I saw this over at Jack and Jill Politics yesterday and thought this was the cutest lil’ commercial. Its promoting the fatherhood initiative:
More than 79% of Americans feel “the most significant family or social problem facing America is the physical absence of the father from the home.” Research shows that the lack of a father in the home correlates closely with crime, educational and emotional problems, teenage pregnancy, and drug and alcohol abuse.
In an effort to show dads the critical role they play in their children’s lives, the Ad Council has partnered with the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse and volunteer ad agency Campbell-Ewald to create a new PSA campaign that communicates to fathers that their presence is essential to their children’s well-being. The campaign provides fathers with the information they need to become better dads. Ad Council
Why don’t we see more of THIS on TV? Pass it on!
51 comments ↓
Eeeeeee!! That’s adorable! And in service of such a good cause, too.
GREAT!
I absolutely love this commercial! Too cute.
Mmmmmk. I got mixed feelings on this one here. I’ll save my comments for right now
GSW do share your mixed feelings
Very cute!!!! Good fathers need to be involved for their kids.
Cute!
Too bad that that video is NOT reality for millions of Black girls.
I absolutely love this commercial. Very nice. Especially as it finally involves how girl children are affected by the absence of a Dad.
Someday I’d like public service to address the reasons and cause these men bail out-without blaming us!
Fatherhood means not being afraid to be embarassed when its necessary for your child’s happiness and esteem.
Mixed feelings? Do share.
I saw this on JJP also. I have to admit I wondered if Obama saw this before he gave that speech on Father’s Day (yeap, I’m still hatin’).
Anyhoo…
Sometimes I think we mix up involvement in a child’s life and non-traditional families. We don’t know if the man in the commercial was ever married to the child’s mother. We don’t know if he has another or other families with different women. We don’t know if he is raising this child with his same-sex domestic partner. All we know is that he’s bonding with his child.
I remember this commercial from either last year or earlier this year. It was the cutest thing I had seen.
I grew up without my father due to a nasty divorce. Although I was young (I have no memories of my father), and I am thankful I didn’t have to blame myself, the feelings of abandonment came once in awhile. I felt longing, then I felt sadness, then I felt confusion and then it segued to anger and disdain for him. As a mother, I don’t care what, you couldn’t keep me from my sons. I’d tear the whole earth apart to be with my kids. As far as I’m concerned he never existed. So dads really need to realize that they are very important.
One thing also is I know people who had fathers in their lives in the home, but they were emotionally unavailable to them. That, to me, is even more harsh. Being a father takes so much work. It’s multifaceted. Just being there doesn’t make it enough.
I’ve seen this commercial a few times and I love seeing it each and every time. I especially love that the dad and daughter are Black. They need to play this commercial more often.
I also agree with comments 8, 9, and 10.
This reminds me of times with my dad! I love it!
This is something that should be done but we’ve got a lot of work to do before this becomes a reality to thousands of children. The reality is, for some of our children it is too late and it will take a monumental personal effort for these children who are now approaching their teen years to heal and possibly be a positive contributor to society. Here is a terrible example of why father’s need to love their children and stop abandoning them and leaving finacial responsibility solely up to the mother. If the mother is abandoned she must by any means necessary become fully self-sufficient to remove herself and her children from these crime ridden areas and never returning.
http://videos.nola.com/times-picayune/2009/01/danny_platt_apologizes_for_kil.html
http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/01/childs_corpse_found_near_centr.html
The commercial is funny but pointless I think.
PSA’s for fatherhood?
Really?
*Shrugs*
omg, I love little black girls, they’re so cute cute cute and i love how they have rhythm too!!
if only the whole world felt like i do!!!
This commercial airs at least 3 times a week in San Francisco. There’s a few others but this is my favorite. Maybe the mixed feelings are about the cheer: the could’ve done the S-U-C-C-E-S-S cheer instead.
I SO love this commercial
it speaks to me
last night my daughter and i sung our hearts out to 24/6… and it reminded me of this commercial…
I don’t know what GSW’s mixed feeling are, but with me, I don’t feel that a black father has to virtually act gay to interact positively with his daughter.
Cute commercial. I don’t think he is acting gay. Any man or boy that has ever done a cheer, jokingly, adds a lil sass. Anyhoo, I just noticed yesterday that the food network has The Neely’s and the guy that just won his own show on that channel. I think his name is Aaron. Both men have great interaction with their kids and speak lovingly of their wives. I love it.
“I don’t know what GSW’s mixed feeling are, but with me, I don’t feel that a black father has to virtually act gay to interact positively with his daughter.”
Exactly!
I hate to come off so negative about a commercial concerning our “exalted” bm lol, but this commercial is not so great….especially since the bc has a huge problem with addressing and dealing with DL/gay men within the bc. Now don’t get me wrong I’m all for celebrating fatherhood in the bc or any community but come on…why the dad had to be in a rah-rah commercial with his black daughter? Now I’m not the one to jump to a bm’s aid, believe me, but this commercial just didn’t do it for me. It seems as though the media is content with seeing bm portrayed either as effeminate or thugs. This commercial in my opinion was as subliminal as someone shooting you in the head and expecting you to say thank-you.
The bc is so lacking for positive black fathers that ANYTHING resembling the slightest positive behavior in bm is highly celebrated. I’m just saying…
“Sometimes I think we mix up involvement in a child’s life and non-traditional families. We don’t know if the man in the commercial was ever married to the child’s mother. We don’t know if he has another or other families with different women. We don’t know if he is raising this child with his same-sex domestic partner. All we know is that he’s bonding with his child.”
Yes, I do agree. But my question is why leave this piece of information open regarding this father? Maybe I’m reading too much into this but I don’t see the value in this commerical at all.
@Selena, Blain
First of all, since we are going down that road, if you look at the first part of the commercial, the reason why the man comes to the old woman’s attention is because he is “acting” in a manner inconsistent with her expectations.
Second, regarding DL men, effeminate does not equal gay and masculine does not equal straight.
Third, to those who inquire as to the status of the legal relationship between these two people, its a PSA, not a documentary.
Maybe y’all had screwed up childhoods. My heart bleeds for you, but my Daddy was the fun parent. He didn’t teach me how to cheer, but he taught me how to program his Comadore 64 and Vic 20 and make a little red light light up on a DIY radio kit from Radio Shack.
The commercial is still cute without all you grown people projecting your “issues”
Still don’t like it…
And I grew up wth both parents and they are both in my life.
HATED the commericial love the concept!
Still don’t like it…
And I grew up wth both parents and they are both in my life.
HATED the commericial love the concept!
_____________________________________________
I didn’t care for it either.
And this PSA/commercial still won’t change a thing…
I think that the commercial is cute. The point is that fathers teach you many things and are absolutely neccessary. I have issues with my father because he was and continues to be abusive. BUT I can’t deny that he taught me many things, like how to tie my shoes, how to ride a bike without training wheels, and how to roller skate. I would not be the person that I am without him. Some people will always find something negative to say.
I think that the commercial is cute. The point is that fathers teach you many things and are absolutely neccessary. I have issues with my father because he was and continues to be abusive. BUT I can’t deny that he taught me many things, like how to tie my shoes, how to ride a bike without training wheels, and how to roller skate. I would not be the person that I am without him. Some people will always find something negative to say.
And everyone won’t have the same interpretation as you because of various life experiences.
Is not agreeing a negative thing?
Second, regarding DL men, effeminate does not equal gay and masculine does not equal straight.
That’s true, but there is a very strong correlation. That commercial could have easily had a father doing all of those cheering moves in a way that did not appear so effeminate. Easily. Yet they decided to have this man switching, waving his arm and showing facial expressions that had gay written all over it. All I could think of was Damon Wayans doing “Men On Films”.
The main problem is that this is supposed to inspire young boys and men to place priority on being in their kids’ lives, yet what would happen is that a young man will look at this and conclude that being a good father means acting gay and determine that fatherhood is not for him.
I don’t know what “gay” looks like, but I didn’t get “gay” from this commercial.
Also if a young boy equates being a father with “acting gay”- Whatever in the hell “acting gay” is, then that young boy has bigger problems than this commercial.
Folks are PROJECTING!
Is not agreeing a negative thing?
No more than not agreeing with the people who don’t agree with you not agreeing is negative. You stated your opinion, other’s stated theirs. It’s not “personal.” So please don’t start that passive aggressive, “if you disagree with me, you’re picking on me” nonsense in this thread.
People are disagreeing. Its not negative or positive. Its just a thread.
I enjoyed the commercial.
As Gina noted earlier, the elder woman was surprised to see a father being that involved in his daughter’s life because it is uncommon. Or better yet, it’s accepted as being uncommon. When you’re weak-minded enough to jump on the “popular” bandwagon, it disallows you from taking positive initiatives.
Granted it may not “change anything” but that same “nothing will ever change” train of thought can be applied to commercials/campaigns that promote healthy eating, drug awareness, safe-sex, domestic violence, child abuse, sexual crimes, child literacy, education, etc.
Blain,
If anyone is idiotic enough to pick up such a message, then they aren’t cut out to be critical thinkers let alone fathers.
And since when was there anything wrong with being gay?
I think some people have a fixed idea of what being masculine is in their eyes and it admittedly needs a reevaluation. It’s great that the dad in the commercial was able to engage his child on her terms at her level. I don’t think a 6 y.o. would look at their dad helping them with their cheer routine as anything other than wonderful.
Blain,
If anyone is idiotic enough to pick up such a message, then they aren’t cut out to be critical thinkers let alone fathers.
You can say the same about anyone who needs the Ad Council to show them the critical role they play in their children’s lives. But if such individuals are going to be addressed, this particular add will not be very motivating. Take it from me, the vast majority of black males will see “gay” after viewing this add.
And since when was there anything wrong with being gay?
I think that the better question is since when has being gay been perceived as being wrong by the masses? The answer would be for a few thousand years. Until it changes, that is today’s reality in the black community. A man that young men perceive to be gay or gayish will generally not be viewed as a role model. And men have always had an awareness of gay men that women seem to commonly and naively not have.
Wow the internet has taught me that there are some truly sad individuals out there. Why would this dad be called gay and feminine? First of all if he was gay, he would do a better cheer. But anyway your fathers, uncles, brother never did anything that could be called “feminine” just to relate to you as a little girl? I have played with racing cars and wrestling dolls with little boys, so I guess I must be butch then.
I love this commercial!
The message is clear…Dad doesn’t care what anyone thinks about him cheering with dear daughter…He is spending quality time and fulfilling her emotional needs…
@Naima “Why would this dad be called gay and feminine? First of all if he was gay, he would do a better cheer.” LOL.
I think those of you who take issue with the PSA, are putting way too much on it because all this dad is trying to do is interact with his child. And for the sake of argument, if he were gay it shouldn’t matter. Gay men should be present in their children’s lives as well.
I think the commercial is cute. I don’t get what is “gay” about it though. Just because a man is cheering like that he’s gay? I don’t think so.
I wonder if Blaine is from California.
I wonder if Blaine is from California
Texas
And it is becoming more and more apparent why it is so easy for sistas to end up with men on the down low.
@blain isn’t the whole point of being “down low” is that your preferences aren’t apparent?
Are you saying that Black men are incapable of being silly with their children? Or that what is “manly” is extremely narrow?
They castrated that bro in the commercial; had him acting like a girl. That’s no way to motivate men to engage their kids. I’ve never seen a grown man act like that. He could have been reading to her or playing frisbee instead.
Blain is right. I’m a very active father of 2 girls, and I never act like that, because I’m a man. Playing the groom with the girls’ all-black Barbee doll collection is as far as I go. Moms do cheer, not dads.
“I have played with racing cars and wrestling dolls with little boys, so I guess I must be butch then.”
Those are the rules – you can play with the racing cars and wear a tie, but I can’t play with the makeup or wear a skirt.
wow @ some of these responses…oh, how times have changed.
this commercial is on the same concept as when will smith’s character–on an episode of the ‘fresh prince’ show–practiced a cheer with the ashley character. will did the same female mannerisms and got HUGE LAUGHS & no one thought him (or his character) to be gay because of it…it was clear he was just clowning around to get laughs from ashley & for the camera – same as the ad council guy is.
darn shame that men nowadays have constricted themselves into believing that only by filtering their humanity through a ‘hard’ and/or ‘angry’ and/or “thuggish’ demeanor at all times is the only way to go in order to not be seen as gay.
i’ve always been of the belief that if someone knows their sexual orientation, they stay that way, no matter whether they are a straight female who enjoyed playing with toy cars (like myself & the previous poster) or a straight male who can do a dead on female impersonation…i choose not to live with bogus ‘rules’ that dictate only women can act a certain way and men can not. imho, that opens up the expectation to conduct oneself by stagnant sex roles that usually don’t bode too well for the female in the equation.
oh and btw, if some dude’s “on the low”, we as women don’t usually know it because he’s more than likely giving out an oscar worthy performance of ‘manly stud’ per those same old fashioned stereotyped sex roles.
@blain isn’t the whole point of being “down low” is that your preferences aren’t apparent?
The whole point is that a man on the DL can easily hide their preferences because many women are too naive or in denial to see those indicators of their preferences that are difficult to hide.
Are you saying that Black men are incapable of being silly with their children? Or that what is “manly” is extremely narrow?
Seems that your version of “being silly” is extremely narrow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7oOcEyXNSc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cu-CV-7yuI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGIPMcggGXk
You remind of of females who, back in the day, couldn’t understand why guys used to say that Gene Anthony Ray (Leroy from the Fame movie and tv show) was gay until he became HIV positive.
Wow! I didn’t even think about sexuality with this commercial. I was just thinking of memories with my own father and the silly things he was willing to do with his father and the silly things my husband has done with our kids.
I actually like the commercials. There are quite a few of them. Every time I see them I smile. We teach kids in classrooms every day who don’t have fathers, but typically will become fathers.
Can a commercial like this hurt? I’m optimistic. We also have a world full of young dads. You never know. Maybe a commercial or two like these inspires a young dad that isn’t very active to consider stopping by and visiting his own child.
I don’t know. I’m generally the cynic. But, I only felt positive watching the commercial. Heck, I’d rather watch a hundred commercials like these instead of the ones selling underwear, beer, feminine products, cars, etc.
“The whole point is that a man on the DL can easily hide their preferences because many women are too naive or in denial to see those indicators of their preferences that are difficult to hide.”
Y’all better listen to Blain…
@Blain
Umm, your YouTube examples prove the point many of the brothers above tried to make: It is true that fathers get silly with their kids. In fact, getting silly with your kids is one of the few times Black Men are really allowed to let loose.
This being said, you might notice something unifying all three of the videos you posted (even the ones with the White Fathers). THEY OCCUR INSIDE THE CONFINES OF A FAMILY HOME. They DO NOT occur in public where other Black Men can see it.
To put it plainly. You do not get to “act Gay” (defined as having effeminate mannerisms or speech) in public as a Black Man unless you want it assumed you *are* Gay. The Father in the commercial would have been in the kitchen or in a dance studio – places where movement like that is socially acceptable NOT out on the street.
I 100% agree with Selena. This commercial will not change a damn thing. As a matter of fact, I know that the usual suspects will be using this commercial to say “See? All da bruthas ain’t no deadbeat dads”, of course ignoring what the REALITY for MILLIONS of little Black girls like the little angel in that commercial is.
I absolutely LOVE this commercial. It think it gives props to the dads who do whatever it takes to support their kids..Bravo! I LOVE it!