education 4 all involved parent magazine, winter wishes for a successful year, vol 3, no 3
DESCRIPTION
Parenting tips related to early childhood, special education, parent conferences, fitness, winter family activities, and more!!! For additional resources, visit: www.education4allinc.com.TRANSCRIPT
Involved Parent Magazine
Winter Wishes for a Successful Year!
Winter 2015 Vol. 3, No. 3
Education 4 All’s mission is to help teens and adults be their best at home, school,
work, and in the community!
Education is a life-long process. Our customizd individual and group training
sessions provide evidence-based strategies which can easily be incorporated into
your existing personal and professional environment.
4 places are impacted most by human behavior and interaction: home, school,
work, and the community.
All teens and adults can be their best when they have the appropriate tools and
strategies to do so.
For more information, to schedule individual and group training sessions, and/or
make a tax-deductible donation, please visit: www.education4allinc.com.
© 2015. This magazine is produced through Education 4 All, Inc. P.O. Box
38722; St. Louis, MO 63138. No parts of this magazine are to be copied or printed
without express written permission. For permission, please contact the authors or
Dr. Carletta D. Washington at: [email protected].
For advertising, please contact Dr. Carletta D. Washington by March 14, 2015, to
be included in our Spring 2015 issue: [email protected].
If you would like to submit an article for our April 1, 2015 edition, please contact:
[email protected] and be prepared to submit your article no later than
March 14, 2015.
Table of Contents
Thank You & 2015 Updates! By Dr. Carletta D. Washington The New Year is Here! By Tierra Gerdine I’m Determined to be Somebody, Someday By Dr. Shonta Smith Shut “Worry” Down By Curlie McCalla Family Winter Activities By Angie Sievers Including Your Child in Parent Teacher Conferences By Billie Mathews Eating Your Way out of Obesity By Kem Smith Let’s Support Our Young People! By Lydia Douglas “My Child Doesn’t Need an IEP Anymore” By Esthere Scott Saving Black Males By Charlotte Petty Sports & Politics Coexisting By Robert Jackson
Thank You &
2015 Updates!
~Dr. Carletta D. Washington Author, Speaker, Consultant
www.education4allinc.com
As many of you are aware, Education 4 All, Inc.
undergoes a few changes each year in order to
better serve you! Before revealing the changes,
I want to thank each and every one of you for
your support—including those who are
relatively new to the Education 4 All, Inc.
family!
Your encouragement, e-mail replies, attendance
at events, calls during our radio show, responses
to our parent magazine articles, and financial
support via donations and advertising are greatly
appreciated! Your help is extremely important
in our mission to help teens and adults be their
best at home, school, work, and in the
community!
Education 4 All Involved Parent Magazine. As you know, the magazine is produced on a
quarterly basis, from July through June. Our
articles focus on parenting issues such as early
childhood, special education, college
preparation, family fun, sports, fitness,
relationships, encouragement, and budgeting.
The only update for 2015 is that resources for
parents and families are NOW posted
throughout the magazine for a more traditional
magazine layout. If you have a product or
service that can benefit parents and/or families,
contact me to discuss ad sizes and rates:
Education 4 All Radio Show. There are 3
changes regarding our weekly radio program.
1. Education 4 All Radio Show NOW airs
each Sunday evening from 6:00 – 6:30
pm CST, beginning Sunday, January 4,
2015.
2. Our radio show’s theme music is NOW
Mr. Willie Moore, Jr.’s song Favor on
You! We are grateful for his support!
3. Education 4 All Radio Show NOW
focuses solely on parenting and
education topics, which will help
parents to prepare their children for
academic success.
Listen LIVE and share your question/comment
during each broadcast by dialing: (646) 595-
4481. Or, listen LIVE and catch replays 24/7:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/education-4-all-
inc1.
If you want to be considered as a guest for the
Education 4 All Radio Show, please contact me:
If you want to advertise a product/service that
can benefit parents and/or families, contact me:
Education 4 All, Inc. Website. Our website
promises to be more user-friendly! Be sure to
visit our site for updates beginning mid-January:
https://www.education4allinc.com!
1. Because we value your time, our
programs, services, resources, and how
you can be of assistance is NOW listed
under each of the 4 specific areas
impacted by our mission: home, school,
work, and community!
2. Individuals, businesses, and community
groups are NOW able to post
scholarships, internships, community
service opportunities, employment
leads, as well as photos of their star
parents, students, schools, and educators to our Twitter, Instagram, Face Book,
and Linked In pages! Your postings will
be shared with Education 4 All parents
and families through our social media
and also considered for posting on our
website for FREE!
Thank you and we look forward to your continued support in 2015!
The New Year is Here!
~Tierra Gerdine
Every December, I get into what I like to
call the "new me mode." I get so excited
because the year is coming to a close, and a
new one is about to begin!
It's so easy to develop a list of things that
we want to accomplish, but it's a lot
harder to follow through consistently to
meet those accomplishments. So I ask
everyone reading this article, what is it that
you want to change in 2015? What does it
take to get what you want? It is realistic?
Does it cost a lot of money? Will it cost you
a lot of time? Will it cause you stress? These
are all very important questions to ask
yourself as you make your New Year’s
Resolution.
The top 10 New Year’s Resolutions according to www.statisticbrain.com are:
1. Lose weight
2. Get organized
3. Spend less, save more
4. Enjoy life to the fullest
5. Stay fit and healthy
6. Learn something exciting
7. Quit smoking
8. Help others in their dreams
9. Fall in love
10. Spend more time with family
Are any of these goals similar to what
you're wanting for 2015? If so, it would be
beneficial to choose your goal, and make it
more specific as it relates to your life.
Furthermore, you'll want to add specific
dates to help the goals become more
manageable. Another tip would be to accept
any progress that you make. It's very easy to
get discouraged with what might be
considered minimal progress, but DON’T!
My goal is to pay off debt by getting
ahead on bills. Therefore, I'm choosing to
have a small amount deposited into a
savings account specifically for achieving
this goal. If this, too, is something that you'd
like to try, decide what amount you can
afford to have deposited into a special
account and start paying down your debt! I
know that if the money was deposited into
my checking account, I would spend it
because it's attached to my debit card. It's
the little things that we can do to start seeing
the big changes that we want.
To further help you stay consistent with
your New Year’s goals, complete this 5
question exercise, and feel free to share it
with your family and friends to help them
achieve what they want as well.
1. What is it that I want to accomplish in
2015?
2. Why do I want to accomplish these
goals? (Will they help me to travel more,
work less, provide for my family, etc.?) Let
this be what drives you to finish your goals.
3. What date(s) do I want to accomplish my
goals?
4. What resources do I need to accomplish
my goals?
5. Who can I trust in my life to share my
goals with, and receive motivation and
encouragement in accomplishing my goals?
Completing this quick exercise will help
you get started with achieving your New
Year’s Resolution goals. Feel free to
develop other questions that'll help you to
better reach your goals.
I wish everyone a Happy New Year!
I’m Determined to be
Somebody, Someday!
~Dr. Shonta M. Smith
www.drshontasmith.com
Recently, I watched a movie about Dr.
Vernon Johns. The movie was life
changing. It made me reflect on how we
interact with our children and what we teach
them. Parents, my question to you is quite
simple: What are you teaching your
children? Do your children know who they
are? Do they know their history? Can they
depend on you to love, honor, respect, and
protect them? Are you willing to make
sacrifices so your children can live, love and
enjoy life?
When I was in high school, I had the honor
and privilege of knowing Carol Richardson.
Mrs. Richardson was a woman of
distinction. She was an English teacher who
made quite the impression. Everything
about Mrs. Richardson was awesome! The
way she walked, talked, smiled, just
everything she did let you know she was
genuinely concerned about your wellbeing.
Although Mrs. Richardson was not my
teacher, she was one of my role models.
She inspired and encouraged me to be the
best I can be. Parents, I ask that you do the
same. You can start by sharing these
inspirational words that Mrs. Richardson
shared with me.
~Continued on next page…
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Look at me! I’m Black, and I’m Proud.
Proud, because we have come from what
some considered as nothing.
Society has counted us
the least among the successful;
But, yet and still
I’M DETERMINED TO BE
SOMEBODY, SOMEDAY!
The present conditions and
dark circumstances
May make it appear that
I have not a chance:
The odds may be against me,
this fact I admit,
I haven’t much to boast of
just a little faith, and grit;
I’M DETERMINED TO BE
SOMEBODY, SOMEDAY!
There’s no royal blood
a coursing in my veins;
I haven’t had a chance as others have had,
My living conditions have been kind a bad;
But, it makes no difference
what folks think or say,
I’M DETERMINTED TO BE
SOMEBODY, SOMEDAY!
Some may think that I have made
a poor start,
Well, maybe I have, but I’ll handle the part;
At the end of each round, I’ll be on my feet,
For there’s something in me
that’s hard to beat;
The fight may be tough, but I’m in it to stay,
I’M DETERMINED TO BE
SOMEBODY, SOMEDAY!
There’s really somewhere I would like to go,
There’s truly some things
that I’d like to know
There are certainly some things
that I’d like to see,
And something special I’d like to be;
Let others do as they will or may,
But, as for me,
I’VE JUST GOT TO BE
SOMEBODY, SOMEDAY!
As a member of a once down-trodden race,
To the courts of Heaven,
I’ve appealed my case;
I know that God is the judge on the bench,
Tho’ some may curse, deride and lynch;
My blood will cry from the ground and say,
Tho’ you slay me,
I’LL BE SOMEBODY, SOMEDAY!
My head may be bloody and
my skin may be black,
But nothing shall throw me off the track;
I’ll climb the ladder, round by round,
Until my feet strike higher ground;
And when I’m done,
just remember what I say,
I’M DETERMINED TO BE
SOMEBODY, SOMEDAY!
***
Parents, let your children
know they are
SOMEBODY, TODAY!
“I’m Determined to be Somebody, Someday”
Shut “Worry” Down
~Curlie McCalla
Relationship Expert
What worries you, masters you ~ unknown
This was a revelation I had to face head on
when I was caught in a downward spiral of
worry and disillusion. I could not get out of
my own head for what seemed to be an
eternity. I would analyze the same scenario
again and again and came back no further
ahead. This lasted for weeks; I could not
think about anything else. I felt lost, stuck,
and powerless. Have you ever been there?
Not knowing how to move forward.
Thankfully after reclaiming my mind from
my own insanity—with the help of spiritual
guidance and a quest for knowledge and
understanding—I was able to pick myself
up, brush myself off, and create a solution.
Here are a few things I learned along the
way about the tormentor called “worry” and
how I was able to disable it once and for all.
Worry is a disease of the mind. It is not
natural. We were not born with it. We
picked it up somewhere along the way and
continued to entertain it as a welcomed
guest. This guest can severely harm our
health, destroy our goals and our dreams. In
reality, if prolonged—can kill us!
Worry is really just a bad habit. It is
caused when we are looking into the future
and becoming anxious about how things
may or may not turn out. It is most likely
disguised as fear. What is the point of
worry? If you cannot help worrying,
worrying cannot help you. Not dealt with in
a timely manner, can cause us to become
mentally, emotionally, and physically
paralyzed.
The following steps are some of the
strategies I used to rid myself of this
paralysis.
1. Sit quietly and relax… slow down
and be still.
2. Ask yourself, “Why am I worried?”
Wait for the answer.
3. Once you get the answer, identify a
course of action… then, apply it.
4. Believe that you will achieve the
outcome that you desire.
5. Then, detach yourself from the
outcome, believing that it will work
out.
6. If it doesn’t work out the way you
thought, just accept it.
7. Observe the situation and notice your
emotional response to it.
8. Deal with the next level of problems,
which comes by finding the next best
solution available, apply it, and wait
for the results.
9. Continue to keep your desires in
focus without attachment to the
outcome.
10. After all of it is finished, evaluate the
situation and be grateful for the
opportunity it gave you to grow.
These are some simple ways to rid yourself
of worry and free your mind to be the master
to create wonderful experiences and enjoy
an amazing life!
Family Winter Activities
~Angie Sievers
Founder/President
The St. Louis Cooks
www.thestlouiscooks.com
Do you have the Winter Blues? It happens
to all of us, but just because there’s less
light, it doesn’t mean we have to hibernate
until the spring! Take advantage of the
colder months, and spend some quality
family time together.
I’ve compiled a list of 35 Winter Activities
that are fun and many are FREE! See how
many you can cross off your to-do list this
season!
1. Build a Snowman
2. Teach your kids to Sew/Knit or take
a class at a local craft store
3. Play Snow Soccer or your favorite
sport, but be sure to use a colored
ball
4. Have a Puzzle Day
5. Go Roller Skating
6. Go Ice Skating
7. Visit the Art Museum - FREE
family Sundays
8. Have a Movie Marathon Day
9. Scavenger Hunt – inside or outside
10. Build Forts together – inside or
outside
11. Go Bowling
12. Make Paper Snowflakes
13. Play your favorite board games
14. Visit the library – read some books
15. Visit some smaller towns in the
metro area – Kimmswick, St.
Charles; Belleville, IL; and so on.
16. Make Snow Angels
17. Have a Snowball fight
18. Make ice cream using the snow
19. Shovel the driveway together
20. Make a Birdfeeder
21. The Science Center is a great place
to visit in winter time
22. Visit the Museum of Transportation
23. Throw a dance party – get out the
costumes and have some fun
24. Bundle up and visit the Zoo – the
winter can be the best time to see lots
of animals and ditch the big crowds
25. Go see a local play or show at the
Kirkwood Theatre or Webster
Theatre
26. Make Hot Chocolate – one of our
favorite things about the Winter
season
27. Have breakfast for dinner – switch
things up from the same routine
~Continued on next page…
28. Take a horse-drawn carriage ride in
the snow or in downtown St. Louis
29. Check out the Bald Eagles on the
Great River Road or the Eagle Meet
and Greet
30. Have a pajama day which includes
Mom and Dad too
31. Visit the Majic House – Friday
Nights are FREE family nights
32. Loop Ice Carnival – January 17 in
the Delmar loop - FREE
33. Have a finger foods kind of day
34. Cook a meal together
35. Last, but definitely not least—bake
cookies
There are so many fun activities that you
can do together as a family, but probably
one of the easiest is cooking or baking. Winter time is really a great time to involve
the family in the kitchen. Give each child a
special job or task for whatever you are
making. Pull out the aprons, have some fun,
play your favorite tunes, and get a little
messy!
Recipe Ideas:
The St. Louis Cooks are always adding new
recipes to our website. Recently, we added a
great slow cooker potato soup that I would
highly recommend this winter season.
http://thestlouiscooks.com/2014/12/01/crock
-pot-potato-soup/
May you all have a fun-filled family Winter
Season! The St. Louis Cooks
Join Host Dr. Carletta D. Washington
Sundays, 6:00 – 6:30 pm CST
LIVE Listener Call-in: (646) 595-4481
To listen online and catch replays 24/7, visit:
www.education4allinc.com
Including Your Child in Parent
Teacher Conferences
~Billie G. Mathews,
B.A., M.A., PhD (ABD)
Professional Development
Curriculum Development
505 617-0543
By this point in the school year, most
schools have held their first official Parent
Teacher conference. I often wonder why the
conferences are called Parent Teacher when
the Student is actually the center of the
event. My best memories surrounding
conferences occurred in a charter school
where the conferences were called Student
Directed Conferences. Regardless of how
the conferences are identified by name,
there are still ways that parents/families
can attend a conference for their child
and keep it student centered.
The end-of-grading period conference is
usually announced by invitation from the
school and/or teacher. This
invitation/information can be disseminated
through flyers, notes, invitation, and phone
calls. Conference information should
include details about the timing and goals of
the conference, as well as alternative
scheduling options. Whether or not the
conference is identified specifically as a
conference involving or including the
student, parents/families should make
arrangements to have their child attend
with them.
The setting for conferences is usually
organized by the school and/or the teacher.
This setting is merely a small snapshot of
the entire educational picture. Your child’s
teacher should be prepared to review student
data, assignments, and assessments during
the conferences. As a teacher, I focus on
what I can learn about my students based on
parental/family input. The data and
information on paper are often secondary
to the relationship that can be formed
through establishing a rapport with the
student and his or her family.
Making the most of Parent Teacher
Conferences involves links to learning. This means centering the communication
around the discussion of strategies to
support student learning. As a parent, your
knowledge and suggestions for how your
child learns is key. This is an important
discussion to have, especially in your child’s
presence.
During and following the conference, the
student/parent/teacher team should
describe how communication will
continue. Schedule a way to follow up after
your conference. Remember,
communication is key.
Eating Your Way out of
Obesity
~Kem Smith
www.kissfitnessstudio.com
www.kemsmith.com
It’s estimated that 40% of Americans
make New Year’s Resolutions. While
almost 189 million people set goals, only
about 8% of people actually accomplish
their goals. You may be thinking to yourself
in this new year that it would be a great time
to jumpstart your fitness goals. And, you
are right! A new year is a great time to
jumpstart a new lifestyle.
If you want to be one of the 15 million
people who are successful at accomplishing
their New Year’s goals, you may want to
know what diet is best for your New Year’s
Resolution: Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers,
Dr. Oz’s, a juice fast, Herbalife? I have
been working in the industry for some time
now and I have personally tried most of the
hottest diets and had positive results from
each. While I neither condemn nor condone
either of these diets, I support the concept of
learning how to eat.
My goal as a fitness and nutrition coach is
to teach you how to fix your broken diet
and fitness plan. It starts with admitting
the truth. I typically have my clients write a
letter similar to this one.
Dear Body,
I’m sorry I’ve treated you this way,
feeding you the wrong foods and not
taking care of you. I promise to do
better and get you back to the best
shape and fitness level you deserve.
I understand that this commitment to
you will take time. I will make a
plan and stick to it, even when I am
tempted to take shortcuts with diets,
pills, and surgeries, I understand
that exercising and eating right is the
best way. I will F.O.C.U.S.--follow
one course of action until success.
Sincerely,
Me
In the letter, the client commits himself or
herself to do better. With the plethora of
information regarding food, how does one
make the best decision? The United States
Department of Agriculture stepped in to help
in 1992 when it created the USDA Food
Pyramid. Because of its ease of use, the
pyramid was widely adopted and considered
the gold standard in nutritional advice.
However, due to misinformation, the food
pyramid was revised in 2005.
For anyone who is looking for current
information regarding what should be on
plates at dinnertime, here is a reference:
~Continued on next page…
Additionally, there are five healthy habits
that everyone who is committed to losing
weight should adhere to if they are
committed to long-term success.
Habit 1: Eat slowly and stop at 80% full.
Check in with hunger, sit down, relax, and
take your time. 15-20 minutes for a meal is
about right. Make sure to stop when you are
about 80% full.
Habit 2: Eat protein dense foods with
each meal.
Are you about to eat at least one palm-sized
portion of protein dense food? Women get 1
palm-sized portion and men get 2 palm-
sized portions.
Habit 3: Eat vegetables with each meal.
Are you about to eat a large portion of
veggies? They can be prepared any way you
like. One serving is about 1 fist-sized
portion and you should try to eat a few
portions per meal.
Habit 4: For fat loss, eat a majority of
other carbohydrates after exercise.
If you have fat to lose but haven’t just
worked out, eat less pasta, bread, rice and
other starchy carbs. Opt for a double
serving of veggies instead. If you have just
worked out, a mix of carb sources is fine.
Remember, you have to earn a carb.
Habit 5: Eat healthy fats daily.
Today you need some fats from various
foods, prioritizing whole food sources like
eggs, meats, fish, olives, nuts, and seeds.
Spread these throughout the day.
***
Introducing these 5 Healthy Habits and
ensuring that you have a thorough
understanding of how and what to eat is the
best way to begin a new year!
Take your Sexy Back in 2015!
Let’s Support Our Young
People!
~Lydia Douglas
www.booksbylydia.com
A lot has happened in the previous year, but
we are still here. We are given another
chance, each and every day to get things in
order. And by no means, should we forget
our young people.
Even though we do not do all that is right at
all times, we must learn from our mistakes.
We are given another chance to make things
better and different…not just for ourselves.
We have the opportunity to reach out and
help others as well.
Our young people should be at the top of our
priority list. Let’s reach out and let them
know that we love them and care for them.
Let’s set an example for our young people.
After all, they are watching us. We can show
them and tell them they do have a voice and
it does count; however, it has to be done in
the right way. As a result, they will gain a
different perspective, and will be able to
move on with their dreams and goals.
God did not bring our young people this far
to leave them. God did not tell us this road
would be easy; instead, He promised never
to leave us, nor forsake us.
The experience God allows us to have in
raising our children, enables us to reach out
to other young people on a unique level. As
a result, we are able to support all young
people in whatever direction they choose to
go…as long as it is in the path which is best
for them.
Our young people need to find the path that
is right for them. Then, they will give it
100%, making us very proud of them. Our
job is to provide our young people with
help, support, and encouragement. As they
are reaching higher heights, they will be
comfortable in choosing the path which is
right for them.
We have some very intelligent young
people, particularly when it comes to this
world of technology in which we live.
However, we, as adults, still need to stand
by them and support them—especially in
their decision making. They must know that
they have adult support and that there are
adults whom they can trust.
Yes, we are thankful for our young people
because one day they will be making
decisions for us. We must be very proud of
them for what they are doing and are going
to do in the future.
We need to encourage them to stay on the
right path and let them know that education
is the key to opening the door to any path
they choose.
We all have a gift and we are to support
each other. When we let our young people
know we are proud of them, they will
continue to give their best!
Flat Out TV signs on with
Major Christian Cable Network TBN
St. Louis native and former R&B crooner turned
faith-based artist is gearing up to be
the next Tyler Perry.
Willie Moore, Jr. is the founder and servant leader
of the youth empowerment movement
Young Fly & Saved. In 9 Months he has licensed
his show on 3 different television networks:
NRB (Direct TV)
KTV (Dish Network)
TBN's Juce TV
For more information, visit:
www.williemoorejr.org
See Previously Recorded Episodes: NRB Network, Direct
TV Channel 378 and KTV, Channel 278 on Dish
Network
“I am extremely excited
about the opportunity to
bring our content
to the masses.
God is leading and we are
riding. We do what we can
and he does
what we can’t.
I’m grateful! Flatout”
***
Flat Out TV is a fun,
inspiring, faith-based
talk show with
celebrity guests, comedy,
music videos, and
much, much more!
***
With over 60 Million
weekly viewers on Juce
TV, Willie is sure to
make impact with people
of all colors, creed, and
economic backgrounds
all across the
USA and abroad.
Inspire. Influence. Unite.
“My Child Doesn’t Need an IEP
Anymore”
~Esthere Scott, Ed.S. Parents and guardians tell me this numerous
times, especially if their child is in a new
school district or having a really great year.
It is important for parents to know and
understand that an Individualized Education
Plan/Program (IEP) is meant to enable their
child to achieve. There is a good chance that
their child’s success is due to the supports
mentioned in the IEP.
I have also experienced instances in which
parents registered their child in a new school
and did not identify their student as having
an IEP. Unfortunately, the student’s IEP
needs are either discovered much later
through working with him or her, or when a
suspension occurs.
Many parents fear that an IEP puts an
unnecessary label on their child and prevents
him or her from having a “fresh start”; in
actuality, this is meant to protect the student.
Identifying the student as having an IEP,
allows the school and the special education
team to begin looking at what services will
look like for that particular student.
Perhaps, you are still not convinced that
your child should still have an IEP. Well,
here are some options that you have as the
parent:
1) Revoke/refuse IEP services from
school. This will require a written
letter stating your wishes and a
signature (You will receive a copy.)
verifying that you wish to end
services. Your child may also wish
to do this when he/she becomes 18
years old.
2) Have your child retested to see if
his or her IEP is still necessary. As
a parent, you can write a letter or call
the school to state that you would
like your child to be tested by the
school district’s psychological
examiner. This process with take
about 2 months to complete. The
results will be shared with you via a
scheduled meeting.
Whatever route you choose, ensure that you
are making an informed decision regarding
your child’s education. Wrightslaw
(http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/iep.index.
htm) is a website dedicated to offering
helpful solutions to parents regarding the
evaluation process, IEP’s, and information
to help parents make informed decisions. As
a special educator, I want parents to be
equipped with the most helpful and
beneficial information for their child.
Whether you and/or your child decide to
keep services or terminate them, ensure that
you have all the facts before making a final
decision.
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Saving Black Males
~Charlotte Petty
I estimate that in the 12 years that I have taught
at the college level, I’ve taught over 2,000
students and approximately 1 to 2% of those
students have been black males. Recently, I met
one of my former black male students in a
meeting on campus regarding the university’s
diversity efforts. He came across as intelligent
and very accomplished. He now works for a
local corporation that is partnering with the
university in its diversity initiatives. The thought
of having had just a small part in his education
made me very proud! When he told me he really
appreciated what he learned in my course, it
gave me a renewed sense of the importance
regarding the work that I do. This interaction
made me think all the more about the plight of
young black men in America—specifically in St.
Louis—and how they are taught to deal with the
pressures of being black men and dealing with
the police, in particular.
To replay the sadness, absurdities, indignities,
anger, hopes, injustices and more regarding the
August 2014 shooting in Ferguson and similar
incidents around America, is not the point of my
article, but rather how black males might avoid
potential confrontations with the police. No
matter who is to blame, what do we need to
teach black males—without hampering their
rights or freedom—that will help them to avoid
problems during such interactions? Here are
some suggestions I found.
In a blog post on www.gawker.com in a piece
titled “What Black Parents Tell Their Sons
About Police,” one parent says:
“Don't wear a hoodie. Don't try to
break up a fight. Don't talk back to cops. Don't
ask for help. But they're all variations of a single
theme: Don't give them an excuse to kill you.”i
In another post on the same site, another parent
says:
“My black son – I have always taught
him to treat the police the same way he would a
Klansman, because in parts of the south where
he grew up, they were often the same. He is
taught to interact with them as little as possible.
Get stopped for a traffic violation: Use your
Sunday school manners. Keep your hands where
they can be seen and above all else, do not
argue. My daddy passed on that lesson to me,
and sadly, if I have grandchildren, it seems they
too will have to get this same, dirty lesson.”ii
Personally, I hate the idea that we should have to
teach our children not to interact with the police
because really the police are there to help and
assist us. In communities where there is
effective policing, the police interact with young
people in a positive way. They get to know
those within that community, which may also
prevent serious problems while helping to solve
minor issues.
In an article written for LinkedIn Influencer by
Bernard J. Tyson Chairman and CEO of Kaiser
Permanente, a black male, stated how he was
taught to respond to the police as a young man.
Tyson describe one encounter this way:
“Years ago, my father taught me
explicitly how to behave myself if ever
confronted by a police officer and I experienced
being disrespected in my early twenties by
someone who was supposed to protect my rights.
I hold to this day that the biggest battle within
me was the rage at how I was being treated
while having to do what my father told me and
respond appropriately. If I acted out how I was
feeling at the time, I might not be here today.”iii
~Continued on next page…
I’ve heard many people refer to training young
black males and females about how to deal with
the police as having “the talk”. One young black
man on www.gawker.com described it:
“My nephew is 13 years old, half my
age. When he was 11, we were at a grocery
store in Durham, N.C., and he was being goofy
per usual. I pulled him to the side, looked him in
the eye and explained to him that when he's in
public, especially when around white people, he
had to avoid drawing attention to himself
because, as a black boy, anything he did was
likely to be perceived as menacing and
deserving of punishment (even death). He
nodded and we quietly finished shopping. It
was "the talk," much like my father had given
me—and it should not be a rite of passage. I'm
pretty young, and I'm already tired of having to
give black kids "the talk."iv
This young man’s idea that young black men are
somehow perceived as menacing is not too far
off as a study published by the Journal of
Personality and Social Psychology in February
of 2014 describes. “….researchers asked
college students and police officers to estimate
the ages of young children who they were told
had committed a crime (both misdemeanors and
felonies). In both groups, respondents were far
more likely to overestimate the ages of young
black boys than young white boys; they were
also less likely to view black children as
innocent.”v
The study conducted by researchers from the
University of California, Los Angeles; National
Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,
Boston; Pennsylvania State University; and
University of Pennsylvania was titled “The
Essence of Innocence: Consequences of
Dehumanizing Black Children.”
www.Salon.com says, “…the goal of the study,
according to researchers, was to determine the
extent to which respondents dehumanized young
black children, and how this racist
dehumanization can lead to violence and unjust
treatment. “[I]f human childhood affords
protections against harsh, adult-like treatment,
then in contexts where these children are
dehumanized, they can be treated with adult
severity” — specifically in the criminal justice
system, researchers wrote.”vi
We have to keep in mind that black children—
particularly black males—are perceived
somewhat differently and they then must behave
differently until our society changes its ideas.
How to change its ideas about race—especially
towards black males—has many proposed
solutions, and yes it has to change.
Unfortunately, in the meantime, taking the
advice of many of those mentioned here is also
necessary for potentially keeping black males
safe.
___________________________________
1 http://gawker.com/what-black-parents-tell-
their-sons-about-the-police-1624412625
1 http://gawker.com/what-black-parents-tell-
their-sons-about-the-police-1624412625
1
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/2014120417402
0-261404895-it-s-time-to-revolutionize-race-
relations
1 http://gawker.com/what-black-parents-tell-
their-sons-about-the-police-1624412625
1http://www.salon.com/2014/03/11/study_police
_see_black_children_as_less_innocent_and_less
_young_than_white_children/
1http://www.salon.com/2014/03/11/study_police
_see_black_children_as_less_innocent_and_less
_young_than_white_children/
Sports & Politics Coexisting…
~Robert Jackson, Jr.
I want to revisit an article I wrote earlier
last year pertaining to the subject of sports
and politics coexisting. At the time I had
mentioned the modern day athlete’s lack
of social consciousness and political
awareness. In wake of the many social
injustices that have occurred this past
year, there has been a renaissance of
social awareness and resurrection of
political action!
Let’s begin with the untimely death of
Michael Brown of Ferguson, Missouri. He
was an unarmed teenager gunned down by a
local police officer. The story received not
only national press, but also international
coverage. Ever since the tragedy transpired,
there have been protests taking place every
day. Chants of “hands up, don’t shoot” a
phrase and gesture synonymous with the
incident echoing throughout the air has
become a battle cry for the struggle for
justice.
This chant and gesture have become
contagious among institutions such as
colleges, certain sections of congress,
Hollywood, and sports venues. In fact, a
few of the St. Louis Rams players (wide
receivers Tavon Austin, Jared Cook, Chris
Givens, Stedman Bailey, and Austin Pettis)
decided on their own to do a presentation on
national television in solidarity with
community of Ferguson. As a result, those
players were criticized by police
organizations, talking heads, and some fans
for expressing their constitutional right to
freedom of speech.
Other protests such as those pertaining to the
murder of Eric Garner invoked protests by
the Brooklyn Nets, an NBA franchise. Their
mega star rapper Jay Z provided the scene
with shirts printed with the phrase, “I can’t
breathe” to bring awareness to the illegal
chokehold applied to Mr. Garner that
eventually led to his death. In addition,
other protests and civil disobedience led by
superstars such as LeBron James, for
instance, are ringing throughout the sports
world.
Could this be the end of the corporate
superstar that only recites the company line?
Are players beginning to realize that there is
power in their voices, enough to invoke
social change or influence political
outcome? Either way they have the right to
express their opinions just like any other
American citizen!
Diva Properties, LLC
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Charlene Miner
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P.O. Box 50112
St. Louis, MO 63105
(314) 277 – 2066
Education 4 All, Inc. is available for individual
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