I encourage anyone, from all walks of life, all races and creeds to read this.  But…understand this is directed towards my brothers (black men) for the sake of where we stand right now in the world.  I hope these words will at least spark some dialect which can lead to changing some of the crazy issues that I see or hear about every single day.  The picture you see is of Alain Locke, writer of an essay back in the 1920s called “The New Negro”.  Consider this article my rendition of what I call “The Stronger Brother”.  Like the great Chuck D said, I’m just a brother trying to work it out…

So…BROTHERS….I am sick and tired of statistics. We are getting locked up and doing football numbers for all sorts of crimes.  I don’t know what it’s going to take for us, as black men and as a society, to change the prison epidemic in this country.  I fully understand there are laws that have consequences if broken.  But the stats show a disproportionate number of minority men and women locked up.  Prisons are big business, so it’s sad to see how many brothers (and sisters) who are behind bars, because essentially someone is profiting off every single one of us that’s doing time.

There’s a lot more to it than just saying “go to school, get a job, and follow the law”.  And most of us know the reason why we choose to not follow all the rules is because we are trying to better our situation, whether for ourselves or are families.  Our backs are against the wall with a ton of factors that work against us, whether we feel they are intentional or not.  Most schools in the inner city areas are some of the worst in the country.  You’ve got teachers and other staff that are underpaid and could care less about the students.  Poorly funded schools that are surrounded by poor neighborhoods, riddled with guns and drugs (which we now see are getting their way into the schools).  Yes, we all have our own brains and can decide for ourselves right and wrong…But the invisible factors play a major part in these prison statistics.  It’s gotta change.

We, as black men, need to STEP UP to become the leaders we are destined to be.  Especially in our families, we need to lead by example.  That’s one thing I’ve always thought about when I take each step.  I could care less what anyone else thinks of me, outside of my family and my people.  Subconsciously, we know what our potential is, but so many of us fall way too early.  We can’t blame “the man” or “society” any more.  YES, these factors contribute to our current predicament as a whole.  But that’s STILL no excuse to excel in this world!

I want to see change, so I know it all starts with myself and my own thoughts within.  So I’m no longer afraid to speak up about issues that are passionate to me.  We can get caught up with keeping up with everyday activities, that we forget to devote energy to the really important issues.  A lot of us are fathers, and I know you (like me) want to see your seed grow and prosper, far beyond anything you may achieve in your own life.  Our history BEFORE slavery should speak VOLUMES about who we are as a people, so these words are simply a reminder of our greatness.  Let’s remember there’s more to life than just money, fame, and fortune.  These are devilish notions when they dictate everything about you as an individual.  We lost track of the LEGACY we need to leave while we’re here on this Earth…and right now, our legacy is with private prisons.  It’s gotta change..and I sincerely believe it will in due time.  Peace, Respect, and POWER to all my Brothers!!!