“Men’s Voices of Optimism from the Africana” Conference

As part of its Male Development and Empowerment Center initiative, Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, NY held a conference entitled “Men’s Voices of Optimism from the Africana,” focusing on the problems of African American and Caribbean young men. <!--break--> <img class="dada-image-center" src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/sites/default/files/migrate_dada/JacksonSignsBook046Web.jpg"><br><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">In late December, as part of its Male Development and Empowerment Center (MDEC) initiative, Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, NY held a conference entitled “Men’s Voices of Optimism from the Africana,” focusing on African American and Caribbean males.<o:p /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This educational event was for students from kindergarten through college, and, as MDEC’s Executive Director, Professor Gerald Jackson, explained, “We like to think of it in terms of prevention. We're providing children with successful role models – most specifically, college age Black men with integrity who have successfully negotiated the educational system while maintaining a functional relationship with their communities.”<o:p /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><!--[endif]--> Jackson also stated that part of what made the conference unique is that it was not a one-time event, but, instead, marked the beginning of an ongoing process of engagement of MDEC with the participants and their peers. This continuing program employs what they call the Systemic Inclusion Approach, which, along with prevention, aims at:<o:p /> <!--[endif]--><o:p /></span></p> <ul type="disc" style="margin-top: 0in;"><li class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Empowerment</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> – through the process of youth working cooperatively, intelligently, and expeditiously with a diversity of men and women.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Leadership – </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">through providing youth with opportunities to witness others exercising leadership skills and also through hands-on tasks that provide the youth with the chance to exercise various types of leadership themselves.<o:p /></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Scholarship – </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">based on Prof. Jackson’s most recent book, <i>We’re Not Going To Take It Anymore: Educational and Psychological Practices from an Africentric Paradigm of Helping</i>. Among the many invaluable items included in this book are student essays on noted Black and Caribbean activists/scholars as well as on figures who were paramount in the success of Black and Latino college students. There are also treatises on the practical value of Black and Latino Greek fraternities in the elevation of their people and compositions telling of what students gained in terms of education and identity awareness from attending African American cultural events.<o:p /></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">During the morning, men read essays – several of which appear in the book – that they had written for Prof. Jackson while he was a faculty member in the Africana Studies and Research Center at Cornell University. Each essay was inspirational and provided real role models of young Black men who came out of urban environments. Some of the men, such as Nafis Smith who is now a bond trader with the Vanguard Group, were from households with crack-addicted mothers. “I thought it was really important for young people to find out that you can come from humble origins and yet go on to be successful,” Jackson said.<o:p /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Around midday, participants broke out into smaller sets formed around their age group in order to look at the problems Black men face and to come to solutions about what should be done to deal with these problems. The individual groups then reported their findings to the entire assemblage.<o:p /> <!--[endif]--><o:p /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Later in the afternoon there was another small-group session, this time divided into groups of students, parents, or teachers. Each group discussed “How can we use our voices to promote healthy relationships for African American and Caribbean males and to help them achieve their educational and psychological potential?” This, too, was followed by a report-back from each group.<o:p /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of the highpoints of the conference was a session with the noted activist, poet, and hip-hop historian, Kevin Powell. Not only was he one of the day’s speakers, but he was one of the men that students had written essays on that are published in the book. One such essay was titled, “Keepin’ it real enough for you,” by Justin Davis. It was read by his colleague Andre Providence.<o:p /> <!--[endif]--><o:p /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Throughout the day, not only did the young participants get to see their older male role models take part in panel discussions and conduct workshops, but there was ample time to interact with them on a more personal level, one-to-one. This was particularly evident at the end of the conference, which concluded with a book signing and social time.<o:p /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Since the conference, attendees have begun writing essays about the conclusions their groups arrived as to how to solve the problems of Black males. These essays will be read by teachers and upper-class college students. “The idea of having college students read and evaluate the essays,” noted Jackson, “is to encourage them to think seriously in terms of what contribution they can make to their community as they go along.”<o:p /> <!--[endif]--><o:p /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">At a follow-up conference in February, some of the essays will be read and awards will be given out. Participants will also consider the next practical steps that can be taken within their families, schools, and communities to address Black male issues.<o:p /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">For further information, contact Prof. Jackson at 718-270-6131 or gerald@mec.cuny.edu.<o:p /></span></p><img class="dada-image-center" src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/sites/default/files/migrate_dada/Speakers%2CJackson052Web.jpg"><br>

<p>As part of its Male Development and Empowerment Center initiative, Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, NY held a conference entitled “Men’s Voices of Optimism from the Africana,” focusing on the problems of African American and Caribbean young men.</p> <!--break--><p><img class="dada-image-center" src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/sites/default/files/migrate_dada/JacksonSignsBook046Web.jpg" /><br /><br /> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman="">In late<br /> December, as part of its Male Development and Empowerment Center (MDEC)<br /> initiative, Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, NY held a conference entitled<br /> “Men’s Voices of Optimism from the Africana,” focusing on African American and<br /> Caribbean males.<p></p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman="">This educational<br /> event was for students from kindergarten through college, and, as MDEC’s<br /> Executive Director, Professor Gerald Jackson, explained, “We like to think of<br /> it in terms of prevention. We're providing children with successful role models<br /> – most specifically, college age Black men with integrity who have successfully<br /> negotiated the educational system while maintaining a functional relationship<br /> with their communities.”<p></p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman=""></span></p> <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><!--[endif]--><p> Jackson also stated<br /> that part of what made the conference unique is that it was not a one-time<br /> event, but, instead, marked the beginning of an ongoing process of engagement<br /> of MDEC with the participants and their peers. This continuing program employs<br /> what they call the Systemic Inclusion Approach, which, along with prevention,<br /> aims at:<p></p> </p> <!--[endif]--><p><p></p></p> <ul type="disc" style="margin-top: 0in;"> <li class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman="">Empowerment</span></i><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman=""> – through the process of youth<br /> working cooperatively, intelligently, and expeditiously with a diversity<br /> of men and women.</span></li> <li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman=""></span><i><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman="">Leadership – </span></i><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman="">through providing youth with<br /> opportunities to witness others exercising leadership skills and also<br /> through hands-on tasks that provide the youth with the chance to exercise<br /> various types of leadership themselves.<p></p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman="">Scholarship – </span></i><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman="">based on Prof. Jackson’s most recent<br /> book, <i>We’re Not Going To Take It Anymore: Educational and Psychological<br /> Practices from an Africentric Paradigm of Helping</i>. Among the many<br /> invaluable items included in this book are student essays on noted Black<br /> and Caribbean activists/scholars as well as on figures who were paramount<br /> in the success of Black and Latino college students. There are also<br /> treatises on the practical value of Black and Latino Greek fraternities in<br /> the elevation of their people and compositions telling of what students<br /> gained in terms of education and identity awareness from attending African<br /> American cultural events.<p></p></span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman="">During the<br /> morning, men read essays – several of which appear in the book – that they had<br /> written for Prof. Jackson while he was a faculty member in the Africana Studies<br /> and Research Center at Cornell University. Each essay was inspirational and<br /> provided real role models of young Black men who came out of urban<br /> environments. Some of the men, such as Nafis Smith who is now a bond trader<br /> with the Vanguard Group, were from households with crack-addicted mothers. “I<br /> thought it was really important for young people to find out that you can come<br /> from humble origins and yet go on to be successful,” Jackson said.<p></p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman="">Around midday, participants broke out into smaller sets<br /> formed around their age group in order to look at the problems Black men face<br /> and to come to solutions about what should be done to deal with these problems.<br /> The individual groups then reported their findings to the entire assemblage.<p></p> </span></p> <!--[endif]--><p><p></p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman="">Later in the<br /> afternoon there was another small-group session, this time divided into groups<br /> of students, parents, or teachers. Each group discussed “How can we use our<br /> voices to promote healthy relationships for African American and Caribbean<br /> males and to help them achieve their educational and psychological potential?”<br /> This, too, was followed by a report-back from each group.<p></p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman="">One of the<br /> highpoints of the conference was a session with the noted activist, poet, and<br /> hip-hop historian, Kevin Powell. Not only was he one of the day’s speakers, but<br /> he was one of the men that students had written essays on that are published in<br /> the book. One such essay was titled, “Keepin’ it real enough for you,” by<br /> Justin Davis. It was read by his colleague Andre Providence.<p></p> </span></p> <!--[endif]--><p><p></p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman="">Throughout the<br /> day, not only did the young participants get to see their older male role<br /> models take part in panel discussions and conduct workshops, but there was<br /> ample time to interact with them on a more personal level, one-to-one. This was<br /> particularly evident at the end of the conference, which concluded with a book<br /> signing and social time.<p></p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman="">Since the<br /> conference, attendees have begun writing essays about the conclusions their<br /> groups arrived as to how to solve the problems of Black males. These essays<br /> will be read by teachers and upper-class college students. “The idea of having<br /> college students read and evaluate the essays,” noted Jackson, “is to encourage<br /> them to think seriously in terms of what contribution they can make to their<br /> community as they go along.”<p></p> </span></p> <!--[endif]--><p><p></p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman="">At a follow-up<br /> conference in February, some of the essays will be read and awards will be<br /> given out. Participants will also consider the next practical steps that can be<br /> taken within their families, schools, and communities to address Black male<br /> issues.<p></p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman="">For further<br /> information, contact Prof. Jackson at 718-270-6131 or <a href="mailto:gerald@mec.cuny.edu">gerald@mec.cuny.edu</a>.<p></p></span></p> <p><img class="dada-image-center" src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/sites/default/files/migrate_dada/Speakers%2CJackson052Web.jpg" /><br /></p>