Dear, Antwone

My name is Jimmy Mitchell. I live in Columbus, Ohio an I just want to share my story with you. I know you probably receive a lot of letters about people looking for their parents and want to get any information they can to help them find their parents. But my story is a little different, so I'm giving you the short version for the sake of time.(I would love to meet you in person and share more.)

I was a senior in high school and got a young lady pregnant. It was a while before I found out she was pregnant and her (adopted parents) threatened to put her out if she did not give the child up for adoption. I told her I did not want to do that but they had already decided what they were going to do. My Mom even tried to talk to the parents to let them know that she and my (6) sisters would help me with the baby, but they did want that. So the family did not want us to contact them, nor did they communicate with us any more. So I did not know anything else, when the child was born, what hospital or anything. I was a senior in high school and got a young lady pregnant. It was a while before I found out she was pregnant and her (adopted parents) threatened to put her out if she did not give the child up for adoption. I told her I did not want to do that but they had already decided what they were going to do. My Mom even tried to talk to the parents to let them know that she and my (6) sisters would help me with the baby, but they did want that. So the family did not want us to contact them, nor did they communicate with us any more. So I did not know anything else, when the child was born, what hospital or anything.

About a month after my child was born, the mother came by my house and told me she had the baby, the only information she gave me was the baby was a girl. There was no remorse but she wanted to get back together with me. I was so angry with her for what they had done, I refuse to get back together with her and asked her to leave, and I never seen or heard from her again. That was in 1980. Forgive me for so much information, but I feel it is necessary to give certain details so you can understand where I'm going. I am married to a wonderful woman for (26 years) and have 5 kids (including my child that was given up for adoption) and when we first got together I let her and my kids know about my child.

On many occasions my wife would help me to try and find my daughter. I would always wonder if that was her, what did she look like, what did she think about me, did she hate me, I wanted to explain to her that I love her and dad did not throw her away. The child's mother's parents would cuss us out when we tried to get information or try to contact the babies Mom. And even putting my profile on the adoption search web site. So, making a long story short, on November 6,2007 at 9:10am, a young lady e-mailed you by the name of Athena Good. Stating she was searching for her biological parents, and you responded Nov 6, 2007 at 1:07pm.

Guess what, "SHE FOUND ME." On Friday, November 16,2007 about 4:40pm, I got the call I had been waiting for, for 27 years, my daughter found her daddy. Mind you, I would have been at work at that time, but I left work and came home early. I was studying my Bible for a cell group I teach on Saturday evening. The phone rung and I answered it and it was a friend of Athena's, she asked to speak to me and she introduced herself and asked me if I had a daughter that was given up for adoption, (I was in shock for a minute) and I said "YES", and asked her did she know where she is and she said she's right here, do you want to talk to her? and I said "YES" so she told her "IT'S HIM" and I could hear her crying in the back ground and she finally got on the phone and said Daddy, and I said My baby, "You found me."

So we cried and talked like we were old friends that haven't seen each other in a while. It was awesome. One of the first things we shared is our favorite movie is the Antwone Fisher story. Imagine that! Thank you so much for that movie, That was a reassurance to me that one day, we could find each other. Athena and her friends had already planned a thanksgiving trip to Ohio (Mansfield,Cincinnatti) to visit relatives so they agreed to stop in Columbus so we could meet.(we all were nervous) I had my family over and I cooked a Feast. I met Athena at the door and we embraced and cried and after we finally finished, My wife and sister, presented her with a plate of pancakes.(where did that idea come from?) (If we ever get a chance to meet, I want to show you the pictures.) And we had a great time.

We flew Athena in this weekend and had great time of bonding. We dropped her off at the airport several hours ago. It was hard for me to see her go. She lives several hundred mile away, but we will be together soon again. I do want to thank you for your advice you gave her in your response. We have been trying to contact her mother and basically today we discovered she does not want anything to do with Athena. I'm glad me and my wife (she calls her Mom) was there to be a comfort to her. It hurt Athena to know that, but she kind of expected it. Athena's a great young women and I don't want her to hurt again,and I'm proud to be her dad.

Thank you for your time, and your story that is touching so many lives, and being a strength to many. My desire is to write a book and even a movie because there is so much more to this story, a e-mail just doesn't do it justice.

Thanks again
Jimmy Mitchell

Dear Antwone



You've surely already heard from others that the movie is shown in a wide variety of contexts. I am a psychotherapist and work specifically with sex offenders who are on parole in California. Some of the guys have seen the movie as part of their pre-release classes; some have seen it in other treatment programs. I show it in my therapy groups. It generates discussion on pretty much every subject there is.



One of the most positive statements I've heard from my clients was, "I liked it more than I thought I would. I was expecting your average 'abused kid triumphs over poverty and abandonment' with a sappy hollywood romance at the end. But this guy was real, he was honest and courageous enough to ask for help. He was a strong kid!" What you've written helps people feel again, all kinds of emotions that they boxed up and shoved in dark corners.



It helps people begin to tell their own stories, and it helps bring to life places inside of them that have been dead for years. Thanks for telling your story.