First, let me say “Amazing” and “Thanks.” When I started the Daddy’s Promise initiative, I had great hopes for it. I knew there would be people who would immediately connect with it. I just never imagined to this degree. The response has been phenomenal! Over 120-thousand people have visited the web site. We’ve had hundreds of you email pictures to be included in our national photo album. In fact, the first few days brought so many pictures that we had to play catch-up. Thanks for being patient.

Please remember, we are just starting! We have much more to come. Look for some great contests and special events in the coming months. We are also growing the entire initiative, so return to daddyspromise.com often for exciting news.

From the day we announced the initiative at the annual 100 Black Men of America’s Conference in Orlando on June 12, we have seen the want for people to show the importance of the father/daughter bond. We kicked off with a panel discussion of frank and sometimes personal conversations about what this relationship is and should mean to Black America.

My great thanks to TV personality Judge Glenda Hatchett, Singer Will Downing and Journalists Roland Martin and George Curry who shared blunt stories and engaged the audience in a very spirited discussion.

Ironically, that same Father’s Day weekend, Senator Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee for the Presidency of the United States challenged some black fathers to make sure they do the “right thing” by staying involved in the lives of their children. He received criticism from some who suggested the he was blaming the victim and ignoring the problems that plague some black men. It was the same criticism that Bill Cosby received when he has taken some in the black community to task for lack of personal responsibility.

I say both of these men are making people look in the mirror and face some of their warts. Neither man has suggested that the world is always fair in it’s treatment of black people. Both acknowledge the role ignorance and prejudice play in how black men are perceived and treated. They also concede that continued discrimination holds back a great number of brothers. But, both men suggest, as I did on a recent Essence/CNN televised panel, that personal responsibility must be a part of the mix and that the cry for greater social accountability from “our” community must be louder.

Some have suggested that this is a pointing the finger approach. Let me make it clear, Daddy’s Promise is far from that! We by no means are suggesting that all black men are negligent. In fact, the first role of Daddy’s Promise is to give a platform and public salute to the MANY black men who are being what they should be; fantastic fathers (just take a look at our photo album!) Daddy’s Promise will serve as a catalyst to encourage those men who are being strong fathers to continue proudly.

That being said, we also want to nudge those who aren’t, for whatever reason, playing their role. They must rise above and join the growing ranks of men who are saying out loud “we are doing the right thing!”

To those of you who have said you want to be a “part” of Daddy’s Promise…STAND BY. We are working with 100 Black Men of America and a number of churches and colleges across the country to bring events and programs that will celebrate and illuminate this special relationship.

There are some frequently asked questions that I want to address. First, some people questioned whether or not this movement is exclusively for black fathers and daughters. No, is the short answer. While this project is designed to shine the light primarily on black father and daughters we certainly know that the great bond that exists between a man and his “little girl” goes much deeper than skin color. So, if you want to show your fatherly pride or salute your ole’ man, no matter what color, please join our family.

What about boys? That is another question that has been raised by a number of people. I have said that parenting is something that is crucial and both boys and girls need the love and supervision of preferably both parents. Too often boys aren’t taught how to be a man and are stumbling toward manhood.

This is another huge problem that we are grappling with as a society. But, since I was blessed with a girl my focus and the focus of this initiative is on the father/daughter relationship.

However, I have a number of young men in my life that I am “helping” raise and I know the importance and need for men to be a part of these boys’ lives. Daddy’s Promise is committed by example (showing and teaching how to be a responsible man.) We hope to team with others who are offering projects to strengthen the father/son bond. In doing so, we hope to make the entire fabric of the black community stronger.

The question of young girls without fathers in their lives has also been raised. “What are you doing for them?” That’s a hard one because unfortunately we can’t make their fathers magically appear. What we are trying to do is, first, make sure these girls know it’s not on them to shoulder the burden that daddy hasn’t been around. We also want to say that while no one can replace your biological father, other father figures can play a key role in your life. We are working on a project that will try to bring fathers and their daughters into the lives of girls who don’t have a father present.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, we want to encourage men who haven’t been there for their daughters to change that.

I recently spoke with one man who said he hadn’t talked to his daughter in awhile and didn’t know what he should do. I told him the first thing to do was to put his ego aside and call her.

Sometimes changing things doesn’t have to be complex. Re-establishing a torn relationship isn’t as easy as just making a phone call, but one thing is for sure, you can’t make any change unless you start. That is an absolute!

Remember, each month I’ll have something new in this space including interviews with some very interesting people. Next month, look for what Barack Obama told me about what he wants for his daughters’ future.