"EXTENDED FATHAS"
by sista shiriki unganisha
Brotha Sauti and I work with young people of different age groups in the
schools and in the 'hood and volunteer at two so-called alternative schools
here in Kansas City. What I have witnessed is that these young brothas and
sistas are looking for grown folk to be real (honest) with them.
We are part of the mentoring program of one school. We are persistent and
consistent in our *WORK.* When these young people saw we were there to stay,
and knew that if we wanted to, we could have been somewhere else making
money instead, and that money wasn't shit to us, we showed them that they
were important to us. We even changed our work schedules around their Wednesday
9:45-11:20 a.m. class. Come hell or high water, we gave that time to that
class.
These young people did not trust us at first, and dissed everything that
was presented to them. However, once they were challenged to do critical
thinking, you could see the light come on. Once they got to know and trust
us, I saw the thirst for a strong male figure in their lives, and these
young brothas began to open up and speak on personal concerns, targeting
Brotha Sauti for advice. One day Brotha Sauti was late to class, and all
the young brothas asked me, where was he!
We took them on a field trip to small claims court to show them the wheels
of injustice in motion. We took them to see the movie *ROSEWOOD.* Before
the movie, we had a class discussion on the factual events of that massacre
and explained that hollee-weird will never tell your story.
Brotha Sauti took the two boys he mentors-ages 17 and 14-and the oldest
mentoree's 12-year-old brotha as well, to the Worlds of Fun theme park.
Their day began with Brotha Sauti taking the boys to breakfast, and he had
juice and food to give them for lunch once they finished their adventure.
These young brothas had never been to Worlds of Fun, because it ain't for
poor folk, so it took Brotha Sauti about 30 minutes to get the boys to ride.
Once they rode their first ride, everybody was cool.
Brotha Sauti spends time with these boys outside of the school. He has met
his mentorees' mothas. They are single parents doing the best they can.
Brotha Sauti takes groceries over, and when the boys need shoes, he buys
them shoes. He spends time with them, talking with them and guiding them.
The gist of this story is to encourage brothas, where ever you may be, to
engage young brothas in positive activities. Expose them to things. It doesn't
have to be something as expensive as a theme park. If it wasn't for the
school giving us those tickets, ain't no way we would have gone there. So
do what you can, but do something to make a difference in our children's
lives! Be that fatha figure they are missing. They are truly looking for
a stand-up, taking-care-of-business, male figure they can look up to and
bond with. It's real. I saw it with my own eyes. However, there is a lot
of hard work, dedication and commitment involved. If you are not committed,
please don't build them up to be let down AGAIN!
Feel free to call Sista Shiriki at (816) 333-9814, or write me at P.O. Box
320441, Kansas City, MO 64132 or shiriki@gvi.net
Kansas City
Black Liberation Radio
S.T.A.C. (Stop Targeting the Afrikan Community) began operation of kcblr
91.1 F.M. on June 1, 1997. This low-powered 40-watt radio station will be
available to all oppressed people who need a vehicle to be heard. KCBLR
will inform the community about what is happening to us on a systematic
level, how we must organize in order to fight back. We will showcase local
businesses deserving of our support, expose police corruption locally and
across the country, expose the human rights violations against captive prisoners
everywhere, discuss and analyze international issues. Consider this an invitation
to inform kcblr about what is happening in your city and network for justice.
KCBLR will be educating the communities across the country on how to own
and operate their own black liberation radios. We will be training young
people as engineers, reporters, jounalists and researchers. KCBLR can be
reached at P.O. Box 320441, Kansas City, MO 64132, and (816) 523-0540 (also
our fax number). Messages can also be left at (816) 333-9814. Please pass
the word of the birthing of kcblr, 91.1 F.M, the voice and choice of the
community. Donations are welcome, be they monetary or equipment/CDs/tapes.
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