Stand Your Ground

Stand Your Ground Forums => History and Politics => Topic started by: blackmanxxx on Jun 25, 2007, 02:17 PM

Title: AlphA Men Against All Odds : Male Mentoring Group
Post by: blackmanxxx on Jun 25, 2007, 02:17 PM
AlphA-Men Against All Odds
by Debra D. Sawyer  Tyquan Cooper   Buy this book
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DiaShah Press LLC




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Category:  Inspirational
Publisher:  DiaShah Press LLC  ISBN-10:  0976120747 Type:   
Pages:  122
Copyright:  April 2007 ISBN-13:  9780976120742
Fiction 

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AlphA-Men Against All Odds is a collection of written prose based upon the views, opinions and perceptions of inner city high school male students and their mentors. AlphA-Men Against All Odds is an open and candid look inside the minds of young male mentors transitioning into their manhood.
The Male Mentor group, AlphA-Men is sponsored by Novelist, Debra D. Sawyer.

A SON'S LOVE

Growing up was hard for me because I went through so many stages during childhood that brought me to where I am today. One of the things that I realize to-day is how important and vital it is that I educate myself, because education is the most powerful thing in the world. During and throughout my fourth and tenth grades in school, I hated school. I especially hated the teachers. The reason I hated all teachers and schools was because something terrible happened when I was in third grade. Now at that time, I was living with my grandmother, my brother and my sis-ter. My mother would come by once in a while to see us and then she would leave for a place unknown to us. Back then I was a "Momma's Boy" and so, every time my mother would leave, I would cry myself to sleep because I didn't know when I would see her again.

One day when I was in third grade, I was in school and the teacher announced that our class would be going on a field trip to the park where there were sprinklers. I loved the sprinklers, so I was really happy and couldn't wait until it was time to go to the park. I was so anxious to get to the park that I couldn't go to sleep during nap time. Finally, it was time to go to the park and even though the park was right up the street, I felt like I was going on a journey. The teachers lined us up and we made our way to the park. When we got there we played and had fun in the water. However, in my world, fun didn't last for-ever and it was soon time to line up to go back to school. As we lined up, I looked over at the jungle gym and I saw this bum lying on the park bench. I had seen the bum lying there when we first arrived at the park, but for some reason, when I looked at the bum again, I felt a connection. So I stared, and stared and stared at the bum as everyone else faded to black in my mind.

Just as our class line was beginning to move to leave the park, the bum lifted her head up. It took me a minute, but when I noticed that it was my mother sleeping on the bench, I broke away from the line up and ran to her. She looked right at me and opened her arms for me as I ran toward her. I was so happy to see her and when I ran into her arms, I didn't want to let her go. It was then that my teachers came running over and tried to pry me away from the embrace I had around my mother as I struggled to hold onto her. I just couldn't stand to be separated from her again. I didn't care that she was a bum. Eventually, the teachers got me away from her and dragged me back to school as I screamed and cried out for my mother. From that point on, I hated all teachers and I hated schools. It would be years and would take the love of a strong black male teacher, Mr. Charles Wicks and the love a strong black woman, my aunt, Celestine, that would ultimately shape my confidence, thinking and changed my lifestyle.

I want everyone to know that although my mother used drugs and lived on the streets, I loved her then and I love her now and I will love her FOREVER be-cause I have learned that when others love and believe in you, it MUST BE DONE UNCONDITIONALLY AND FROM THE HEART in order to bring about change.







Excerpt
"This book is a platform where center stage was shared by all. This book came to life through a "Brotherhood" that took place each Monday morning at 7am where these men arrived dressed in their best attire to share their feelings and ideas. This book is a chain with links that are strong, unbreakable and extendable through the dedication of Mr. Charles Wicks, Mr. Howard Jackson, Mr. Kevin Johnson and Ms. Debra D. Sawyer.

I LOVE YOU ALPHA-MEN!

THIS IS JUST A SMALL BEGINNING IN THE REST OF YOUR LIVES. DO NOT WAIT ON OTHERS; DO NOT LET OTHERS DEFINE OR LABLE YOU; GO OUT INTO THE WORLD AND

MAKE IT HAPPEN!




Professional Reviews
Tyquan Cooper
Tyquan Cooper writes with great narrative description. His work is a peek into the soul. This book is a moving and uplifting insight.

A+ for The AlphA-Men Project
AlphA-Men Against All Odds is a must read for all high school male and females. A great educational and inspirational resource for schools and families.



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