Yesterday, names such as the 'City that Breeds' or the 'City that Bleeds', were replaced with its rightful mantra, the 'City that Reads', as City Hall was packed with black leaders from all around the City of Baltimore; and NO there was no fighting, NO one got shot and there were NO big booty women there as the main attraction - as most stereotypical individuals would have you believe. For the only attraction made available to these African American male leaders was to do what was right and to begin taking back our city, one child at a time – though due to the absolute lack of mainstream media you would have never knew such an event took place?
The Greater Baltimore Chapter of the National Action Network, led by former NAACP Baltimore Branch President Marvin ‘Doc’ Cheatham, and Chaired by former state senator and WOLB morning show host Larry Young; brought together some of the areas brightest and most distinguished black leaders in order to participate in Monday’s ‘Men Making a Difference Day’, which will highlight these individuals going to area schools and taking time to read to our most vulnerable citizens – our children. Led by this year’s Honorary Chair, 12th district Councilman Carl Stokes, yesterday’s Press Conference held as a reminder to those involved that this was just the beginning of a greater effort to reinstall pride back into our children’s learning process, as well as being a reminder to all that we have a responsibility to our communities, and our children; greater than that of just caring on with our everyday lives!
“This initiative will allow us to regain the trust of our children, as well as that of our communities, while serving as an ongoing effort of leadership by teaching our younger generation the responsible manners in which got us to where we are today, through hard work and giving back to others,” said Cheatham, who ensured the crowd of fifty plus men that this would not be a one day effort. “We have things planned every other month for our children, such as in April having a ‘Belt and Tie’ day, to teach our children how to tie a tie at an early age, as well as fitting them with a belt so there pants aren’t hanging off their rear ends!” This initiative seemed to inspire some in the crowd, such as Rodney Burris, who believed that it was our jobs as fathers, brothers, mentors and everyday responsible citizens to teach our children the right thing to do – especially counteracting this culture of butt-sagging jeans.
On the day following the death of civil rights icon Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth, whose unfortunate passing seemed to be overshadowed by the untimely death of Apple CEO Steve Jobs; I was astonished that there were not more black men involved with such an initiative – nor any of the usual suspect media outlets who love to portray the black community in such a negative light? “We will not be joined today, or on Monday at the many area schools, by those ‘armchair revolutionaries’, who call up to area radio shows daily or post constantly on Facebook about radical change and blame others for what they’re not doing,” expressed a disappointed Stokes. “Those individuals talk a good game, yet you are the real revolutionists, the ones who are here and step up to do what is right in their community; only if it means reading to a few children for an hour or two!” For this national effort seems to go along way in the lives of many area youth?
Speaking to my 11-year old neighbor, who recently moved to Baltimore from gorgeous Prince George’s, he expressed his gratitude to such an effort, as he was a recipient of the measure last year in his old PG County school; who is the leading jurisdiction beyond Maryland’s movement. “I loved it, as we actually had an elected official come into our class, and ever since that visit I knew what I wanted to be Mr. Hassan – a true statesman, NOT a politician,” expressed Donte, who didn’t know what either, a statesman or a politician, was until that official came in an explained it to him. Yesterday’s launch of the Baltimore effort had only a select few of those elected officials, such as Delegate Keiffer Mitchell, who now serves in the 44th district after once proudly walking the halls of the building we were in. “I have two kids in Baltimore area schools, therefore I feel its an obligation to be involved in young people’s lives and education,” said the architect of the $58-million school deficit debacle of 2004, when as the 4th district councilman, he single-handily saved the area school system with a bailout plan to successfully cover $48-million of that cost with rainy day funds when Mayor O’Malley and Governor Ehrlich were fighting like school children over who would take the lead, and the ultimate responsibility, over such a fixture.
Yet yesterday’s event was covered by many young black leaders such as the 27-year old Democratic nominee of the 2nd council district Brandon Scott, who has no children, yet already has been giving back to the schools in his neighborhood behind the scenes for years. Also, the group was joined by the current youngest councilman in City Hall; Councilman William ‘Bill’ Cole, along with young warrior lawyer J. Wyndal Gordon, the youngest elected Chairman of the nation’s oldest black bar association, the Monumental City Bar Association. The young SCLC Baltimore Chapter President Cortly ‘C.D.’ Witherspoon was present as well, as he leads the group once chaired nationally by the late, great Reverend Shuttlesworth. “As a father of a young one like you Hassan, how could I not be here and be held responsible to giving back to those less fortunate, or even to those who may have a father figure in their lives but need extra role models and/or encouragement,” said Witherspoon.
Each participant was given the same book to read to the children, entitled “Healthy Holly – Exercising is Fun”; which was written but none other than 40th district state senator and Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, Senator Catherine Pugh – who was in D.C. yesterday yet represented by aide Anthony McCarthy. Why this initiative was so important to children and men alike, and the President of 100 Black Men Ray Lucas said it best, “What these children see is what they will be,” cautioned the powerful Lucas. “We cannot expect to do negative things around them and expect them to do different, therefore let’s begin to lead by example so that our children will have a glowing role model to emulate!”
Which telling by the crowd gathered yesterday, Baltimore certainly now has a group of black men that others can emulate, and hold their head up high and say…”We may have our problems, but I know when the going gets rough, these black men will be there!” FMI on this venture you may contact the Greater Baltimore Chapter, National Action Network and its President, Marvin ‘Doc’ Cheatham at: #443-255-6056.
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