Thursday, February 18, 2010

Detroit Police: A Picture Worth a Thousand Words

East Side Armed Robbery Syndicate, in a picture released Feb. 17, 2010. Please click image to see it full-size. (Detroit Police Department) 
East Side Armed Robbery Syndicate, in a picture released Feb. 17, 2010. (Detroit Police Department)

Black History Commentary: The Blueprint to Build Community

I don’t know what it will take to shake the Black community out of its collective apathy but one look at the pictures of the faces of the boys and men arrested and charged with more than 150 felonies ought to do it. If you haven’t seen the story check out www.freep.com; the release date of the article is 2-18-10, the title: COPS “Robbers Terrorize City”

Eleven young black men and boys ages 15-22 charged with car jacking, armed robbery, assault with intent to murder, vehicular theft, felonious assault, sexual assault, and more. 

Eleven young neighborhood terrorists, who should have been in school or at work, instead were further wrecking the community with their stupid, arrogant ignorance; condoned by us through our silence and indifference.


East Side Armed Robbery Syndicate, in a picture released Feb. 17, 2010. Please click image to see it full-size. (Detroit Police Department)
East Side Armed Robbery Syndicate, in a picture released Feb. 17, 2010. (Detroit Police Department)




What’s it going to take to focus our energies on the big picture? What’s it going to take to save our own lives?

What will it take to realize that it’s not about how soon Kwame has to pay the piper or how foolish the whole Sam Riddle farce is, it’s about fixing the blueprint black people were made to live by, and it’s way past time for us to get started. 


For the past few days, I’ve been posting excerpts from chapter six of the audio book, ‘Up From the Under, What We Should Do Next’. The chapter deals with how to establish trust and unity. To my mind, that’s the only place to start. Check out these two, then meet me at the Shrine of the Black Madonna Bookstore Saturday, 2-20-10 at 2PM.





Excerpts from Chapter Six of Up from the Under: ‘Trust and Unity the Mortar & the Brick’

5) Without the goal of unity there is absolutely no need for trust. Loners, individualists or outcasts need only trust their own ability to survive. 

Likewise, without community there is absolutely no purpose for unity.  Our American society has evolved now into an identity theft, me- first, fraud alert, lawsuit- happy collection of individuals.  

Without trust, we reap what we sow. 

With it, we get what we give. If a safe community, a secure society or equal opportunities are the desired outcomes, how do we expect to get there without the foundation of trust? You remember the definition of crazy!

7) Unity and trust building share a total need for transparent honesty. 

Liars, cheats, scam artists, thieves or people who have shown repeatedly their preference to take from, rather than give to, though an obstacle to trust, don’t have to become an obstacle to unity.

Indeed that is the very purpose of community, its special strength.

The community erected by unity’s ‘hoist’ has more than enough power to crush or convert the untrustworthy.

The community power is exponentially greater than any force that would hinder its momentum. 

  

Monday, February 15, 2010

Unity in the Community: “Trust Me”, says Wimpy



Most of the time when we hear somebody say, “trust me” we usually don’t. 

Most of the time when the leaders say, “I’ll never lie to you” they usually do. 

Most of the time when the vendor says, “I’ll give your money back if you’re not satisfied” he usually won’t and usually, when Wimpy promises to “pay you back Tuesday” if you buy him a burger today, you won’t collect on the debt because most of the time you’ll never see Wimpy again, if he see’s you first.

Most of the time when trust in our Institutions, our System, our Government erodes, it’s just a matter of time before we start to distrust everything and everybody, then start to doubt ourselves.

What do we do to assure trust? 
How do we regain it if  lost?
In whom or what do we put it?

Trust, the mortar to the brick of unity, is the essential element to build a thriving community, and so in advance of our next SATURDAY ‘Think Tank’ (2-20-10, 2PM) at the Shrine of the Black Madonna (see flyer below), we’re excerpting Trust & Unity ideas from Up From the Under, What We Should Do Next’. 

  I’ve been doing this for the past few days so if you missed the previous tips just navigate to my February 12th entry. Hope to meet you Saturday at 2pm at the Shrine of the Black Madonna in Detroit.

     Here's excerpt # 4 from Up from the Under
4) Trust is slow to build but can quickly be lost. At first trust is easily given and innocently bestowed, like an infant to its mother or that between new lovers. Trust more often than not is never taken away by the giver. It is repudiated by the actions of the recipient of that trust. Once trust erodes it is almost never regained but if it is fully reciprocated trust can move mountains.


Sunday, February 14, 2010

A Trust & Unity Primer, Day 3


The root of the word community is unity. It’s a given that no trust equals no unity. It’s also a given that many in the African American community don’t trust each other, so why do we refer to ourselves as a community?

Based on input from our first ‘Think Tank’, it’s because we want to be part of something that’s why; we want to be connected, safe, valued, and respected. We want our entire group to benefit from each other and yet we don’t or won’t reach out, why?

Maybe its because we don’t know how to develop trust or know the answer to the question of how to attain unity.

So to get a dialogue started, I’m offering nine ideas to help figure out the answers; nine ideas, one a day starting 2-12 through 2-20, the date of our next ‘Think Tank’ at the Shrine of the Black Madonna bookstore. This is idea number three; just navigate to the previous day’s entry to pick up any you miss.

Excerpt from chapter six of: ‘Up From the Under, What We Should Do Next’

3) Without trust there is no chance of developing the exponential force unity can create. Unity is all about bringing people-disparate people-together as a committed group and keeping them together to achieve a specific set of objectives.
Unity is the ‘hoist’ which provides the uplift and support, the boost, and to a certain degree the protection for the community members. Then it uses that support to further bond the community together.
Without trust there is no boost. Eliminate trust and there is no uplift, no support. Discard trust and all that remains is individual strength, which will fail soon after encountering a greater power.
No trust equals no unity, no unity equals no strength, which ultimately equals no protection.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Let's Do the Math


What looks like a simple equation: no trust = no unity; no unity = no strength; no strength = no power; no power = no protection, has been extremely difficult for the Black community to figure out.

Based on input from our first ‘Think Tank’, I’m asking the question, “why is it so tough to trust each other enough to unite around a common goal”?

Maybe its because we don’t know how to develop trust or know the answer to the question of how to attain unity.

So as food for thought I’m offering nine ideas to help figure out the answers; nine ideas, one a day starting 2-12 through 2-20, the date of our next ‘Think Tank’ at the Shrine of the Black Madonna bookstore. 
This is idea number two; just navigate to the previous day’s entry to pick up any you miss.

Excerpt from chapter six of: ‘Up From the Under, What We Should Do Next’

Unity centers on the accomplishment of a specified goal, the successful completion of a group objective or the desired outcome of a team effort. Unity forges power and affords protection by creating strength in numbers, resources and commitment. Unity is the mathematical equivalent of the squared principle, the construction industry’s hydraulic system or Nature’s very own colony of ants. The exponential force generated by combining individual power cells into a collective energy source, delivers a far greater impact than most objects or institutions can withstand or resist.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Trust & Unity the Mortar & the Brick

Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better.
-- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.



Last Saturday 2-6, we held the first of three “Think Tank” community gatherings at Truth bookstore. Next Saturday 2-20, we’ll be at the Shrine of the Black Madonna in Detroit. 

We wanted to discuss if the African American community has what it takes to reignite the movement of the 1960’s to create a “new” social agenda in 2010. 



If the more than 100 people who came out to Truth are any indication the answer is a resounding “maybe”, if we can develop trust in each other and a willingness to unite in more than name only.

Which got me thinking… why is it so tough to trust each other enough to unite around a common goal, or is that the problem, determining a common goal among 45 million Black folks? Which took my thought deeper. Maybe we don’t know how to develop trust or know the answer to the question of how to attain unity.

So starting today through February 20, we’ll provide the answers to the how. Stay with us for the next 8 days, tell your friends and be a part of changing our world.


Trust begins with candid communication and grows through frequent dialogue and interaction with other individuals. The communication process is two way, a conversation not a lecture. The objective of the process is to determine similarities and differences in point of view in order to develop links or build bridges for the achievement of a shared objective.

For trust to blossom the conversation must be frank, open and complete.

Secrets, hidden agendas, false motives and half truths will derail the trust building process like an ice encased track will derail a freight train.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

John Mayer & the Change Agents in Charge

 God gives nothing to those who keep their arms crossed. -- African Proverb

I woke up a bit out of sorts this morning. Unsettling daydreams followed by disjointed nightmares can do that to you.

“Out of sorts” escalated quickly to mad as hell when I opened up the online edition of the Detroit Free Press. It informed of both John Mayer’s foot in mouth blah, blah, blah about what it is to be Black in this culture and the announcement that Dave Bing and Robert Bobb were honored as "Newsmakers of the Year by Crain's;" earning each man the label, ‘Change Agent in Charge’. 

Mad as hell because after reading the articles I was reminded for the umpteenth time, that in the case of Mayer, the voice of the celebrity fool gets too wide media play, and that in the case of Detroit Mayor Bing and Bobb, the Detroit Public Schools overseer installed by the Governor, the status quo is still picking our leaders for us.

Mad as hell because as it relates to Bobb and Bing, Change Agent in Charge sounds a lot like what Coleman Young used to call HNIC.

In charge of what, in charge of whom? Who put them in charge of America’s “Blackest” city, people who think like Mayer?

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Jeff Miller, Emmy Award winning TV Host kicks off the conversation to move up from the 'under'

We would love to hear from you and get your ideas. We want to know what you think - post a video at http://www.facebook.com/upfromtheunder

Let's rally around a blueprint to follow. Post your video and let's start a revolution online to change things around for those who are "under."


http://www.upfromtheunder.com

Friday, February 5, 2010

Black Consumer being Consumed? Let's talk about solutions. Post a video


Join the conversation. 
Let's talk about 
YOUR ideas! 

Hey Detroit - tired of getting beat up by the media?

Tired of being the butt of every joke?

It's time to get some things right.

We can come from being "under" to being on top.


Meet me at Truth Bookstore at Northland tomorrow (2/6) at 3 p.m.


Did you catch me on Mildred Gaddis' show on WCHB this morning?


We will be announcing our 

"Three-Minute Video" Solution contest.*
(submit to http://www.facebook.com/upfromtheunder)

We need you involved ~ We need to galvanize to solve problems.


We'll be taping YOU at Truth bookstore to broadcast online.*
We need your ideas on how to get this Party started.




Not in Detroit?  Then meet us Monday online!
www.blackhistoryteleseries.eventbrite.com


Forward this to a friend.Share.
You ready? Let's get viral.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAIAET2e2y8

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Black History: Social Media as the vehicle to drive the message.




One year into Barack Obama’s Presidency, I’ve been spending a lot of time lately thinking about how we can help him help us. Recalling how the Senator from Illinois marshaled the forces of Social Media to earn a decisively stunning victory in his quest to become the President of the United States, I followed his lead yesterday, did something that I’d never done before and it was fun!

The call came from Pam Perry, the Internet marketing guru from Detroit. She wanted me to be part of a Tele-series with the fabulous Deborah Scott Pollard, author of ‘When the Church Becomes Your Party: Contemporary Gospel Music', and Professor of English Literature at the University of Michigan. Perry, the dynamo behind ‘Chocolate Pages’, the on-line show with an eclectic approach, asked for my participation in a four part series designed to meet two main objectives: celebrate Black History Month in a unique way and develop the platform to communicate history’s lessons using social media as the transmitter.  

It worked out better than I thought it would. The connections were easy, the conversation fast paced, the dialogue provocative. The turnout from people listening by phone or commenting on the discussion via Face Book, Twitter, BlogSpot, and other sites illustrated the power of the social media medium to quickly unite, engage or motivate people no matter the distance or time zone. I’m jumping on the social media bandwagon with both feet and inviting you to come and join in. Check out the Black History Month Tele-series every Monday in February from 6-7Pm (EST). For more info:

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