As a sibling of discourse the sloth development from a boy to a man has been challenging. Though I wasn’t deprived, being without a father had a lot to do with what and who I chose as a role model. In search of wealth, crime became my manual, serving my first prison conviction at the age of 15. One would think that that in itself would eliminate and further thought of hustling, but instead, it intensified the chase. My thinking was, “Why work hard when there’s easy money to be made?” “The Game”, as a description of “fast easy money”, when realistically “the game” is a worthless deception. If one places a game in front of a child, there’s no doubt that that child will play with it religiously. The only adjustments you may have to make is upgrading it as the child grows. This is a prime example of those of us who got caught up in the street life far too young.

Personally, my transition from a boy to a man failed simply because I was too lazy to go out and work for it- this attitude of expecting everything to come easy, have led to 8 out of 10 of us being incarcerated, but most refuse to acknowledge it. Then some (prisoners) have the nerve to wonder why they treat us like kids. Isn’t it quite obvious why? I was sentenced to 62 years in prison, and I still feel like I’m obligated to fulfill my duties as a man, that takes character.

I don’t know about you brothers, but I’m tired of being labeled deadbeats, thugs, irresponsible, or trouble waiting to happen. This is not what we’re made of and the cycle must be broken! Removing the veil requires putting aside foolish pleasures and accepting responsibility at no cost. 1 Corinthians 13:11 says it best, “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” Brothers, understand that life doesn’t revolve around any of us. The years of innocence left you and I the moment we step foot off that porch. I sincerely hope we overcome this “second childhood syndrome”, I really do.

Dr. Francis Cress Welsing said, ” The death of adult black males in the homes, schools, and neighborhood leaves black male children no alternative models. Blindly, they seek out one another as models, and in their blindness end up in trouble- in juvenile homes or prison. But fate and the dynamics of racism again play a vicious trick because the young males only become more alienated from their manhood and more feminized in such settings. They are given orders by men to whom they must submit; they wait passively to be fed three meals a day by men, and finally, they have sexual intercourse with men. It’s no wonder that they are unable to play the role of black men when they leave.”

Am I the only one disturbed by this review? Take a look at yourselves, and formulate a plan to be a better human being, it is not too late. Ask yourself, what I want to be in life, and strive towards it. I’m just keeping it real, we’re in no position to talk. My mission is to be a man. Are you with me? Then be mature!
[Abdus-Salaam]