writing is what Michael Datcher does. So the natural flow is that he would write his life story. Every one of us has a compelling story inside. If we should be compelled to write this story, then HONESTY must be the hand that guides the pen.
FENCES: What were Datcher's fences? Here we muddled. Was it the forced circumstances of his birth? Did his rapist father present the first fence which Micheal had to overcome in order to be successful? How about his self-erected fences such as the playing around with Camille? The pregnancy and eventual birth of the out-of-wedlock child, something he deparately did not want to happen, but rejected the one way to be certain it would not happen. Abstinence, or Cellbacy. His financial and emotional woes upon marrying the woman he loved. The friends he choose. And how about his excuses or reasons for dating the White woman in order not to publicly show a lifestyle that conflicted with his Christian faith.
Michael Datcher loved Moms. But members of our club concluded that this was a love story about himself. Finally, in the end, Michael Datcher learns to love himself. He learns to in his own words be still, close his mouth, close his eyes, and breathe in deeply.
Would we recommend this book to others. YES! To young parents, mothers who think that raising children without fathers is okay and fathers who believe that they are not significant in their children's lives.
We had concerned about writing style. The poetry left most of us dry. And those adjectives describing virtually every noun, could have been reduced without losing the weight of the story. How's that Michael? A few of us, did not like the past/present/past/present style a lot of contemporary writers use. It requires lots of reading and rereading.
Tomorrow is Mother's Day, 2003, and for Friday's show, Oprah did (no surprise here) a Mother's Day special. Yes, she had Michael and Moms on the program. Moms got the Oprah treatment big time, an all-expense vacation somewhere, and we got to watch. NOW OPRAH, WHEN YOU FINISHES READING THIS, OUR MEMBERS WOULD LOVE TO BE ON YOUR PROGRAM. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CALL OR FAX 330 456-6261.