Honoring the Life and Legacy of MANDELA

The outpouring for Nelson Mandela is well deserved and uplifting to millions.  I have always admired the courage, dignity, humanity, and African pride that he demonstrated throughout his struggle for freedom in South Africa.  In the mid-eighties and throughout the nineties, I was host of a weekly radio program on WMSP-FM.  From the beginning I started playing a song entitled “Free Nelson Mandela” by the band “The Special AKA.”  The song became an international anthem for the fight to free Nelson Mandela and end Apartheid, the official policy of racial segregation in the Republic of South Africa.  By playing that song every week, I felt like I was a part of the revolution to bring freedom to South Africa and oppressed people the world over.  I remember a friend of mine asking me, “Who is Nelson Mandela?”  She was a fan of my radio program who tuned in every week.  She noticed that I played the song each week, but she confessed to me later, that she didn’t know the first thing about this great man.  I took time during my next show, to explain to all of my listening audience, exactly who Nelson Mandela was and why he was important to us all.

Recently, a co-worker asked me how did this man Nelson Mandela, become an international hero.  I tried my best to explain the character and charisma of this great man.  I did my best to explain his role as a leader in the African National Congress, which fought against apartheid in South Africa.  I did my best to explain the 27 years that he spent in prison, only because he fought for freedom for Black and Brown South Africans.  And finally, I did my very best to explain the role that Nelson Mandela played to avoid a blood-bath in South Africa when he became the countries President.  I don’t think my best explanation was good enough.   How do you explain the greatness of the man?  I must confess, I really don’t know.

South Africa today is not a perfect country.  There is much to be said about the living conditions of millions of Black South Africans, who still live in utter poverty, have a difficult time finding work, and are poorly educated.  Still, South Africa is a far better country today for Black and Brown South Africans then it was 20 years ago.   The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, established under the leadership of Nelson Mandela, is credited with bringing healing and peace to the country.  President Nelson Mandela once said, “We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right.”  He also said, “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”  From the beginning of his struggle for freedom, Nelson Mandela publicly stated that he did not want white domination, and he did not want black domination.  He simply wanted freedom and equality for all.  That is a principle that he lived and died for.  Maybe that is the best way to describe this great man.  South Africa calls him “Madiba.”  I call him “an authentic hero.”   May his presence be felt forever.      

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Student Leadership Development Institute

On November 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd, 2013, I had the awesome pleasure of once again participating in the Annual Robert Lynch Student Leadership Development Institute (SLDI).   The SLDI is a weekend conference for African American college students and other underrepresented groups at Pennsylvania colleges and universities.  The hope is that the participants who attend the SLDI will return to their respective campuses as change agents and trailblazers.   Indeed, many who have attended the SLDI have accomplished this goal.  To prove this point, two of the SLDI keynote speakers Dr, William Davis Jr. and Mrs. Lashonna Smith, are former SLDI participants.   Dr. Davis is an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Counseling at Alvernia University.  Mrs. Smith is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity degree from the interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, GA, and is happily married to Rev. Dr. Jahkimmo Smith, Pastor of Mount Zion AMEC in Southampton, Bermuda.  Both of these speakers along with Dr. Michael Miller, U.S. Ambassador of Adult Education, and Founder of the Beating the Odds Foundation, gave tremendous presentations that touched all in attendance at the SLDI.

This is my 26^th year serving as a workshop presenter for the SLDI.   The SLDI is celebrating 27 years of excellence in developing future leaders.  My wife Patricia has also been a presenter for the past 19 years.  We have celebrated 19 years of wedding anniversaries with the SLDI students and faculty.   We can’t think of a better way to celebrate our love for each other, than to be present at the SLDI and touch some of the past, present and future leaders of this world.   We consider this to be God’s blessing to us.

SLDI is a part of the Black Conference on Higher Education, Inc., which also holds an annual conference for educators and students.  The Conference was established, in 1971, by the HONORABLE k. Leroy Irvis, who was at that time, the Minority Leader and Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.  SLDI grew out of the Black Conference on Higher Education and was guided by Dr. Robert D. Lynch, Assistant to the President, of Lock Haven University.  After his leadership, Mr. Albert W. Jones, a former SLDI participant, and Lock Haven University Administrator, became the SLDI Director.  Mr. Jones announced at this year’s conference that he has accepted a position in private industry and is stepping down as the Director.   He will be a great lost to SLDI, however, we are blessed to have Mrs. Barbara A. Thompson, from Penn State Harrisburg, serve as the new Director of SLDI.   Her experience and long-time leadership position with SLDI makes Mrs. Thompson the best choice to lead this important organization into the future.

I am already looking forward to next year’s SLDI conference.   I know that we have many challenges in our communities.  There are times that seem so dark and bleak that it makes you want to throw-up your hands and just walk away.  The SLDI gives me energy and fuel to take the next step.  It keeps my faith strong and toughens my resolve to stay in the fight.  It reminds me that the fight is worth the battle, the war will be won, education is the key and God is in control.   Onward Ever – Backward Never!   Thank you SLDI!    

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I TOO AM MALALA

Her name is Malala Yousafzai, and she is from Pakistan.  On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, Malala was shot in the face by a Taliban assassin.    She was shot because she spoke out publicly in support of girls going to school to receive an education.   Her crime was clear to the man who shot her.  She was clearly out of her mind to disrespect the rule of the Taliban regime, whose decree said that girls are not allowed to be educated.   Malala, and her family, felt that the Taliban regime was wrong.  At the age of eleven, Malala began to speak out publicly about her desire to receive an education.  She became an international inspiration to millions.    The Taliban, in full view of her classmates, stopped the school bus she was riding and shot Malala at point blank range.   Two of her classmates were also shot, but the Taliban assassins asked for Malala by name, making it clear that she was the intended target.  

Malala survived the attack and lived to tell her story.  She was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, making her the youngest person to ever be nominated.   She didn’t receive the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize, but she did win the hearts of millions who believe in freedom for all.   Her story sparked the “I Too Am Malala” social movement, which I have joined with all the spirit and love I can muster.

     I come from a rich history of people who were told that it was illegal for them to learn to read or write.    Formal education for enslaved Africans was forbidden.  The skill and education that my ancestors brought with them from click here to read more.

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Missing Ava Berg

Ava Berg, the activist Poet and marijuana advocate, has died.  I will miss her.  Ava “The Hip Soul” Berg was a great friend of the Writers Wordshop.  She hardly ever missed a Friday night “Spoken Word Café” sponsored by the Wordshop.  Ava encouraged others to attend, and they followed her to the open reading forum, and lent their voice to the gathering of word masters.  Ava always presented her original poetry and often shared a bit of community news that she felt was important to all present.

 Ava will be missed because she had a voice and she used it.  Her poetry was enlightening, powerful, and humorous.  Whenever Ava “The Hip Soul” performed she just about stole the show.  She called herself the “rapping granny.”  Her poetry was a mix of rap, and social commentary.   Ava was Jewish, but enjoyed interacting with members of the African American Christian community.  Some of her poetry reflected her inner-struggle of faith.  In one of her poems, which tells of her “Toe-Tapping” experience at the City-Wide Revival, she says of Jesus Christ, “That’s not my boss on the cross.”  One of last request was to have her “Home-Going Service at St. Paul’s Missionary Baptist Church”, the place that inspired her poem.  Ava was always pushing the boundaries while making keen observations about race-relations, and social issues.
 
Ava was a major advocate for medical marijuana, and the legalization of marijuana.  Whenever there was a platform, a debate, or political gathering, Ava found a way to introduce the subject of marijuana.  She had a voice and she used it.  Ava spoke-up.  She was intelligent, well informed, and passionate about her views.  She didn’t mind if you disagreed with her, but she wanted an intelligent, informed discussion on the subject, not just raw emotion.  I admired that about her.  She was a breath of fresh air.  She was different.  She was a child of the universe.  She was a voice crying out, and she was heard.  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “If a man is not willing to stand for something, he will fall for anything.”   Ava stood tall for the issues she believed in.   She was a great example of one small voice, one small soul, that lived one big life, just by using her God-given voice.  Rest in Peace, my friend!    

The life of Ava Berg was celebrated in a very special  Poetry Reading on Friday, September 13^th, at the Mid-Town Scholar Bookstore, 3^rd & Verbeke Streets, Harrisburg.  The program featured Carla Christopher, Poet Laureate of York, PA, and Host of the “Culture & Main” TV program.  

Blessings!
Dr. Nate Gadsden
Author, Motivational Speaker, Poet

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Lessons Learned

On Sunday, July 28th, my son and daughter-in-law, David and Shimera Gadsden, were honored by the Pennsylvania Family Coalition as Steelton, PA’s “Parents of the Year.” I was very proud of the both of them, because I know how difficult it has been for them to be young struggling parents. The thing that made this honor even more special is that they were honored by Harrisburg City Councilmen, Kelly Summerford, who observed the love and care that David and Shimera have given to all three of their children, especially little David Jr., who was born with multiple physical disabilities. Although little David is three years old, he has heart problems, eye problems, limit speech ability and has to walk with a walker. I remember thinking that David and Shimera represent the real Hero’s in our community. They are among the people who can show unconditional love to the most needy in our community, day-in and day-out, and not give up.

I learned something about myself during this wonderful event that honored David and Shimera, and many other worthy parents who love unconditionally. I learned that I complain too much about small, unimportant things. I learned that there are people around me every day, who truly make a difference in this world, but never get credit. I learned that there are so many people around me every day that could use my help and not my pity. I learned that I can do more for the “least of these” as God requires, and I can start today, with the people I know and love, and the strangers reaching out to me.

Blessings!
Dr. Nate Gadsden
Author, Motivational Speaker, Poet

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Go For Greatness!

Peacocks strut because they can’t fly – fly like an Eagle!

At some point, help becomes a handicap!

Sometimes you can be so open-minded, your brains fall out!

Life is a perpetual audition.    Always be prepared to shine!

If you’re going to stand, stand.  If you’re going to sit, sit, but don’t wobble.

When you know better, you should do better!

A winner knows what to do when he or she is losing!

YCDA (You can do anything).   The question should be, is it worth trying to do, not should it be done?

A problem is a chance for you to do your best.

Insanity is doing the same thing the same way and expecting different results.

You only know what you give, not what they get.   Always give your best!

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