Mass Incarceration is NOT the Answer

She is passionate, informed, beautiful, and brilliant, and she wants to end mass incarceration of people of color.   She wants to end the pipeline from school to prison.  No, she doesn’t want to reform the systems that incarcerate people of color at a disproportionate rate she wants to dismantle the systems!   And, I agree with her.  Her name is Rev. Dr. Madeline McClennely-Sadler, founder of the Exodus Foundation, Inc.   Dr. Sadler recently was a guest of Messiah College, in Pennsylvania, where she spoke on the issue of Mass Incarceration of people of color.   She also requested to meet with local clergy from the Greater Harrisburg Community, especially those from the African American Community.   She left us with a great sense of urgency to do something, anything to end this flawed, unjust system of modern-day-slavery.   She stated what most of us know, but don’t seem to think it is an epidemic.   She said that one out of every three black boys living today will spend time in the prison system.  Their lives will be greatly impacted by the system.  The damage that the system will do to their families for generations to come cannot be measured.  Their quality of life will often be impacted by the types of employment they will be limited to.   Their self-esteem will often lead to poor decisions.   The system of mass incarceration is devastating communities of color!   The epidemic is not being televised!

There are many things that can be done to change this downward spiral of destruction for people of color.   We have to vote!  If we want people in office that understand the issues that matter to us, then we have to get rid of all excuses about “The Man” and march to the polls in record numbers.   Once we elect the persons that we think should represent us, we must support them and hold them accountable.  Tavis Smiley put together the “Blueprint” years before President Obama was elected.  Once Smiley began to ask the tough questions of President Obama, Black folks turned against him.  They said that Smiley was jealous of the President.  In the meantime, the African American community continued to suffer from high unemployment, poor educational systems, poverty and mass incarceration.   President Obama was pulled in many different directions and he had a tough job to say the least.   I truly believe that if the African American Community had pulled and pushed a little harder on the Presidents coat-tail, I think we could have gotten more out of his leadership to benefit our community.

The other thing we can do is support our Black Churches.  Attend church and contribute your time, talent and resources to the Gospel that commands us to feed the hungry, cloth the naked, heal the sick and visit the incarcerated.   If we as a community do the work of the Church we would have fewer people going into the system.  Instead of tearing down the Church and the people of the Church, get off your pride and join the fight!   We need more “Doer’s” in the African American Community and fewer “Jack-leg Social Commentators” who get nothing done!   If we had more “Doer’s” we would have more mentors, intact families, better schools, engaged churches, more black businesses and less incarceration.   The more we do for ourselves on the front end, the less we have to undo on the back end.   It seems to me that the back end is getting more and more like the system of Slavery for people of color.   We have to stop the madness before we transition to a time that we thought was long forgotten, a time called “Dixie!”

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Why Black History Month?

The question is asked time-and-time again, by whites who could care less, and blacks who want to forget, "Is Black History Month necessary?  I always respond with a resounding “Yes!!”   The thought that this has to even be asked and answered makes me sick!  I can’t on any level understand how anyone could dare ask the question.  Consider the level of “historical understanding” that far too many of our Black Youth have today about their own history.  It is, to say the least, a disgrace and a sad reality that does not speak-well for the future success of our people.   Studies have shown that the current generation of young African Americans may less-educated, and more economically challenged than their elders.   The prospect of returning to enslavement is a possibility for our people if we are not mindful and on-guard.  This time our enslavement will look like the “prison industrial complex”; economic debt, lack of technical knowledge, and lack of spiritual development.  I am a hard-and-fast believer that the African American Church, National Black Organizations, Black Colleges and Universities, and the Black Press made it possible for the Black race to advance and rise above Slavery and Jim Crow Laws.  If we allow ourselves to forget how we “got-over” I fear we are doomed to return to the “dark-past” of our history.   Consider This: “Segregation was a contemptible way of life that institutionalized humiliation at every level of day-to-day commerce.  A Black-owned railroad project was launched, for example, but could not long sustain itself against increasingly insurmountable roadblocks to its operation.  But no matter the obstacle, Black entrepreneurs and investment groups continued to mount major efforts to turn a lemon of a situation into the lemonade of business advantage…..”   “When questions are raised on the quality of Black business leadership, the answer is that regardless of the odds against us, African-American business has been and remains a major source of achievement and innovation.”   (Glory Days: 365 Inspired Moments in African-American History – by Janus Adams; Harper Collins Publishers).
 
We must never forget the struggle, the sacrifice, and the progress that we have made as a people.  Black History is not to be remembered only during the month of February, but every day of the year.  We must celebrate our history in such a way that our youth will learn, be inspired, and try to up-hold the forward progress of our people.   We can’t afford to allow anyone or anything to deter us from knowing and growing further away from all forms of slavery and ignorance.  Should we celebrate Black History?  Yes we should!   We must celebrate Black History every day and in every way!   By the way, I believe in learning about all races, cultures and ethnic groups.  In celebrating world  history it makes us stronger as ONE!      

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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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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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