Exposing Youth to African American History

I am coordinating the Saturday Detention program where I work.  For the last few months I have been showing Eyes on the Prize and today, Spike Lee's 4 Little Girls. While they are watching, I felt compelled to write this blog.   I firmly believe that as much exposure we can give our young people the better.  It is my opinion that integration has not had the effect intended on our communities.  Everything that was given as to why African Americans were not desired in neighborhoods or the schools, our young people who generally having no knowledge of the Modern Civil Rights Movement, act as if they read a play book.  Test scores, reading levels, jobless rates, crime, the rate that Black men are jailed are issues in the Black community with rates higher than most other communities.  I understand that there are many other social issues in play.  But as a teacher, I get disheartened when I see the behavior and the lack of caring from our children.  Bringing home F's is OK.  Parents have all but lost control in many homes.  Students refuse to put forth an effort to learn skills despite teachers employing best practices in the classroom.  I feel they have no connection to the struggle.  They do not see a connection with The Movement and their lives.  I have taught children in the county areas of St. Louis and they have no idea that 30-40 years ago blacks did not live in their neighborhoods, let alone go to the schools they attend.  There is no pride.  I try in my own little corner of the world to expose my students to as much history as I can about the local area.  I will explain why North St. Louis and parts of North County are predominantly black and parts of South St. Louis and most of South County is predominantly white.  South City and County has approximately 11% of the city's black population and in North City and County, blacks comprise approximately 70% of the population. It is my hope that exposing them will ignite the desire for them to learn more.  I want them to not take for granted the education or the opportunities afforded them.  I want them to realize that the fact that they are in the schools that they are in is a direct result of blood, lives lost and struggle.  I want them to step up.  Yes, we have issues, but we had issues in past generations and I, believe education was stressed as an avenue to change circumstances.  Let's get acquainted with our history and expose our young people to our rich history.  Exposing them, teaching them will hopefully stir the embers of hope.  It only takes one.

Speaking Positively: Self Talk

Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Romans 4:17
… and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

These two scriptures are two of my favorite passages.  They are my go to quotes for daily inspiration.  Things do not always go as we plan.  Situations may arise that we do not understand.  However, I have found that speaking positively has helped lift my spirits and is one of the ways I keep from falling into a state of depression.  What we say to ourselves can have such an impact in our lives.  If you speak negatively about your situation, how can we expect to have positive outcomes?  I really believe what we put out into the atmosphere has an effect on how we operate.  I affirm what I desire.  I believe that God will supply my every need.  I know that this is a process and many will say that this is easier said than done.  But, like everything else in our life that we learn to do; practice makes perfect.  Your circumstances are real.  We must deal with what is happening in our lives right now.  But, instead of saying, for instance, I will never find a job.  Or, the job market is too bad for me to find a job.  Here’s another one:  The economy will never allow me to make the money I need to get ahead.  I take the approach where I speak my desire as if I know that it will come to fruition and speak it positively and boldly.  I will find a job.  I will make the money that I need to take care of my needs.  When we truly believe that God is providing, then we can stand on that promise.  Self talk is important and how you perform that self talk makes the difference in your attitude while you wait for your circumstances to change.  I will continue to speak those things that be not as though they were.  I will continue to proclaim my desires in the affirmative and wait with joy as God fulfills His promises for me in my life. 

Worthy Words

Two weeks ago, I went to a Teacher Job Fair for the areas independent schools and met a very nice woman who at 65 had retired, but only having 8 years in the public school system, her retirement check was just not doing it.   She had worked in Catholic Schools and in the private sector and had some savings.  We joked that we would be working the rest of our lives. But, it is true for those of us who entered the system late to feel like there is no end, like she did. Or, like me, who pulled their money out to invest in a business or needed the money for other reasons and now find themselves starting over to feel we will be working until death.    We talked every time we ran into each on the gym floor as we navigated the tables dropping off resumes and trying to make that impression that would set us apart.  As I shared tidbits with her about different aspects of teaching children that were not functioning at level and how I had been successful, she began to reveal how tough it had been in the district where she taught and how broken she was.  We eventually sat down and began to really talk.  I related to her how I felt that I was able to cope in environments that the children seemed not to have the motivation to learn.  She spoke very candidly about her experiences.  She never gave up.  She felt broken, not only by the students, but, also, by the system that seemed not to support her.  No matter how difficult her students made it for her, she was committed to teaching them and enriching their lives.  I began to share that although broken, God wants us to concentrate on the positive aspect of all that happens in our lives.  As she relayed her fears, I would find the positive aspect of what she said and watch her eyes light up.  She told me how she appreciated how I was so helpful, but most of all she said that I had helped her begin to heal more than a year of therapy had done.  As tears began to swell in our eyes, I told her that she would be ok and to continue to land on her broken pieces rather than they on her.  She told me I had a helping spirit and that it was not just a coincidence that she sat next to me, but Divine intervention for her life.  She left looking so much younger than she did when she sat down next to me 3 hours earlier as I had helped her into her seat.  Though, she said I had helped her, I began to think of what my calling in life was.  She helped me as much as I had helped her.  God placed a total stranger in my path and allowed me to see that the words that He places on my lips are worthy to share.

Moving Out of Your Comfort Zone (originally written Jan. 3, 2012)

We get comfortable in one position or one stage in our life. We get comfortable with doing the same things. We get comfortable with our surroundings. We are comfortable because it is what we know. It is easy. You don’t have to think about it. You don’t have to put much effort into it. You fall into a place of complacency. How do you know it is time to move out of that place? At times, we have this inner voice saying to us that there is more for you to do. Sometimes, things happen in your life to force you to move out of that comfort zone. Things will start to get shaken up in your life. Things will start happening and the ripple effects will start to roll through your life sending you on a rollercoaster ride that you just want to end. You begin to wonder what is going on. What am I doing? Why is this happening to me? Sometimes, these things are happening to wake you up. It is almost as if we are walking through life asleep. You are wondering why things are not working out the way I wanted them to. You ask is this the way things are supposed to be. Or, you may ask is this it?

In reality, you have just become comfortable. You just exist from day to day. Life is not bad. You’re making it. You have accomplished a few things. But, still there are the ripples. You begin to feel that I am no longer challenging myself. You have not really had a dream where you can say I feel good about this and how I am living this dream. Perhaps, you have already envisioned that dream and it is still a just a dream. Maybe, you have lived your ultimate dream. Perhaps, you have achieved what you believed was the culmination of your life’s work and you find yourself in a position that now requires you to develop new dreams and set new goals. What’s next?
What is it that God has in store for you? Are you developing new goals and dreaming new dreams? Asking God to show you and lead you can be the answer you are seeking. You must know the things you have always wanted to do are possible. For with God all things are possible. As the scriptures teaches us in Matthew 19:26, “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” Write your vision down make it plain. Be a dreamer and put it into motion and make it a reality. Habakkuk 2:2 tells us clearly what to do. “And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.”
Being in your comfort zone can hinder you from the growth that you may be seeking. Having no vision can hinder you from achieving what you desire. Proverbs 29:18 teaches, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Set goals; whether it is as simple as people you want to talk to or organizations you want to be associated with. Stretch out; don’t be afraid. Ask questions. Take the first step.
Your comfort zone can be your hindrance. Don’t be afraid to move beyond what you are comfortable with. Have a vision, a dream and put it into motion and take the steps necessary to achieve what you desire in 2012.

Expectancy (originally written Dec. 31, 2010)

December 31, 2010
Expectancy
The end of the year is usually a time of reflection. We look over our lives and assess the highs and the lows. We make an effort to evaluate where our successes were in order to set a path for even better outcomes in the new year. I do this all the time. I recount my year and make evaluations. Well, this year something different is in my spirit. The word “expectancy” describes how I am feeling. I began to search the scriptures and at first, I thought it was just to be able to give a word of encouragement to others. And, this I did.

Romans 4:17 tells us “As it is written, I have made thee father of nations, before him whom he believeth, even God who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things that be not as though they were. This has been my mantra for years. Speak those things that be not as though they were. This is the scripture that I shared. But, that feeling of expectancy was just too strong in my spirit. I began to research scriptures of expectancy. I wanted to be able to speak the word, knowing that there is power in speaking the word. Proverbs 18:21 teaches that “Death and life are in the power of the tongue and they that love it shall eat of the fruit thereof.

Believing that speaking of the goodness and the fullness of God’s promises will trigger a spirit of expectancy in my life, I began to realize that God was speaking to me to be expectant of the life he preordained for me. Now, I am excited and want to share with my family and friends.

We must walk in a path that is lined with praise. It is not enough to say I pray God’s blessings. It is time to expect His blessings. Let go of any and all negativity in your life. Expect a miracle, expect his promise, and expect prosperity in your finances and in your health. We must expect salvation through Christ of family members. God said, “ For surely there is an end, and thine expectation shall not be cut off” (Proverbs 23:18). God already has a plan for our lives and we must remove the obstacles keeping us from what He has for us. Jeremiah 29:11 reads, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end. So, just think of the possibility.

It is time, as we move into a new year, to leave and be delivered from depression, debt and stress. Move into the new year with expectancy as God give us grace. Renew in your spirit a place of praise and thankfulness. Be expectant of God’s blessings and allow him to move you to the place He has already ordained for you. Thank God for for the past year and be excited for a new level of understanding in the upcoming year. Speak it into existence and expect the manifestation of His will in your in your marriage, in your relationships, in your career, in your finances, in your health, in your education. Expect it in your entire life. Thank you Lord for expectancy!

I Have Something to Say...

I am always giving encouraging words to friends, family, coworkers and students, so why is it so hard for me to sit down and put what's on my mind to paper.  I often get through talking with someone and wish I could recreate what I just said.  I was speaking with a friend whom I admire and consider a younger sister who told me to get on Blogspot and start now!  I began blogging during my weight loss journey to document my journey.  After I reached goal, I suddenly felt that I had nothing to say.  Well, Oh, contraire! I do have something within me that I want to share with anyone and everyone who is willing to listen...lol.  I am the type of person that when people meet me and I tell them that I am actually shy and a little introverted they tell me "No Way!"  I am stepping out of my comfort zone and starting this new journey.  I have a deep spiritual base which keeps me grounded in Biblical principles.  I am in awe of what God has done in my life. I am excited about sharing my insights as an educator, entrepreneur, wife, mother, sister, daughter and friend.   Today's thought is simply "Move out of your comfort zone and just do it!"