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: carletta@education4allinc.com.

For advertising, please contact Dr. Carletta D. Washington by March 14, 2015, to

be included in our Spring 2015 issue: carletta@education4allinc.com.

If you would like to submit an article for our April 1, 2015 edition, please contact:

carletta@education4allinc.com 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

carletta@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:

carletta@education4allinc.com.

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:

carletta@education4allinc.com.

If you want to advertise a product/service that

can benefit parents and/or families, contact me:

carletta@education4allinc.com.

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

curliemccalla@gmail.com

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

billiegmathews@gmail.com

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!

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Charlene Miner

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(314) 277 – 2066

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