In many ways the ditchdiggers daughters adheres to the well worn path of a. Yvonne thornton talked about her familys life story as described in her book, the ditchdiggers daughters. Thornton was born in new york city and raised in long branch, new jersey as the third of five children to donald 19251983 and itasker thornton 19151977, where she graduated from. Its an interesting story about two parents, part memoir, part biography of her father and mother, the ditchdiggers daughters is the true story of a black family and their struggle for success. This is a story about a black father with five daughters whose dream it was for them all to become doctors.
A black familys astonishing success story yvonne s. The ditchdigger s daughters is an inspiring portrait by a loving daughter of a father whose pervasive common sense, folk wisdom, and untutored but righton insights gave his children their road map to a better life. A daughters journey to fulfill a fathers legacy, was released in december 2010 and was named the grand prize. With a determination bordering on obsession, he demands much of. The ditchdiggers daughters is an inspiring portrait by a loving daughter of a father whose pervasive common sense, folk wisdom, and untutored but righton. Are any of the events in the book relevant to your own life. I enjoyed reading the story of her struggles and success and how her parents inspired and aided her and her sisters to be the best they could be. Thornton and jo coudert the ditchdiggers daughters. Donald thornton was a ditchdigger who wanted more for his six daughters, saying. A black familys astonishing success story demonstrates how donald thornton raised five daughters to be professional women and did it, in memoirworthy style, against pretty big odds. Incorporating her fathers common sense and folk wisdom, a biography by a new jersey doctor tells how her parents, who held down multiple jobs and transmitted strong values to their six daughters, inspired them. If you like the ditchdiggers daughters, youll love, a suitcase full of dreams a suitcase full of dreams the book written by jeanette f.
And america of the 1950s was not about to share its dream with the likes of them. Donalds persuasive common sense, folk wisdom, and righton insights gave them the skills they would need to overcome obstacles in their paths to success. In precivil rights new jersey, no one expected his five black daughters to do anything but get pregnant and. February 20, 1997 sisters, united in success, are divided on the details by lena williams in her inspirational 1995 memoir the ditchdiggers daughters, dr. The book, the ditchdiggers daughters was also featured on the oprah winfrey show. Incorporating her fathers common sense and folk wisdom, a biography by a new jersey doctor tells how her parents, who held down multiple jobs and transmitted strong values to their six daughters, inspired them to succeed. She has produced and directed two local informational talk shows for television entitled breakfast at our place and talk to me. Today, two daughters are physicians highrisk obstetrician and psychiatrist, one an oral surgeon, one a nurse and one an attorney. The ditchdiggers daughters is far more than a goody goody story of striving africanamericans. Donalds persuasive common sense, folk wisdom and righton insights gave them the skills they would need to overcome obstacles in their paths to success. Thornton, jo coudert carol publishing group, 1995 social science 261 pages. Thornton was named the 20 living legend by the joseph tyler chapter of the national medical association. The ditchdiggers daughters book notes culture bean. The ditchdigger s daughters is an excellent memoir that is easy to follow.
The ditchdiggers daughters is the inspirational story of a family with a strong role model who set family values about all else. Although music, self sacrifice and upward mobility all figure prominently in ddd, this memoir merits readers attention for its effective recreation of the characters, its important messages, its genuineness, its overall excellence, and its inspiration. I love you better than i love life, he assured his children. A black familys astonishing success story by yvonne thornton at barnes. Two daughters are physicians highrisk obstetrician and psychiatrist, one an oral surgeon, one a nurse and one an attorney. Two physicians, an attorney, a court stenographer, a dentist and a registered nurse. Sisters, united in success, are divided on the details. The ditchdiggers daughters is the story of donald thornton, a laborer, and his wife tass, a domestic, who managed to shepherd their six daughters into careers of professional status. The ditchdiggers daughters tv movie 1997 plot summary imdb. A black familys astonishing success story by yvonne s. The ditchdiggers daughters is a loving memoir of how a poor and uneducated black laborer, a child of the great depression, overcame incredible obstacles to give his daughters a better life. Thornton born november 21, 1947 is an american obstetriciangynecologist, musician and author, best known for her memoir, the ditchdigger s daughters. In that book she referenced the ditchdiggers daughters, and i knew i should probably read that to get the whole story of how yvonne became dr.
It is the story of a man who dared to dream that his black daughters would someday become doctorsand who guided them to achieve. Donald s persuasive common sense, folk wisdom, and righton insights gave them the skills they would need to overcome obstacles in their paths to success. Apr 01, 1995 in that book she referenced the ditchdiggers daughters, and i knew i should probably read that to get the whole story of how yvonne became dr. The book describes tehir upbringing which was most full of studying and participation in the family band. Thorntons father fought in world war ii as a navy seaman, second class. Thornton born november 21, 1947 is an american obstetriciangynecologist, musician and author, best known for her memoir, the ditchdiggers daughters. Mar 28, 2008 the ditchdigger s daughters is the inspirational story of a family with a strong role model who set family values about all else.
Thornton paints a loving portrait of her father, donald thornton, a black new jersey laborer, who. Feb 20, 1997 dr jeanette f thornton and her sister, rita l thornton, in privately published book, dispute their sister dr yvonne s thorntons 1995 memoir, the ditchdiggers daughters, which painted loving. Thornton is board certified in psychiatric medicine and addiction psychiatry. It is the story of a man who dared to dream that his black daughters would someday become doctorsand who guided them to. The ditchdiggers daughters paperback edition personalized and autographed the ditchdiggers daughters is the inspiring portrait by a loving daughter of an unusual man who was as clearheaded as he was ambitious and determined. This family biography coauthored with jo coudert is a tribute to her parents and was condensed in the readers digest, translated into 19 languages, adapted into a world premiere movie and nominated for the peabody award and the cable ace award for best. The ditchdigger s daughters is a loving memoir of how a poor and uneducated black laborer, a child of the great depression, overcame incredible obstacles to give his daughters a better life. The movie, the ditchdiggers daughters is a tribute to dr. The book describes tehir upbringing which was most full. Sisters, united in success, are divided on the details the new. Incorporating her fathers common sense and folk wisdo. For the past 25 years she has maintained an active private practice in addiction psychiatry and psychiatric medicine in albany, new york with her husband, emile a. Donald s persuasive common sense, folk wisdom and righton insights gave them the skills they would need to overcome obstacles in their paths to success.
The ditchdiggers daughters and millions of other books are available for instant access. Thornton born november 21, 1947 is an american obstetrician gynecologist, musician and author, best known for her memoir, the ditchdiggers daughters. In many ways the ditchdiggers daughters adheres to the well worn path of a genre best described as the black struggle in an injust white america. The ditchdigger s daughters is the inspirational story of a family with a strong role model who set family values above all else. The ditchdiggers daughters tv movie 1997 plot summary.
The ditchdiggers daughter is an inspiring portrait by a loving daughter of a father whose pervasive common sense, folk wisdom, and untutored but righton insights gave his children their road map to a better life. This heartwarming, inspirational family drama centers on a poor black laborer who wanted his six daughters to grow up to be doctors. The ditchdiggers daughters book summary and study guide. Apr 10, 2020 today, two daughters are physicians highrisk obstetrician and psychiatrist, one an oral surgeon, one a nurse and one an attorney. The ditchdiggers daughters is the inspirational story of a family with a strong role model who set family values above all else. Sisters, united in success, are divided on the details the. I enjoyed reading the story of her struggles and success and how her parents inspired and aided her. Buy a cheap copy of the ditchdiggers daughters book by jo coudert. Does the book appeal more to your emotions or your intellect does it make you feel or make you think. After reading my first bestselling memoir, the ditchdiggers daughters, anita saw potential in the next chapter of my life as a professional woman trying to balance career and family. By age twentyseven he had five children to raiseall girls, and no boys. At the end, his six daughters serve as donald thornton s pallbearers and carry him to his final resting place. A black family s astonishing success story yvonne s. A daughter s journey to fulfill a fathers legacy, was released in december 2010 and was named the grand prize winner of the 2011 new york book festival.
The movie, the ditchdigger s daughters is a tribute to dr. The ditchdiggers daughters is an inspiring portrait by a loving daughter of a father whose pervasive common sense, folk wisdom, and untutored but righton insights gave his children their road map to a better life. But the real plot in this movie revolves around the tyranny of a father and the effect it has on his six daughters as he cajoles, demands, blusters. The book, the ditchdiggers daughters is a tribute to dr. Dr jeanette f thornton and her sister, rita l thornton, in privately published book, dispute their sister dr yvonne s thorntons 1995 memoir, the ditchdiggers daughters, which painted loving. Thorntons father and celebrates her familys fulfillment of the american dream. Her writing skill and knowledge of the changing publishing industry allowed me to get exposure to a much bigger audience than i would have been able to do on. A black family s astonishing success story by yvonne s. Thornton s father fought in world war ii as a navy seaman, second class.
The ditchdiggers daughter general background information taken from. The ditchdigger s daughters is far more than a goody goody story of striving africanamericans. The ditchdiggers daughters is an inspiring portrait by a loving daughter of a father whose pervasive common sense, folk wisdom, and untutored but righton insights gave his children their road map to a. In precivil rights new jersey, no one expected his five black daughters to do anything but get pregnant. Rita l thornton, in privately published book, dispute their sister dr yvonne s thorntons 1995 memoir, the ditchdiggers daughters, which. With carl lumbly, dule hill, victoria dillard, shelley robertson. The nook book ebook of the the ditchdiggers daughters. A prominent black physician writes a memoir about her remarkable father who lived to see his dreams of a better life for his children come true. The wisdom of a third grade dropout will change your life rick rigsby duration. The ditchdiggers daughters is an excellent memoir that is easy to follow.
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