I witnessed  an exciting event yesterday!  I was sitting in my car in my drive way meditating and just taking a breath of relief from a very hectic day.  I often need to meditate for a moment after servicing y'our' youth at-risk.  I like to make sure my mind is clear and my heart is relaxed, and there is a smile on my face  before going in the house to deal with my own 3 teenagers.   A young man whom I see walking the street daily, he must be about 19 or 20 years old.  Of course his pants sag, he is up to nothing, and his hair is uncombed.  I always make sure I speak to this young man and others who pass my house.  I want to keep a good rapport with them so that hopefully they will think twice about bothering my stuff or my boys.  I smile at them find something to compliment them about and can usually cause them to smile also.  When they see me driving down any other street they usually wave  or just say hi at least. 

 Yesterday as I sat to meditate an older man who looked as if he was in his mid to late thirties drove up quickly on the young man who stood on the corner.  He swung his door open and jumped out of his car.  He then got in the face of the young man on the corner doing nothing and shouted, "I am tired of you worrying mama like this."  "Pull your d--- pants up"  He then pulled up his shirt and asked him, "where is your d--- belt?"  "Where have you been?"  "Get your but in the car."  The young man responded in hostility to the first question.    However, he was clocked in the mouth  and his brother responded, "don't you talk to me in that tone of voice."  He didn't.  His next response was not hostile.  I have seen their mother but I have never seen this brother.  I smiled at him and he nodded at me as he opened the door for his little brother and forced him in the car.  I loved it! 

 Also, I am a single mother with five children, three are male, aged 26, 17, and 13.  I have never had trouble with my children.  However, my 13 year old son, the last one, is making that an exception.  I received a call from his science teacher the other day.  Her report was not favorable.  After ensuring her that I would take care of "the little problem", my eldest son called to check on me.  He could hear my voice that something was wrong.  Therefore, he popped in on us about an hour later.  After questioning me to find out what the problem was, he went downstairs and called his brother.  I heard a shout or two, a thumb, a thud, a whimper, and then silence.  As he left the house he shouted up the steps, "I'll call the school tomorrow!"  My 13 year old then came up and hugged me and apologized.  Talk about relief! Lord knows I did not feel like fussing or whooping  a kid.  LOL 

There are Black men in our communities that know they are responsible for these young boys and young men in the street.  There are men in families who are not too busy to step up to the plate and grab our youth by the collar to help ensure they are not at-risk.  There are Black men who have taken the role of leader and head.   There are Black men who are not afraid.  However, these Black men don't get talked about.  They don't get much recognition.  Few acknowlege their efforts.  I would like to dedicate this poem to Black men in our communities who are stepping up to the Plate.  I appreciate you!

My Black King