<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/cousin. So I see an associate in the hallway at the MLK Youth Symposium and I speak to her. I notice that she was with her teenage son (with earplugs in his ear and a 'I don't want to be here' attitude). I extend my hand and greet this young male. He reaches his hand, gives me a weak handshake, and grunts his name in a low tone that I barely understand. I asked what grade he's in and what school he goes to. He answers that he's 11th grade and goes to such and such school. I asked him if he's going to college and what his future goes is. He tells me that he wants to go yet he has not taken the ACT. He also says that he wants to be a NBA star even though he doesn't play for his high school. SMH......I just walk away.

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!!!