There’s something happening to young Black men and it’s something that we can no longer ignore. At least that
Traywick
what recent studies are saying about the state of Black men in America. But you don’t have to go look at a survey or report to understand the numerous crises facing the Black community. Here in Miami-Dade County [M-DC], we only need to look around us. Blacks in general and Black men in particular, are disproportionately effected by unemployment, incarceration, lack of education and health problems. More than half of our young men in M-DC do not complete high school — an even greater percentage find themselves eventually shackled by felony records.
With these kinds of odds facing Black men, the Florida Coalition on Black Civic Participation will host the 2012 Healthy, Wealthy and Wise Mini-Expo and Black
Thomas
Men’s Roundtable on Saturday,
July 28. The event takes place at the Joseph Caleb Center [5400 NW 22nd Avenue] from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Topics will tackle issues that include: defining manhood, criminal justice and domestic violence, jobs and wealth and physical, spiritual and mental health.
“The goal of the expo and roundtable is to bring together national and local experts to educate and uplift underserved men and boys,” said Desmond Meade, chair, Black Men’s Roundtable. “The latest report by the Sentencing Project reveals that 1-in-every-4 Black males in Florida is disenfranchised. Because our Black males are being incarcerated, killed and dropping out of school at an
Handfield
alarming rate, we are an endangered species. That’s why we put this forum together — to be a tool that can empower our men by encouraging dialogue among us.”
Brother, can we talk?
Featured speakers include several Black leaders from the County, including Isiah Thomas, former coach of FIU and NBA Hall of Famer; Circuit Court Judge Daryl Traywick; City of Miami police officer and head of the homicide division, Sgt. Ervens Ford; and actor/producer Charles S. Dutton (Rock). They’ll be joined by a host of community activists and politicians — all determined to change the way Black men are viewed and how they live.
Meade
“These are desperate times and a day like this can only help to change things for the better,” Ford said. “But we have to do more than just talk — we have to go to the next phase, develop an action plan and then get moving. If only one or two brothers take our words to heart, then we will have succeeded. Black men put too much responsibility on the women in our lives — our wives, our mothers. We can and must do more and must more of the load on our own shoulders.”
Traywick says he will share his observations from serving as a judge in domestic violence cases.
“A man that beats a woman is not a man — not really,” he said. “And while domestic violence crosses all ethnic boundaries, in the courtroom there is still a larger and unacceptable percentage of black and brown. Much of it stems from the financial pressures placed on families today. The hammer has clearly fallen much heavier on minorities. Men often take their frustrations out on members of their own family.”
Kionne McGhee, a panelist and co-sponsor, says it’s time to dispel negative myths about Black men.
“Society tells us that Black men aren’t educated enough to make sound decisions that will benefit us and those we love,” he said. “We want to show brothers of all ages that this just isn’t true. There are men in our community here in Miami that are excellent examples of overcoming the odds and following the right roads. We have the resources but have never really put them on the table before. The road map of hope, determination and second chances is one that I followed myself. The men that will speak on Saturday all bring different ingredients but I believe that together they can provide the potion we all need to ensure success.”
For information call 305-809-6260. Churches are encouraged to sponsor the men and boys from their communities.
By D. Kevin McNeir
kmcneir@miamitimesonline.com
Freddie
July 26, 2012 at 4:32 pm
I am a 39 year old graduate student that is attempting to take control over my life by reinventing myself, I have a criminal history that the state of Florida is hanging over my head; they won’t stop me because individuals like Desmond Meade and myself are the solution to many of the problems that persist in regards to the Crisis that we face with “Black Men” and we can’t give up; the impact of not allowing individuals to lead and prosper in the same communities that we have once made mistakes is what sets us back because their is a huge disconnect when it comes to big brother little brother, father to son, these are all opportunities for boys to become better men in already depressed communities….the plan is to hamstring all people of color so that they will always appear to be degenerates of society. The system is flawed and prays on the destruction of minorities sometimes even at their own expense—they never speak about rehabilitation because to rehab would be to provide alternatives, assistance, reform, opportunities, forgiveness, fairness, and equality. America has always been about the illusion of the American Dream never will they be the solution to the American Dream, when it comes to the well orchestrated plan to constrain and oppress. Either they are convinced that African Americans are inferior to whites and not worth the assistance or that they are persuaded to think that we are superior and any attempt to treat us fairly will ultimately lead to their own demise or uselessness.
Van Hicks
July 27, 2012 at 4:13 pm
This father should have been there also…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUUUwqQLCFE