I am Dr. Yvonne S. Thornton, M.D., M.P.H., Sc.D.(hon), FACOG, FACS, one of "The Ditchdigger's Daughters". I am thrilled that so many have viewed the movie and have finally found it after so many years. Those who want the entire story of my parents and my sisters should read the award-winning original BOOK (by the same name) upon which this movie was based. The TV-movie only covers about 10% of the book. If you want the full inspirational story, the book is the best way to go. I wish you well and have a wonderful day!! Keep dreaming, keep studying, keep focusing.

THIS MOVIE SHOWED A STRONG BLACK MAN THAT WAS WARNING THE GIRLS MAKE RIGHT DECISIONS IN LIFE.. REMINDS ME OF MY DAD ..RIP

Carl Lumbly is an UNDERRATED actor of our time. His performance in this film was exceptional! Still watching this in 2020! He brought the book to life!

He dedicated his whole life to ensuring that his daughters succeeded at a time in this country when it was very rare for women to become doctors and unheard of for a black woman to be a doctor or lawyer. He may have seemed harsh on the surface but this was a man who dearly loved his children and would stop at nothing to make sure that they succeeded. Their success opened the door for other black women. A beautiful story. Thank you for uploading.

It's a fact men of that generation didn't say I love you, they showed it!!

Every time I see this movie it brings tears to my eyes he loved his daughters so much he wanted them to be somebody in this cold cruel world and he made it happen he was a father a husband and a provider even though he wasn't educated he wanted better for his children. beautifully written and a true story.

The father died at 58, his wife dying much younger. They gave their life to their children, may God rest their souls.

Still watching in 2023 this movie will always rank one of my favorite & most inspiring movies of all time…Job well done 🙏🏾💜

I applaud their father. We need more men like that especially in this day and age.

I was blessed to meet Dr. Yvonne Thornton. She told me to never ever give up! I won't Dearest Dr. Thornton! I won't! Thank you!!!

The Joe Jackson of medicine. Its funny when you become adults you can appreciate his parenting style because all he wanted was his daughters to be successful and not struggle. But as children you dont understand and you think he was being controling. I wish I had a father like him. He loved his girls and just wanted the best.

this was a great movie. very inspirational for me and my future. i was a rebel like Jeanette im sure my parents had the best intentions but after awhile you develop your own way of thinking and begin to challenge the way you're being raised. i moved out at 19 and never returned home it was the best decision of my life.

Wish more fathers today had a heart of gold like this father had.

i want to say a special thanks to the person that uploaded this movie. i was just about 11 years old and from the caribbean when i first saw this movie and for many many years try to see it once more but never did until today. so after 18 years of looking i finally got my wish. stay bless all you wonderful folks

Dr. Thorton: To say I am enjoying this movie is putting it mildly. Your father was a hero. He knew what needed to be done. No nonsense for him. He raised all of you beautifully, along with your mom. Today's kids think they know it all, have it all and want more. All they know is facebook, social media, instagram, selfies. They know nothing about hard work. I was raised in the 60's. I went to work when I was 13. I just wonder out loud what is to become of this younger generation who at the age of 2 know abut Ipads and Iphones. They can't even write properly, let alone spell a word. Anyway, your story inspires me. Thanks so much.

I Love this movie. I love the principles the father tried to teach his daughters and foster sister. Priceless . He was hard on his daughters, but a man with a vision on where he wanted his daughter to be in the future.

This movie makes cry every time I watch it. Whenever I feel like giving up on my dream (Medical School), I watch this movie for motivation.

Thanks for liking it, and ur welcome...enjoy this movie, and its a heart whelming story...godbless us all

this movie touch my heart. if the father was to see what generations are doing today he would be so so proud of all of his daughters . great movie

What a wonderful family. Their dad lived every moment to insure his daughters had a future full of hope, dignity and a profession everyone respects.Their mom was loving and supportive. Thank you for this video. Glad to know millions will see how families should be.

Kimberly Elise did that role such Justice 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👌👍

Making great sacrifices so your children can have a better chance in life to succeed is a wonderful deed indeed. To live out your dreams through your children is the flip side. In my opiniin, he was way too harsh with Jeanette, he was unforgiving and bitter towards her. We only have one life to live, our paths, our goals and success should not be dictated by another, only guided. True success is measured by one's happiness. I told my children to follow their passion because one can only truly be happy and succeed when one loves what they're doing. My 7yr old said "so I can work at a check-out at the store?" to which my eldest replied "sure, as long as you not only own the store but mall too!" Now that's what I like....you go girls! Whatever makes you happy! ♥

the father was a good father but he was a little strict and hurtful. he did not want the daughters to go outside and play with other kids. kids need to interact with others for natural human interaction and development

I remember this movie from when I was a little girl. It is still so inspirational and has more meaning to me now that I'm a mother. Thanks for uploading!

I love the arrangement of 'Sanctuary' at the beginning of the movie. We sing that at my church too but I like the version here better.

I love this movie,the father is great in this movie,a little hard on them,but a father with all them girls has to be.😊 I love the fact that he wanted his girls to be something in life,not just "maids,mammies, and mama's. Right or wrong,he did have a point. We need more father's like him today.😊

I just wish Jeanette could've had a better relationship with her dad before he died. This ending didn't make me cry but hurt instead. Great movie though.

wow IAM missing my father and this movie is full therapy for me thank you so much Thornton family your a real genuine Blessing..... I have overcome so many TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS and this movie I can't say how much I appreciate it being in my life....

Praise God, this movie was heart warming. I let my daughters and son know that mother will only pay for college if you're studying to be a doctor, lawyer, nurse, or teacher. I try not to be too hard on my children, and I make sure that I tell them that I love them as well as show it. Kisses and be blessed.

I believed that he died of a broken heart after he lost his wife. His work and Will was complete.🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

betty was like Cinderella and aunts were like the evil step sisters

"I L❤VE this movie!" After watching it many times, I still can't hold back my tears. Literally, the parents honestly worked themselves to an early passing. Without the words, that is called, love.

Beautiful!! This reminds me of my own great father who also stressed Education and Being the Best! Brought back fond memories of both my father and mother who were married 52 yeast before they passed. They were the best parents in the World!! Amen!!🌏

This father is just phenomenal a lot of children need a dad like this. Great family movie

This is my favorite moving of all time it's a heart warming story of a father's love. I'm a author and I can only hope to write stories like these but everyday I'm working on it. This story definitely inspires me

He was a hard man. I think he tried to teach his girls what his momma didnt teach her tiffling girls. He was a strong black man that built a strong family. Him and Jennete were alot alike... Bless them!

You really suppose to raise your children like adults...not like children...so when they are ready to go out into the world...they will have the mind of a grown adult.

I wish I had a father that cared enough to be there for me like Mr. Thornton. May God bless you💖

I met the twin sisters. One was head of Temple Univ. geriatric dental department. She was my sister's colleague. When you get a chance, read the book.

Never get tired of this movie. I had forgotten this song,haven't heard it in years. Brought many memories. Thank you for bringing this back in 8-24-2021

Jeanette gave her daddy just what he gave his momma. That's why they bumper heads. They were just alike.

excellent movie of a father who wanted nothing but the best for his daughters

OMG! I've been wanting to see this movie again since I was 17!!! Been looking for it for years! Thank you for posting it- this is why I love You Tube!

Sad to say, but I have never heard of this movie. He was tough on his daughters but he was determined for them to be more than what he and their mother were. God bless the Thortons and their families! #greatmovie

This movie is more inspirational than a lot of movies I have seen. Proves hard work, vision, integrity and love really make things happen. Shame on me with all my university qualifications and yet barely making ends meet cause of my laziness and wasting my time of stupid things. So much to learn from this story. Thank you for the upload. I will also read up more Dr Yvonne Thornton. How awe inspiring

Wow, props to Mr. and Mrs. Thornton. Mr. Thornton's focus and dermination were astounding. Very few people in Harlem understood at the time that the neighbourhood had indeed changed, and that the negative changes would intensify. He may have been hard in some of his approaches, but it took that and then some to be utterly dedicated to his daughters' futures. His neighbours in Harlem who weren't anywhere near as vigilant with their children ended up with descendants in the 3rd, 4th and 5th generations residing in housing projects and becoming grandmothers at age 35.

SPOILER ALERT!!! His pallbearers are all of his daughters...that was so touching to see...... GREAT MOVIE!!!!

This is a deep movie I loved it down to the last second. Sad yes it was but it motivates people and show me them you can excel no matter where you come from! Personally I think he was hard on Jeanette because she was just like him strong minded 🤦🏾‍♂️ but you ladies made his dreams come true

His heart was in the right place but he went about it the wrong way. He taught them that the only honorable job was a medical doctor. What if God’s calling on their lives was to be a teacher or a singer or artist. Yes parents should lead but God is in control. Give God room to mold and make the child in what He wants them to be.

I never saw this movie until today. This is wonderful! Very wonderful! My children want to be an architect, veterinarian, a world class chef and a police officer. anything is possible. God bless them and I pray my children become just that! I will now buy the book and read it to my kids too. Thanks for sharing this. :)

I just love how beautiful my ppl are!!! I got so much out of watching this movie years ago..I was that parent that pushed and pushed my kids til one day I was sitting in the bleachers at my son's bball game and I happened to look up and seen how sad my son looked he had a look of this ain't my heart or my love..looking back now if I hadn't of woke up and realized that it's OK if my kids didn't want to be what I wanted them to be..here it is 2018 BOTH my young adults are in college doing excellent doing what THEY want to do..my daughter is at Spellman premed and my son is here at UofL criminal law ♡♡♡

Every child of every color needs a Daddy like this one! Excellent movie!

I'm bout to cry!!! OMG.... I been lookin for this movie forever!!!!!

These people deserve an academy award i can't help watching over and over

I so love this movie. I myself was very hard on my children and still am. It made my daughter rebel a little, but now that she has a daughter she see why I did it. God Bless you and your family.

What a blessing this story is and what a blessing this family is.... Thank you Dr. Thornton I have been wanting to see this for so long. God Bless!!!

Dr. Thornton, you are a very inspiring person because of what you went thu as a child growing up. As a adult you are even more inspiring because you have answered so many questions from the public in is such a respectful, genuine manner. I admire you greatly for that and from this day forward I will strive to be like you. I am one year younger than you, but it is NEVER too late to self improve. I am going to get the book and treasure every word. Thank you, take care & love love love.

This movie is such a beautiful movie it put me to tears

We need more fathers like this in 2019! Yass Daddy 🕺🏿

Wow! I Loved, the entirety of such a beautiful true story.... Their Father reminded me so much, of my father who, served in Vietnam and also worked as a Longshoremen at the port of Lake Charles to take care of his 5 girl's & 2 boy's and our beautiful mother was a house wife. He also built, our house next to his father's home and the widows we're to high to jump... Their sister was much bolder than I.... It was no way I would say anything back, where as my daddy hear me... I was his Lawyer.... I literally cried, towards the end when one of the older sisters came home for her mother's service and told her father she was going to be a doctor, in hopes that would make him smile....

This movie was so seriously emotional, I just kept getting caught up in the emotions, my was very strict like that, almost drove me crazy! But I do understand being black you got to do great. Love this movie, wonder why I never hear of it or seen it until now. Excellent movie!

The ending always makes me cry, this movie was awesome!!!

My father was pretty much the same Mr. Thorton. He worked 7 days a week and demanded nothing but the best from & for me. I thank God 4 fathers like these.

The ending always tear me up😭😭😭😭

That was VERY Nice what That White man did when he helped MR Thornton with The supplies to build his family a Home by the school. ppl LIKE that don't come along everyday.

What an amazing father. He loved his girls so much and wanted the best for them

I love seeing a Black Man being portrayed in this light. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you from those of us who had phenomenal dads like this.

The book and movie is amazing and I'm so glad to have one of the sisters as a long time mentor. I love you ladies!!

It's a damn shame when the mother of a son doesn't want to help him take care of her own grandchildren especially when he is being the best father he can be and working 2 to 3 jobs... Shit don't make no sense. Besides I'm so grateful that he took the other child in as well cause she was being treated like the wicked step sister or something... God is so good.

This is a good movie. Sometimes parents have to use discern wisdom to teach their children about the facts of life.

I wish my parents pushed me...I too wasted so much time and talent. This is a powerful movie! True, heartaching, loving, strong, determined, relevant, love of a father that no words couldn't touch. My father never told me he loved me and I wondered sometimes but in the end...I knew he did...I too disappointed him...I was just like her...my mouth, wanting to do my own thing...i wish I listened...it's never to late, as long as you have breath...try...do. Great movie! Thanks fur uploading it.

I saw this in 4th grade at Millwood that was a year that changed many of us for life...Thank God for my teacher at the time she's was & still is a beautiful soul inside & out. May the generations upcoming share this with the future generations!!! 🌅Love will ALWAYS CONQUER🦄🌸🏵💮

I couldn't help but be emotionally touched by both parents devotion to giving their children a chance at a better life. Nothing but love but never outwardly expressed thru actions not words. Nothing affects a child more than a parent or parents that don't express their love and the reasons they act the way that they do until the child is no longer a child. Excellent movie.

Thank you Dr Thornton. you provided a realistic. honest perspective. about your family

I'm turning 43 this month. I'm blessed. Decided to treat myself to an old African American Classic movie. I'm happy I found this one!💫💖

Extremely moved by this lovely, heart felt movie. Best ever bets what's on tv by far.😥🌺💕

Great movie but disliked the father in it .I understand pushing your kids to do better but it became an obsession. It was like nothing was good enough unless it was his way . We have to also stand back and respect our kids dreams as well . There was nothing wrong with her having her own dreams and he should have supported her .

Thank God for Donald Thornton and all the fathers like him. This movie is one of my favorites. Thank you for posting it.

Such an impactful story of perseverance, sacrifice, dedication and overall love. Thank you Mr. And Mrs. Thornton and Dr. Yvonne Thornton for the inspiration that is your family. Whenever I feel I can't continue with my educational endeavors or just settling on my purpose, I come back to this movie and it gives me assurance that if the Thornton family can do it, I can too!!

Really a great movie! Thank you so much for presenting it.

This is a wonderful movie! One of my favorites!

Just bought the book and can't wait to read it! What an amazing and determined family, well done to all of you xx

I have been looking for this movie for years. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT'S COMING ON BET THIS SUNDAY FOR FATHE'S DAY I WILL BE FRONT AND CENTER WITH MY BIG PLATE OF FOOD. THANKS AGAIN

I love the fact that he did not coddle or spoil them, he gave it to them straight about how the real world was, didn't sugarcoat nary a thing. He pushed them to be their absolute greatest. ❤❤❤

Dad: " Where's Jeanette?" Daughter: " Who?" Hilarious. Good movie

A beautiful movie, thank you for the upload, 10/10 👏🏻👏🏻

Wonderful movie! Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Yvonne.

i was in tears.. thank you for sharing this movie.. I love it, wonderful background music suits the movie

I recently discovered the book at Barnes & Noble. It came at a perfect time, and now it's my motivation. It's a page turner. Once you pick it up, you won't be able to put it down until the end.

I cried at the end when she put her own picture up :'(

Haven't seen this in a long time. I remember watching it on tv when it first aired as a child. One of my favorite movies. I showed it to my 12 year old niece who had never heard of it. I wish they would show it more on tv because it's definitely inspiring. I cry everytime at the end. 😢🙂Happy Tears though❤

BEAUTIFUL....... Amazing Family values, of LOVE, Strength, Hard work, determination. Now it is time for me to purchase the book. I am Really Proud of you Doctor Thornton & your Sisters.

I wish I had a father like him or father material period. 💜😭

He was so obsessed with his idea of success, that he couldn't see that his girls had already succeeded. Sad it ended that way. Love the dedication to his family though. Need to see more of that in this day and age.

What a powerful movie. I saw it when it first came out, and all the subtle nuances and straightforward realities just made me cry. I just watched it again, and still had the same reaction.

I saw th8s movie and enjoyed the STRENGHT and intedgrity family values. So happy it's uploaded on KZfaq. Carl Lumby, Kimberly Elise ,are magnificent. Thank you..

There's nothing wrong with having expectations, but the father was too controlling. And I disagree with the "no rule book for raising children" comment. I believe people need to parent according to the child's personality and try to understand that not all children respond well to the strict parenting style.

The father was mean telling his daughter he paid for her prom date. He should've kept his mouth shut

Deeds not words. What a beautiful story of a father's determination and selfless love for his children.

I remember watching this movie back in the 90's it was one of my favorites I remember my grandmother and grandfather telling us about the struggles and sacrifices that their parents made. How they had to work from Sun up to Sundown We were so blessed to have the best grandparents my grandfather was a share cropper and my grandmother was a house keeper she took care of her children and she help raise others kids I used to love when we went to Church on Sunday mornings and my grandfather would stand up and sing My God Is Real And He would pray Lord Have Mercy I thank God for where I came from it was a small country town called Mulberry Tennessee I remember when our family and loved ones came together for Sunday dinner my mother and father's parents side of the family I remember when we moved to town and how my mother worked two to three jobs so me and my sister could have a better life at times we had struggled but God always made a way somehow my mother my dad and and his mother and dad and my mom mother and father passed away I cry when I think about them God Is My Strength All The Good Memories That We Shared Together Will Forever Be In My ❤️ Praise The Lord And Give Him All The Praises Honor And Glory Always Cherish You're Loved Ones While They Are Still On This Earth Have Family Get Together And Tell Them That You Love Them Time Is Precious 💞💞💞💞