Monday, January 20, 2014
<Jabari Update> My son turns 8 months today!! YEAH!!! He has developed a strong will, is clapping his hands, smiles all the time, laughs very often, loves to stand (with some assistance), very pleasant child, loves - carrots, green beans, apple sauce, bananas, and sweet potatoes. Jabari is responding to his name and when you say 'Where's Mommy' or 'Where's Daddy', he looks in Kamesha or my direction. He is very hesitant and cautious when meeting new faces, but when he sees that mommy or daddy is ok when the person, he opens up. It amazing how time flies. It seems like yesterday when he was born......
My Mistress is gone Away!!
We have been in each other's lives for as long as I can remember. You have had my back through thick and thin.
Even before I met my wife, you were there.
Before I went to college, you held me down.
We shared many dreams and I loved talking to you at night, oftentimes ALL NIGHT LONG!!
Our conversations were so DEEP and INTIMATE.
But for the past 8 months, you stopped dealing with me and I am SO Sad and Blue.
Why did you leave me, why did you abandon me?
I thought that we had something special, but I guess somethings are not meant to be forever.
What did I do to you to make you leave me?
Could you please come back to me, I need you in my life!!
Whatever it takes I will do to see you again.
My mistress is gone away and I miss her.
My mistress is sleep and she's GONE!!!
We have been in each other's lives for as long as I can remember. You have had my back through thick and thin.
Even before I met my wife, you were there.
Before I went to college, you held me down.
We shared many dreams and I loved talking to you at night, oftentimes ALL NIGHT LONG!!
Our conversations were so DEEP and INTIMATE.
But for the past 8 months, you stopped dealing with me and I am SO Sad and Blue.
Why did you leave me, why did you abandon me?
I thought that we had something special, but I guess somethings are not meant to be forever.
What did I do to you to make you leave me?
Could you please come back to me, I need you in my life!!
Whatever it takes I will do to see you again.
My mistress is gone away and I miss her.
My mistress is sleep and she's GONE!!!
Little Gifts, Make a UUNIK Difference'
10 yrs ago, I started my own program is assist save and empower African American male youth via UUNIK Academy. Actually this was an idea I had in my head and heart over 20 yrs ago. But like many things in life, it took time to go from idea (conception) to a physical reality (birth). I've struggled, fought tooth and nail to keep this vision afloat. I've lost quite a few of my male participants to the streets and prison. I've followed some to pursuits of higher education and careers. I almost loss my life via an accident a few years back while working with my youth. I've received numerous awards and accolades for my undying passion for our youth. I've worked with many young males exclusively and with hundreds of youth via workshops, conferences, and school assemblies.
Because of the fact that I couldn't work with but a handful of males, I started an annual conference entitled Calling All Males. This was an effort to bring more men into the lives of our youth and to expose the youth participants to workshops that can enhance their lives. I am thankful for the support and the contributions that so many have given to this vision.
Years ago, some young ladies approached me and asked, 'Why don't you have a Calling All Females conference?' 7 yrs ago, I answered their request with Calling All Females Youth Conference. And like the male youth conference, I was overwhelmed with so much support as well as contributions to my efforts in empowering our female youth.
This year marks our 8th Annual Calling All Males Youth Conference and we need your support. e are raising funds to provide meals, door prizes, t-shirts and educational supplies to the youth participants. Our financial goal is $1,000. To make this conference bigger, better, and more effective, I am asking my friends, associates, and family members to make a financial contribution to this worthy cause.
To those who have heed the call, I say 'THANK YOU'!!
To those who will make a contribution in the immediate future, 'THANK YOU'!!
To those who are on the fence or undecided, I say check out my reputation, check out my accomplishments, and ask yourself 'Why Not'?
'Little Gifts, Make a UUNIK Difference'!!
10 yrs ago, I started my own program is assist save and empower African American male youth via UUNIK Academy. Actually this was an idea I had in my head and heart over 20 yrs ago. But like many things in life, it took time to go from idea (conception) to a physical reality (birth). I've struggled, fought tooth and nail to keep this vision afloat. I've lost quite a few of my male participants to the streets and prison. I've followed some to pursuits of higher education and careers. I almost loss my life via an accident a few years back while working with my youth. I've received numerous awards and accolades for my undying passion for our youth. I've worked with many young males exclusively and with hundreds of youth via workshops, conferences, and school assemblies.
Because of the fact that I couldn't work with but a handful of males, I started an annual conference entitled Calling All Males. This was an effort to bring more men into the lives of our youth and to expose the youth participants to workshops that can enhance their lives. I am thankful for the support and the contributions that so many have given to this vision.
Years ago, some young ladies approached me and asked, 'Why don't you have a Calling All Females conference?' 7 yrs ago, I answered their request with Calling All Females Youth Conference. And like the male youth conference, I was overwhelmed with so much support as well as contributions to my efforts in empowering our female youth.
This year marks our 8th Annual Calling All Males Youth Conference and we need your support. e are raising funds to provide meals, door prizes, t-shirts and educational supplies to the youth participants. Our financial goal is $1,000. To make this conference bigger, better, and more effective, I am asking my friends, associates, and family members to make a financial contribution to this worthy cause.
To those who have heed the call, I say 'THANK YOU'!!
To those who will make a contribution in the immediate future, 'THANK YOU'!!
To those who are on the fence or undecided, I say check out my reputation, check out my accomplishments, and ask yourself 'Why Not'?
'Little Gifts, Make a UUNIK Difference'!!
<Random Note> Each year at this time, I am ask to do a presentation to a group of students at the MLK Youth Symposium. I really enjoy working with youth and teaching them things that they normally wouldn't hear in school. My topic was the Emancipation Proclamation, the 13th Amendment and how it relates to the current Prison Industrial Complex. The high school students were very attentive and really enjoyed by presentation (which is a hard feat for a group of 30 high schoolers).
But this is not why I am posting this. Anyone that knows me know if I am friends/associates with you, I attempt to become an influence on your child/grandchild/niece/nephew/
The point of this is that too many of parents are not preparing our males -
1. To have the ability to articulate their thoughts and desires. Too many males have poor social skills. And this is not limited to males in low income households.
2. To set realistic goals and do the work to fulfill those goals.
3. To have a back up plan in case plan A doesn't work out. Too many of our males have hoop dreams or pigskin ambitions yet spend very little time and effort developing their minds or investing in an alternative talent. I believe all of us are born with many talents or assets that could lead to purposeful and fulfilling life. And without the ability to critically think, to articulate one's thoughts without saying 'like' or 'uh' 500 times in a conversation, have self confidence, or engage in a intellectual conversation, it doesn't matter how gifted you are from the neck down. 9 times out of 10 you will get 'used and abused' in this country.
4. To be MEN.......Too many spoiled males who can't take care of business (or themselves) without Mommy, granny, or their 'lil momma'. My wife always say that we spend 4 times more in our lives being adults than we do children yet we do a poor job training our children in becoming adults.
I urge any parent who has a child (particularly a male child) to sit down daily and assist them in the art of speaking.
I urge any parent to teach their sons how to greet people, firmly shake their hands, and speak in clarity and conviction.
I urge parents to assist their sons to come up with written personal and professional goals in which they have 2 or 3 alternative career goals just in case the 1st doesn't go well.
And I urge parents to write down all the qualities that they want their child to have at age 30 then come up with a plan on implementing those qualities that they lack NOW!!!
But this is not why I am posting this. Anyone that knows me know if I am friends/associates with you, I attempt to become an influence on your child/grandchild/niece/nephew/
The point of this is that too many of parents are not preparing our males -
1. To have the ability to articulate their thoughts and desires. Too many males have poor social skills. And this is not limited to males in low income households.
2. To set realistic goals and do the work to fulfill those goals.
3. To have a back up plan in case plan A doesn't work out. Too many of our males have hoop dreams or pigskin ambitions yet spend very little time and effort developing their minds or investing in an alternative talent. I believe all of us are born with many talents or assets that could lead to purposeful and fulfilling life. And without the ability to critically think, to articulate one's thoughts without saying 'like' or 'uh' 500 times in a conversation, have self confidence, or engage in a intellectual conversation, it doesn't matter how gifted you are from the neck down. 9 times out of 10 you will get 'used and abused' in this country.
4. To be MEN.......Too many spoiled males who can't take care of business (or themselves) without Mommy, granny, or their 'lil momma'. My wife always say that we spend 4 times more in our lives being adults than we do children yet we do a poor job training our children in becoming adults.
I urge any parent who has a child (particularly a male child) to sit down daily and assist them in the art of speaking.
I urge any parent to teach their sons how to greet people, firmly shake their hands, and speak in clarity and conviction.
I urge parents to assist their sons to come up with written personal and professional goals in which they have 2 or 3 alternative career goals just in case the 1st doesn't go well.
And I urge parents to write down all the qualities that they want their child to have at age 30 then come up with a plan on implementing those qualities that they lack NOW!!!
Dr King, an apology.....(Repost from last year)
Dr King, I apologize that we continue to disrespect your legacy and memory the way we do each and every year......We have tied your memory to just a verse of your 'I Have A Dream' speech (even though most of us have not read the entire speech).........Most of us haven't read your books nor the rest of your speeches to know and understand who you were and how you evolved as a man and a leader...........Most of us have not taken your level of activism, sacrifice and your philosophy into our daily existence..........Instead we just walk in our neighborhoods, sing the same tired songs, sit in hear the same tired lectures by so-called civil rights activists (many of whom you never had any personal acquaintances), and go back to our homes thinking that we have honor your memory in a respectful manner..............
Meanwhile, homeless is increasing, racism/white supremacy is more potent than ever, the US is engaged in more wars than ever before (sending billions of dollars and manpower oversees), and Blacks still control 1/2 of 1% of the wealth of this country as they did when you were alive.....I vow to continue to honor you by implementing your philosophies and your legacy in my work and the youth that I serve.....Its sad that Dr King that we have tied a political position (US Presidency) as if this was your actual dream or desire, not understanding that you were for the upliftment of the masses, not the elite few.......Many of us believe that you fought for us to be able to become consumers where we can just spend our $$$ anywhere and with anyone (except other Blacks). We didn't listen to your message in your last speech about economic empowerment nor we listened to your speech encouraging Black people to love themselves and that 'Black is Beautiful'. We didn't listen to your speech, Beyond Vietnam, where you took a strong stance against America's thirst for War and bloodshed.....We just allow the media and the public school system to tell us who our leaders and what they say........We don't know how your family fought to reopen your assassination case in Memphis, TN on Dec 8, 1999 where it was discovered that the US Gov't, the mafia as well as current so-called leaders was implicit in your murder/assassination. We still believe the lies and we teach our children the same.
For all of these travesties, I apologize..........I promise that I will do a better job honoring you and other ancestors (whom I hold dear) by my deeds.......I will continue to speak TRUTH to POWER no matter unpopular it is.............I will continue to fight for a better world in which our children and our children's children can become the powerful beings that they were meant to BE...........Ase'/Amen
Dr King, I apologize that we continue to disrespect your legacy and memory the way we do each and every year......We have tied your memory to just a verse of your 'I Have A Dream' speech (even though most of us have not read the entire speech).........Most of us haven't read your books nor the rest of your speeches to know and understand who you were and how you evolved as a man and a leader...........Most of us have not taken your level of activism, sacrifice and your philosophy into our daily existence..........Instead we just walk in our neighborhoods, sing the same tired songs, sit in hear the same tired lectures by so-called civil rights activists (many of whom you never had any personal acquaintances), and go back to our homes thinking that we have honor your memory in a respectful manner..............
Meanwhile, homeless is increasing, racism/white supremacy is more potent than ever, the US is engaged in more wars than ever before (sending billions of dollars and manpower oversees), and Blacks still control 1/2 of 1% of the wealth of this country as they did when you were alive.....I vow to continue to honor you by implementing your philosophies and your legacy in my work and the youth that I serve.....Its sad that Dr King that we have tied a political position (US Presidency) as if this was your actual dream or desire, not understanding that you were for the upliftment of the masses, not the elite few.......Many of us believe that you fought for us to be able to become consumers where we can just spend our $$$ anywhere and with anyone (except other Blacks). We didn't listen to your message in your last speech about economic empowerment nor we listened to your speech encouraging Black people to love themselves and that 'Black is Beautiful'. We didn't listen to your speech, Beyond Vietnam, where you took a strong stance against America's thirst for War and bloodshed.....We just allow the media and the public school system to tell us who our leaders and what they say........We don't know how your family fought to reopen your assassination case in Memphis, TN on Dec 8, 1999 where it was discovered that the US Gov't, the mafia as well as current so-called leaders was implicit in your murder/assassination. We still believe the lies and we teach our children the same.
For all of these travesties, I apologize..........I promise that I will do a better job honoring you and other ancestors (whom I hold dear) by my deeds.......I will continue to speak TRUTH to POWER no matter unpopular it is.............I will continue to fight for a better world in which our children and our children's children can become the powerful beings that they were meant to BE...........Ase'/Amen
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