graduation (2)

Don't Forget the Achievers

In recent weeks we have seen the stories of the deadly confrontations between young Black men and law enforcement all over this country.  And in Baltimore we saw the anger and frustration of some of its residence manifest itself in the destruction of their own neighborhood.  I have heard some commentators opine that these actions are the result of institutional failures of government and business to address the systemic problems Blacks, and in particular, young Black males, face everyday in their communities.

 

There is no doubt that the concerns are real and they have to be addressed, but it is also true that sometimes a thug is just a thug.  You can try to deflect responsibility, but the reality is that some people make the conscious decision to be unlawful.  So when some try to give these thugs a pass, what they do is divert attention from those young Black people who have chosen to do it the right way.

 

This is graduation season, and we have more Black men and women graduating from college than at any other time in history.  They have chosen to be more.  And it is hoped that them being more will allow of us all to be more.  We need to congratulate these students who didn’t take the easy way out.  Those who put in the effort to obtain an education.  And while they may not quite understand the importance of their achievement today, it is certain that their educational achievement will have a positive impact on their communities.

 

So if you see someone who is graduating college, congratulate them for persevering.  And thank them for choosing to affect change in a positive and constructive manner.

 

SAM

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Give a young adult a book for self reflection and self improvement this upcoming holiday season! Find info on Iseecolor African American Books Group or kamalinspires.comAuthor Kamal Imani is a youth educater and mentor who assist troubled teens from New Jersey's urban areas, which include foster and group homes, with both academics as well as issues of self esteem, focus, future focusing and overall social skills. Although it is challenging at times, this is where his heart is at. He is also a Spoken Word poet, Hip Hop lyricist and music producer and was once a teenager who lost many of his close friends to the streets in which they hung out in. He knows how to identify, communicate and build relationships with our youth. In his small, but to the point book, he provides basic information, education and coping skills that will open up dialogue with our youth.Share "You Got Next" with a young adult in your life and use it as a tool to open up dialogue in the various subjects of anger,sex, drugs, peer pressure, dating, marriage and more!http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1460505?ce=blurb_ew&utm_source=widgetLet's Talk About Drugs, Gangs & Peer Pressue! You Got Next! Real Talk For The Hip Hop Generation (Promo Video)! Let's talk about Sex! (An excerpt from the book "You Got Next" book,gift,teen,youth,african,american,nonfiction,inspiration,self,reliance,gangs,sex,drugs,peerpressure,education,philosohpy,mentoring,teacher,selfesteem,graduation,college,highschool,bloods,crips,oprah,malcolm,x,
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