Gentlemen:

I am ramping up my portion of a mentoring program in my community. The young men are between 10-17, split into two groups: 10-13 and 14-17.

I like to encourage reading - this summer we did comic books - a mix of Marvel, DC and Milestone - then we ended with Black Superheroes, Milestone Comics and Their Fans by Jeffrey A. Brown.

I have a few books in mind for the fall, but I thought I'd ask for some recommendations from the brothers of AA.org.

PLEASE HAVE THEM READ


The Pact - http://www.threedoctors.com/

http://www.amazon.com/Pact-Sampson-Davis/dp/157322989X

This book is an excellent choice for young black men. It tells the true story of three teenage black boys that DECIDED that they would become medical doctors. That DECISION was written out in a 'pact' to stand by each other through college and medical school so that they can reach their goal

I realize you asked for "brothers" input.... but I am a very conscientious mother of two boys: preteen and preschool age. I encourage interaction with positive male role models and I personally feed them this list:

Visions for Black Men by Naim Akbar

Message to the Black Man by The Honorable Elijah Muhammad

Video by Minister Farrakhan "Fear Faith and Truth"

Audio by Minister Farrakhan "If God Be For Me Who Can Be Against Me"

The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Gifted Hands by Dr. Ben Carson

The Destruction of Black Civilization by Chancellor Williams

Everything by Cheikh Anta Diop

Black Man of the Nile by Dr. Ben

Research the rise of Stanley O'Neal CEO of Merrill Lynch

Metu Neter Book II by Ra Un Nefer Amen

Why Should White Guys Have All The Fun by Reginald Lewis

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man by Joseph Perkins



I've got more... brb

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Khalliqa,

Peace,
Khalliqa

"The Goddess emerges as the evanescence of the inferior dissipates.... "

Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela

Boys Into Men: Raising our African American Teenage Sons by Pamella Touissant


The Kid's Guide to Social Action: How to Solve Problems You Choose- And Turn Creative Thinking into Positive Action by Barbara Lewis.

Juvenile Justice Today by Gennaro Vito

Rich Dad Poor Dad for Teens by Robert Kiyosaki


The Motley Tool Investment Guide for Teens: 8 Steps to Having More Money Than Your Parents Ever Dreamed of by Motley Fool; David Gardner

Growing Money: A Complete Investing Guide for Kids by Gail Karlitz (My PERSONAL FAVORITE!!!)

Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Tears of a Tiger by Sharon Draper (against drunk driving)

Unequal Protection: The Rise of Corporate Dominance and the Theft of Human Rights by Thom Hartmann



Intersperse easy reading (ala Harry Potter.... which lead into concepts that will introduce books that deal with the real world...)...

boys need to be allowed the room to creatively envision a new tomorrow based off seeing themselves through a continuum in history and assessing the reality of today....

they are our men of tomorrow...


Salaam...

Have them read "The Art of War" at their leisure while simultaneously introducing them to old Bruce Lee movies and really any movie dealing with the underdog overcoming goliath...

Mastering Chess has helped my son with his strategic thinking....


And thoroughly read and listen to any man that RESPECTS black women... and understands her...

My sons listen to Minister Farrakhan speak on the history of the black woman, the nature of the black woman and the male responsibility to the black woman... A classic in our community is "How to Give Birth to a God".... and pamphlets the Minister has done on the role of the man... and the woman...

Whatever your belief, a boy needs some guidelines other than "don't get her pregnant"


Okay.. Okay... I'ma go.... but I have a preteen son.... this is a subject close to me...



Salaam...

quote:

Originally posted by ddouble:
Gentlemen:

I am ramping up my portion of a mentoring program in my community. The young men are between 10-17, split into two groups: 10-13 and 14-17.

I like to encourage reading - this summer we did comic books - a mix of Marvel, DC and Milestone - then we ended with Black Superheroes, Milestone Comics and Their Fans by Jeffrey A. Brown.

I have a few books in mind for the fall, but I thought I'd ask for some recommendations from the brothers of AA.org.

ddouble,
Congratulations on the outreach and making a difference in the community. That's that good stuff.

A Choice of Weapons -- Gordon Parks
The Learning Tree -- Gordon Parks

I'm sure you've already got a lot of the classics lined up. Also, some of the collected works of Langston Hughes might be good as well.

Again, congratulations on your efforts.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far and a



for Friday.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ddouble,

------------------------------
R.I.F. (Reading IS Fundamental)...



"There are five dangerous faults which may affect a general:
(1) Recklessness, which leads to destruction;
(2) cowardice, which leads to capture;
(3) a hasty temper, which can be provoked by insults;
(4) a delicacy of honor which is sensitive to shame;
(5) over-solicitude for his men, which exposes him to worry and trouble."
-Sun Tzu

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man
Booker T. Washington's Up From Slavery

I also concur with the Gordon Parks pieces mentioned earlier as well as The Autobiography of Malcolm X.

Just a few books that I've read and really enjoyed:

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong--James W. Loewen

Bullwhip Days: The Slaves Remember: An Oral History--James Mellon

Letters from a Stoic--Seneca

Superheroes and Philosophy: Truth, Justice, and the Socratic Way--Tom Morris (Ed.), Matt Morris (Ed.)

Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism--Cornel West

War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death--Norman Solomon

Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts--Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson

When Affirmative Action Was White: An Untold History of Racial Inequality in Twentieth-Century America--Ira Katznelson

And of course one of my favorite books EVER: The Autobiography of Malcolm X.

ddouble,

What you are doing is admirable. I've been there. Just be mindful that there are going to be some very rewarding days and some very painful days ahead. Stay focused.

You might want to consider having them create their own comic book and or superhero. If this is the first time that you've been involved with youth on that level and are looking for ideas to help them, let me know and I will share with you some of the things that we started here.

Have them read Reallionaire by Farrah Gray

http://www.amazon.com/Reallionaire-Nine-Steps-Becoming-...id=1187390762&sr=1-1

Roots - Alex Haley

Kindred - Octavia Butler

quote:

Originally posted by ac9311:
ddouble,

What you are doing is admirable. I've been there. Just be mindful that there are going to be some very rewarding days and some very painful days ahead. Stay focused.

You might want to consider having them create their own comic book and or superhero. If this is the first time that you've been involved with youth on that level and are looking for ideas to help them, let me know and I will share with you some of the things that we started here.

Have them read Reallionaire by Farrah Gray

http://www.amazon.com/Reallionaire-Nine-Steps-Becoming-...id=1187390762&sr=1-1

This isn't the first time - just the first time with some real help and organization. I'd love to hear what other brothers are doing in relation to mentoring programs.

Thanks ac9311

ddouble,

I will PM you with some of the programs that we started. Some of which are still in use today. I have to dig out some of my old material.

I've been thinking about this for awhile.

One thing I would recommend is on black music history:

"The Death of Rhythm & Blues" by Nelson George

• This passionate and provocative book tells the complete story of black music in the last fifty years, and in doing so outlines the perilous position of black culture within white American society. In a fast paced narrative that is, according to the Christian Science Monitor "as inspired by the indefatigable traveling man, black capitalist, and R&B shouter James Brown as [it is] the innocent street corner music called doo wop," Nelson George's book chronicles the rise and fall of "race music" and its transformation into an R&B that eventually dominated the airwaves only to find itself diluted and submerged as crossover music.
  
  
• From Publishers Weekly: Slicing through the main layers of the world of R & B, George, music critic for Billboard and Playboy , profiles his personal heroes in the recent history of black music especially in the evolution of black radio, the growth of independent record labels and the development of retail outlets for R & B records. Here are perceptive summations of the contributions of such star creative performers as Chuck Berry, James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Michael Jackson, as well as of lesser-known musicians, and of the links between black social and economic affairs and the changes in contemporary black culture. Above all, George examines the business of black music and probes the ways in which it has affected the "symptoms of illness" in R & B. He is convinced that "black America's assimilationist obsession is heading it straight toward cultural suicide."
  

I'd also recommend a few books on hip hop history.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: HonestBrother,

I'M AN ELITIST TOO.

Blame Me on History by Bloke Modisane

First published (and quickly banned) in South Africa in 1963, Modisane's account of life as a black in South Africa remains a biting indictment of apartheid even today, filled with thoughtful observations and written in a simple, eloquent prose. Modisane recalls a youth in which two siblings died of starvation and his father was killed in a fight. In a society where "the law is white and justice casual," the assailant received a six-month sentence. The author learns survival tactics, literal and psychological, such as adopting an obsequious pose to clear a police block, or the ironic display of humor, as when he notes that the South African police force may be the only employer that actually requires a modicum of intelligence. Among the many episodes he recollects, one left a particularly deep imprint on him. In gathering research for a 1956 magazine article on Christian brotherhood, he tried to enter 15 white churches and recorded the results: all denied him entry, and two escorted him to the local police. The churchgoers, he concludes, were "essentially white and incidentally Christian." Modisane, who died in 1986, was a playwright, actor and activist.