Profiles of Successful African-American Men
A Guide to Help Boys and Young Men Become Successful
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
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AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN FEATURED IN THIS GUIDE
Stand in the company of the elders. Who is wise? Attach yourself to such a one. Be ready to listen to every godly discourse, and let now wise proverbs escape you. If you see an intelligent person, rise early to visit him; let your foot wear out his doorstep. ---Sirach 6:34-36 (Coogan, 2001) I have selected men whom I consider to be successful African-American men to include in my book, titled, Profiles of Successful African-American Men: A Guide to Help Black Boys and Young Men Become Successful for Specific and Personal Reasons. First, I have known these men as friends and admired them as role models. To me, they are excellent examples of well-grounded men. Their extraordinary accomplishments are well documented. Second, I believe their life stories can help young males realize that many paths lead to productive manhood. Third, for personal reasons, as I reflected and decided that I wanted to produce a book that could give guidelines to African-American boys and young men who will eventually be men, I looked back on my own life and the successes that I had, and I recognized that there were other people my own age who were in my world but who had not achieved as much as I had. So, what was the difference? I chose 13 men to interview, and they come from very different backgrounds, but yet they have achieved success. At first, as I was reflecting (kicking around in my head), as I looked at my own success as compared to others, I wondered what the values, principles, and guides had been that made a difference to me? It might have been the choices that I made as a young boy, such as my desire to bring God into my life, to have no premarital sex, to attend a good high school, and to model my life after a beloved childhood friend’s life. I decided that I would interview the 13 men because they were from very different backgrounds, and I wanted to know the values of these 13 men and the differences because all of them also had peers who had not achieved or accomplished as much. My interest has long been to have these men share their life journey with young males---especially African-American males---as they struggle toward manhood. These men’s stories demonstrate that no one is born successful, and neither is the road to success trouble-free. I want young males to learn about men---Black men---who have experienced much of what they themselves are experiencing at this point of their lives. I want them to learn of the struggles of the men featured in this book and their strategies not just for surviving, but for succeeding. They need to know how boys just like them can become men just like the African-American men featured in this book. I have established a meaningful personal relationship with each man featured in this book. Initially, I had requested more than 50 men of color to be a part of this guide. Thirteen of them agreed to participate by completing a lengthy email survey. These 13 stories provide more than enough information for young readers to consider as they trek toward manhood. I have been privileged to know many other men, now deceased, who were instrumental in my personal development and success. These great and knowledgeable giants and builders of men include Richard Powell, Allen P. Collard, Charles E. Taylor, Sr., John Glenn Omar, William (Billy) Hinton, and Hannibal Afrik (Harold E. Charles). I would not dare produce this book without first paying tribute to those who have preceded us in death. Some ideas I have learned from these champions are included herein. Allen P. Collard The late Mr. Allen P. Collard was my seventh-grade teacher at Sherwood Elementary School. He had faith in me when few people did. He told me that I could achieve when I applied myself. When I was in the sixth grade, Mr. Collard helped me with my plan to improve my math and reading skills in order for me to attend my ideal high school. At the time, he knew that I would persist and reach my unrealized life-goals. Mr. Collard knew that I was persistent and had the support of my family. He assisted all students who wanted help. As a result, I passed the entrance examination and enrolled into Edward Tilden Technical High School in September 1962. I learned from Mr. Collard that I was persistent and had ambition and drive. Charles E. Taylor, Sr. The late Mr. Charles E. Taylor, Sr., was the father of my life-long collaborator and beloved friend, Michael E. Taylor. At an early age, Mr. Taylor treated me like a member of the “Taylor family.” Members of the Taylor family were expected to achieve in school, worship the Creator on Sundays, and practice the “Golden Rule.” The nearness to this traditional family makeup gave my life focus, stability, and a vision. John Glenn Omar Simply put, the late John Glenn Omar was a “Renaissance man.” He was an artist, a jazz aficionado, a historian, a leader of men, and an extremely spiritual man. He kept me away from the traps and black holes that meant me no good. He warned of the pros and cons of these potential tragedies and shared his personal experiences of them. Brother Omar inspired me to achieve academically, athletically, and spiritually. William (Billy) Hinton The late William (Billy) Hinton was a dedicated martial artist (seventh-degree black belt), academic, and writer. When I trained with Sensei Billy each and every day, he pushed me to the edge of my personal limit. He helped me to understand the physical self. His favorite saying was, “I cannot teach an undisciplined mind.” Through his rigorous training regimen, I became disciplined and achieved in the martial arts and whatever else I tried. |
Formats
Softcover
£13.07
Softcover
£13.07
Book Details
Language :
English
Publication Date :
21/07/2014
Format :
Softcover
Dimensions :
5x8
Page Count :
270
ISBN :
9781496925749
About the Book
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On a sunny Saturday morning at Chicago's Simeon Career Academy back in 2010 at a Concerned Christian Men (CCM) Breakfast I was engaged in a stimulating personal conversation with the late Dr. William Lackland. His insights “rocked my world.” That conversation eventually inspired me to write a book. This book!
Dr. Lackland shared some of his university experiences with me. The dean advised him to enroll into several remedial courses including reading and math. The dean’s attitude conveyed his doubts about William’s ability to pass these courses, much less completing the university curriculum. Dr. Lackland refused to let this stranger deter him from earning his Ph.D., in Chemistry, no less. Listening to Dr. Lackland’s story whet my appetite for other successful African-American men’s stories. I had a strong suspicion that African-American men though different in many ways, are very much alike. Most Black men continue to be confronted by seemingly overwhelming odds, but WE persist. This realization motivated me to use our experiences with success to create a directory of African American men. I shared my directory idea with friends and asked them for help. It was my vision to make it a team project. I got no takers. Thus, I changed the idea from a directory to a book. Over several months I researched and read the literature about successful Black boys and men. I then created an online survey to be completed by a few African American men I know. The survey delved into their childhood, family, employment, profession, and the like. More than fifty men of color were sent the survey by email to complete. Thirteen of them completed the survey. I have worked and learned from time to time with most of these men. Thus, I have had personal experiences with each of them. I wanted to use successful African American men’s life experiences as a blueprint for Black boys and young men who are striving to become successful. I want them to realize that the men that they are reading about were once boys just like them. |
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About the Author
Abdul Jaami Dawan was named Richard William Mock at birth in January 1948. In the 1970’s he legally changed his name to Abdul Jaami Dawan, He is affectionately called Jaami Dawan. He was the first child of Frances and William Mock. His parents separated while he was still a toddler. Besides his mother, his grandfather and grandmother played an important role in raising him. For years his grandparents were the only breadwinners for the large extended family. His grandmother worked as a domestic for a Jewish family in South Shore. His grandfather was employed as a washroom custodian at the Chicago Union Station and remained on that job for 45 years until he retired in 1966. The highest salary he earned there was $37.50 weekly. For several years during that time, a tenant who lived on the second floor of the apartment building that the family owned supplemented his salary with rent. It was amazing that his grandfather could manage so little money in a way that would hide poverty from his family. Thus, Jaami comes from the same underserved and impoverished population for whom he is writing this book.
In 1966 he graduated from Tilden Technical High School. He graduated from Chicago State University in 1972 with a B.A in History and worked several years as a computer programmer, and eventually decided to attend graduate school at Governors State University in 1992. In 1995, he graduated with a M.A. in Human Performance & Training. Because of his passion for all things technical, he decided to continue his graduate education in Educational Technology at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, where he completed the doctoral program in 2005.
In 1966 he graduated from Tilden Technical High School. He graduated from Chicago State University in 1972 with a B.A in History and worked several years as a computer programmer, and eventually decided to attend graduate school at Governors State University in 1992. In 1995, he graduated with a M.A. in Human Performance & Training. Because of his passion for all things technical, he decided to continue his graduate education in Educational Technology at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, where he completed the doctoral program in 2005.