Silent Voices

Posted By: Emmanuel Brown on July 23, 2009

What is the future of our younger generation? Do we really know? Can we help shape their future? I believe that we have the power to mold the minds of our children, that we have to use whatever methods are necessary to make sure that the mold is something that we would like to see the upcoming generations molded into, and that we can not allow the mold to be broken or reshaped. Our survival depends the minds that we mold today and without these minds being able to be shared with the world we face the possibility of extinction.

One of the biggest problems that our children face in our communities is the absence of black men and black women due to incarceration. Several different issues contribute to this problem, even though there are experts to give us step by step methods to fight individual causes of incarceration. Sometimes, it is not the experts with degrees that have the answers for their expertise. There are times that people (especially our children) need to be guided by those that have hands on experience, but that does not mean that we should allow them to become these types of teachers. As I mentioned, we have to use methods that are not always popular or conventional to reach our children. Sometimes we have to use a negative situation to make a positive example.

In order for us to help our children understand that incarceration is always an option in life, we have to make sure that they understand what incarceration is really like.

-Our children need to understand what it means to lose a part of their life and to be lost in the eyes of society.
-Our children need to understand what it means to be an adult that is told when to eat, sleep, and play.

-Our children need to understand what it means to be caged in like a beast surrounded by all different types of predators.
-Our children need to understand what it means to literally lose a part of their manhood or womanhood.
-Our children need to understand what it means to become a negative statistic that is destroying their own future.
-Our children need to understand what it means to lose their their family and friends.
-Our children need to understand what it means to wake up with the fear of becoming that victim that cries their self to sleep at night.
-Our children need to understand what it means to be turned down for job after job and to be told in a, sometimes, nice way that they are not fit to work in jobs that are unfit for a human being in the first place.
-Our children need to understand what it means to get incarcerated.
-Our children need to understand what it means to become one of the Silent Voices that go unheard or ignored.

My points might seem a little drastic but my points are a reality of people that have become an inmate.

-A convict
-An ex-convict
-A prisoner
-A Bureau of Justice Statistic
-A prison facility resident
-A participant of a participant of a re-entry program
-A person that faces obstacles that only prison can produce.

Our children need to understand these things by using straightforward, real life examples and they need to hear the Silent Voices that can speak to our children in ways that only someone with that type of voice can speak so that our children's voices do not become silent.

Please Don't Allow Our Children's Voices To Become Silent - Do Your Part At SeeingGrowth.com By Clicking Here
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Emmanuel Brown
From North Chicago, IL
Member Since August 2008

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Craig Amos
Graphic Designer & Publisher at Amos & Grant Advertising Design

"Can we help shape their future? I believe that we have the power to mold the minds of our children, ..."

The two most obvious observations ever made in the history of evolution. Sorry, bro, I couldn't even read beyond that.
Friday, July 24th 2009 at 1:40AM

Harry Watley
const. contractor/ retired at self

Hello Mr. Emmanuel,

Mr. Emmanuel, molding our children’s mind is not the solution, since our minds need molding first. We do not have a proper mind to pass on to our children. What our children are is what we are. Therefore, our only permanent solution is from me and that is to desire to become a sovereign people or gain complete independence from White America on a portion of this continent that we can call our very own country, with borders. Now there is a lot more to understand behind my concept of sovereignty.

In other words, do you think that if we were a sovereign people, we would have these hundreds of year old problems; I do not think so?

What say you?

Friday, July 24th 2009 at 7:08PM

Harry Watley
const. contractor/ retired at self

Hello Ms. Irma,

I believe that you and Mr. Emmanuel are wrong, since neither you nor him have complete control over your destiny.

Now, if both of you and all Black Americans had complete independence from White America on a portion of this continent that we could call our very own country with borders, neither of you would be talking about these White people made problems we have now, am I right or am I wrong?

What say you?

Friday, July 24th 2009 at 7:15PM

Harry Watley
const. contractor/ retired at self

Hello Mr. Amos,

As I told Mr. Emmanuel, you do not have a mind to mold our children’s mind, since your mind is not properly molded as it is.

In other words, if you don’t have the intelligence to see that we need a permanent solution we will continued to spin around in circles as all those previous to us has done. What Mr. Frederick Douglass and the other Black leaders left us was the same circle they uselessly spun in, am I right or am I wrong? Do you see my point?

Our permanent solution is for us to desire to become a sovereign people on a portion of this continent that we could call our very own country. This portion is what our slave ancestors left us.

If you believe me, it will happen for us. Not all other solutions are workable.

What say you?

Friday, July 24th 2009 at 7:30PM

Harry Watley
const. contractor/ retired at self

Hello Mr. Maxwell,

I rationally disagree with you. You feel that the solution has to come from the parents impressing upon their children responsibilities. Now, given the best scenario, as the wealthy and affluent Blacks show on CNN Black in America the other night that hosts the tuxedo balls once a year are still subjugated people in mink coats with doctorate degrees. In other words, what I am saying is that even the wealthy and educated do not have the insight to see that our solution lies in our sovereignty. No one, two or even an organization up a few 100 Blacks can rise above the degradation of their people to say they are successful. The world looks at them as educated ignorant people

Until the best of us can civilize the worst of us in our own country without outside influence, none of us is worth a damn in the world of civilized people.

We all as an entire people must become a sovereign people or have complete independence from White America on a portion of this continent that we could call our very own country, with borders. When this happens, we will become a people that humankind has never seen before, or will see again.

Only one man and that is the anointed one of God could lead us into sovereignty as Moses led his people out of bondage in Egypt.

What say you?

Friday, July 24th 2009 at 8:01PM

Emmanuel Brown

To Irma - I believe that you did not understand what I wrote, because the point was to make changes and impacts even when we are not able to do so on our own. I am not saying that this is the best way to raise our children, the only way, or the only problem.... Just one of many.

Black people commit crimes, but the post was not about the black people committing crimes it was about telling your children about what happens if they become one of those statistics (1 in 15 people have some form of legal issues and 40 children were killed in chicago in 10 months (1 child every week and they were more than likely murder by another child.))

I do not believe that ALL BLACKS: steal, are on drugs, in gangs ,school drop outs, lazy, stupid, worthless, etc. and the Black mother is worthless / even the cause of our race being unworthy of respect, equality, ect. I also believe that, even the so-called best of us have flaws and areas that we are weak in.

Diamonds do not begin as diamonds.
Saturday, July 25th 2009 at 12:11AM

Emmanuel Brown

To Mozell - "We have to teach the youth the ramifications of mis-steps of legal consequence are far more reaching than they realize." That was half the point of the post and the other half was that people who have not been in those situations can not teach our children these things from knowledge...research from a distance maybe. I will do my best to teach and find teachers for those who want to be taught.

Those statistics that you listed are heartbreaken, but they are true.

Teach them , inform them pray for them..
Saturday, July 25th 2009 at 12:35AM

Emmanuel Brown

To Clark Maxwell - Children have to be held accountable for their actions and parents can not spare the rod with them, but I feel much better when I teach my children to avoid ending up on the receiving end of my discipline or anyone else's.

My children see that I work everyday, that I make sure that I avoid negative consequences when I can, and that I feel that they have the power to become whatever they set their focus on. Most children are extremely visual, and the one's that are committing crimes see this behavior somewhere. I will not point a finger towards who shows them how to commit a crime, but it is not always a parent. The reason that I use (a) is because of the fact that I was raised by 1 parent in the neighborhood that is in the background of my picture. One thing that is very clear to me about that neighborhood and many others just like it, is that there are very visual pictures of negative role models that have made it away from the neighborhood. The problem is that the consequences don't seem as terrible, because they are not seen 1st hand.
Saturday, July 25th 2009 at 12:58AM

Emmanuel Brown

To Mozell - I will do just that as much as I can.
Saturday, July 25th 2009 at 2:03AM

Emmanuel Brown

You are right Irma and I have to apologize for that. I think I got more focused on the the topic being twistd in the later comments and trying to resppond to everyone. I always have respected your thoughts and still do.
Saturday, July 25th 2009 at 2:59AM

MIISRAEL Bride
Author/Writer at Self

Emmanuel your blog is filled with postive ideals for youth and young adults. I think it's totally great. I however, ( as a person of Christ,) I should reinterate how families have left the ways and commandments of God. The latest generation of children are becoming a very difficult generation in they often are not taught about following ways of God ; or even in seeking or hearing the Lord's word in all situations of life. This makes it easier for them to lose their in ways of the "wide road" I do commend your efforts and encourage you to keep striving at trying to show them what is right. Some may be reading and may take in account what you have written. Best to you!
God's Blessings.
Saturday, July 25th 2009 at 9:27AM