Black History Month is a remembrance of important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. Since 1976, it is celebrated annually in the United States of America and Canada in February and the United Kingdom in the month of Febuary.

In the U.S., Black History Month is also referred to as African-American History Month.

Black History Month actually started as Negro History Week in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson. (Omega Psi Phi)

The goal of Black History Week was to educate Blacks about their cultural background, and instill in them a sense of pride in their race.

The President Of The United States signed a law repealing “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”, a policy that allowed homosexual Americans that wanted to join this nations military to serve only if they didn’t reveal publicly that they were in fact homosexual. This was a “compromise”, yes compromise reached by the liberal titian himself, Bill Clinton while President. He could not drum up the support for gays to serve in the military openly, so in order for them to serve at all, they had to “not tell” they where homosexual, in exchange the army, navy and air force could “not ask” if they where gay. So basically, as long they hid the fact that they were homosexual they could risk there lives for America, the minute they where “out”, they where out if you can excuse the bad pun.

That policy, which is as ridiculous as it sounds, will soon come to an end. Those that serve our country that also happen to be homosexual will be given the same opportunity to be as truthful as possible as the next man and woman.

What President did today by signing this repeal is the single biggest advance in civil rights this country has seen since the signing of the last Civil Rights Act in 1964. As we struggle, constantly to be a more perfect union, what can be fundamentally more wrong than denying a man or woman the right to die for this country because of whom they spend there nights alive with.

To those that say that you can’t compare the Black Civil Rights movement to the current Gay Civil Rights movement, I agree with you. While you can hide your sexual preference  if you want or have to, you can’t hide the color of your skin. But I also say this, if black people could have hid there skin color in 1948, there would have been a “don’t ask, don’t tell compromise” two generations earlier. Just because someone can try and lie about who they are doesn’t make it any more fair or right to make them have to.  Numerous light skin African Americans “passed” for white during the time period of 1950-1980′s. Several cultural issues still exist in the black community because of this. Just cause they could fake it, doesn’t mean it was any easier for them to make it.

To those that say that this decision and repeal will cause disruption in the military, however, if you that was the same thing said in 1948. We are in two wars today, we had just exited our second World War then, and was just a few years from the Korean War. In 1948, the military got over it, they evolved, and they will again today. And any one who thinks the military is not up to this task, has a scary view on the abilities of this countries military and military leaders.

To the social issue, there is no social issue.  If being gay was not OK  in your house, its not anymore OK today because there is no more don’t ask don’t tell. A few years from now, when gay marriage becomes a reality whether by court order or by another act of Congress, if being gay was not OK  in your household, its not going to be anymore OK because a man can marry a man. The same way if being black was not OK, it didn’t become OK because of the Civil Rights Movement. So, as long as we give tax breaks and make laws that are different for people that are married, homosexual Americans should be  able to get married just like any other Americans. Little gay boys and girls are not going to all of a sudden get the courage to come out because of a federal law, as sad as that is. Heterosexual males and females are not going to “turn” homosexual because of a repeal of bad law that should not have been in place in the first place. In your household, in America, you get to decide what is allowed or not allowed. But in America, what happens in your household does not get to decide what happens to all of us. The majority decides, but the human and civil rights of the minority must be protected.

No. Not a  social issue. Its an American issue. As Americans we believe that you should be able to pray to the God you want, work where you want, and marry who you want. They hate us because we are what…because we are “free”. I live in a country where gay men can serve in the military, when in Saudi Arabia and Iran…its not don’t ask don’t tell. Its if you tell, you will not live. I live in a country where a woman who is different and may not have my social or religious views as me can still be my colleague. Because she is not judge by her sexuality, but by the content of her character, the results or her work, and by the fact that she is American.

Not an issue of the deterioration of our society, but an issue of justice. Let us never forget that an injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Because it only affects some Americans, doesn’t make an injustice right. What is right is equality and fairness. What is right is  a human set of standards, that do not change because how much money someone makes, what religion he chooses, the color of one’s skin, or the who someone loves.  ”For we are not a nation that says don’t ask don’t tell. We are a nation that says out of many there are one.” is what the President said. He couldn’t have put it any better.

DKW

So I was on Twitter a month ago and ran into a song of a mixtape by someone in my fraternity called “

“Ten Greek Commandments” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx8isYGpZo4) from Thousand Miles From Nowhere (http://www.icommunication-ct.com/zen/). <He actually is really good>

It a short remake of the The Notorious B.I.G. – Ten Crack Commandments (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ihPOTDxMfE). Who I think is the Greatest rapper of all time.

Anyway, it got me thinking some about leadership and what rules I would give ( based on both my successes and defeats see rule #10) to someone that asked me what would be best to do.

Now these are my “rules”, but I don’t claim to follow all of them. Nor to I claim to be an expert on leadership or a truly “great” leader in any way. I just like looking at stuff like this for fun. Also, I don’t think any of this (at least very little of this is originally mine). Believe it or not my best talents are finding things, putting them together, and communicating them in away that can be best understood. I leave discovering “new” ideas in the midst of all this history to someone else.

But, if you will. Read. Review. Criticize. Enjoy. Tell me what you think.

Or…give me 10 of your won..on this or something else…

I’m out..

“Ten Leadership Commandments”

1. You can’t be a leader if you don’t lead.

This may seem obvious, but a prerequisite for leadership is the ability to organize and move people toward someplace. This means you have to be able to inspire people to be better than they think they are. You have to be able to convince people that what they think is only the incomplete version of what you think. You have to be able to have the courage of your convictions at all times. You can’t be stubborn, nor can you be too easily influenced. It’s kind of simple, but you can’t be a leader if you have no skills which say you can lead.

2. Never ask someone to do something you are not willing to do yourself.

This is the basic blueprint of being a leader. Leadership is not about telling people what to do. It’s about identifying the best people to work with.  It is about assigning tasks that those people can do using their skills and talents to both help whatever the cause is and help themselves grow at the same time. The best leaders never give orders they wouldn’t be ready to carry out themselves if the person they give the order to decides not to do it. They also don’t try to micromanage things they know nothing about. Never ask someone else to do something you are not willing or able to do yourself.

3. Patience is a Virtue

You always have more time than you think you do. The problem is a lot of us waste time, and wonder only after why we always want more time. Time is a precious commodity, and patience is its bodyguard. Leaders often have high expectations, but they also realize that all regret is based on expectations. In order to lead you must have an endless amount of patience. You can’t get anxious or become rash. You have to be able to wait and let things develop. Patience is always key. Leadership is a marathon, never a sprint. It’s a slow cooked meal, not a microwave dish. The best leaders can rise above any situation, and see the bigger picture.  Focus over long periods of time and endurance under difficult circumstances are the building blocks of leadership.

4. Leadership is all about sacrifice

If you are not willing to give (or not in a position that allows you to give freely of yourself), you may not be ready to lead. You should judge what you have by what you have given up to get it, not by what it gives you after you have it. Leadership is about what you can’t do because of what you have given to those you are leading. It should not be about what you can do because of what your followers have given to you. Some of the best leaders are known for what they didn’t do, not what they did do.

5. Leadership is Service

Leadership is organizing a group of people to achieve a common goal. You do this as a benefit to the group you are helping organize. Therefore, leadership is a service. It’s never about you if you are a leader. It’s always about the people you are leading. The people you serve. The best leaders realize that the group does not need them as much as the group grows to think they do. The best leaders also realize that the group does not need them as much as they need the group. They say a leader without followers is just someone going out for a walk. Leadership is giving to others just for the sake of giving; few people can do that, which is why few people can lead.

6. Leaders don’t fit in, they stand out

You should never have to go to an organization’s meeting (or conference, or a public forum, etc) and have to ask who the leader is. It should be clear who is “in charge” because; Leaders always stand out from the crowd.  Don’t try to be a leader if you want to be “normal”. Don’t try and be a leader if you have an overwhelming desire to do what everyone else is doing. There are people who a superior supporters that could be great leaders, but they know that they don’t want the responsibility of being out in front on everything. In contrast, they are a lot of followers that will never be anything more than “a leader in name alone” because they insist on always being part of the group, rather than provide the group direction. The risk of leadership is that when things go right you get some of the credit, and when things go wrong you must take all of the blame. It is what it is. But if you are never willing to stand alone, you are not willing to lead.

7. Keep your personal and you professional separated

To quote the rapper of my inspiration, this rule is truly underrated. You can not lead if your emotions are pre-compromised, and unbiased decisions are sometimes (not always but the majority of the time) poor decisions. You have to be fair and equitable to lead, cause if you are not your followers are not going to trust you. Trust is to leadership as water is to a tree. So keep what is personal away from what is business, and keep what is business separated from that which is personal. It will make leading a lot easier.

8. Availability is your best ability

You can’t lead anything if you are not around enough to lead. If you are going to lead, those that will follow you need to have almost unlimited access to you to be lead by you. You need to be available not just to make decisions, but to inspire your followers to get jobs done. If you are leading your organization you are your organizations best asset, and no one goes into battle without their number one weapon. Leadership requires major time and concentration, distractions can cause delays. Conflict is more often lost by indecision, than by wrong decisions.

9. You will be defined more by the results of your followers, than success of your leadership

The most difficult decisions made by those that are leading are those decisions in which there are no way to tell if you were right or wrong until well after the decision was made. Many things look good and turn out to be rotten. Even more things look bad and turn out to be the right decision all along. Therefore, when you lead you will be judged more by the by products of your decisions than the immediate results when you make them. Sustainability is a major stress reducer. Starting from scratch is often a waste of massive time. So, you will also be judged on if those that followed you continued to do the things that you lead them to do after you stop leading.

10. You will learn more from your defeats, than your victories

Your failures teach you more than your successes will, because you learn what not to do when you fail at a task. All you usually learn from a win is what you thought you knew in the first place. I hope that everyone that makes decisions think they are right when they make them. So having you “rightness” confirmed really doesn’t do much. But the more mistakes that are made and learned from in the past, the better informed your decisions in the future will be. Making you a better leader. Remember, the risk of leadership is that when things go right you get some of the credit, but when things go wrong you must take all of the blame. Don’t be so afraid of being wrong, that you keep yourself from ever being right. Don’t make decisions out of fear, make them from the prior knowledge you have gained and learned.

Shame on a Brother who pledged his all but commits the cardinal sin, for he is not an asset to the organization the organization is an asset to him

Shame on a Brother who does no work to help his chapter build, but he sits in his blue room, with blue lights, on his blue bed, drinks blue juice, wearing his blue letters, he chills.

Shame on a Brother who shows no shame and learns to live with the stigma, Sigma taught him all he knows about time value, now he has no time for Sigma.

Shame on a Brother who is a member, but not active and does not realize what’s at stake for when too many Brothers lean on the shield, the shield will eventually break.

Shame on a Brother for he is not a true Brother when most needed, his pledging stopped. There is no difference between an inactive Brother, and another who pledged and dropped.

Bro. Martin Roache
Beta Iota Chapter
Fall 1992

I’m never one to back down from a fight, but while I have everyone’s attention I thought there probably are a few things worth mentioning.

When the smoke clears, I’m not writing this to save myself. Rather to make peace where it can be made before that was to late.

It’s not about me.

This is to provide those who find it necessary the artillery needed to make peace without me. Put out fires so that when the smoke clears and the fight is over, no one had to burn the villiage to find the “thief” so to speak.

When the smoke clears I would like everyone at Hampton University to know that what I write is my view, through my lens. My thoughts and my opinions. Always.

We see things as we are not as they actually are. I never intended, nor do I intended now, to pass off my views as gospel to anyone, any school, or any organization.

I hope every one understands I’m not backing down from my previous statements, but adding to them when I say my intentions are never to expose or cause drama.

My intentions are to stir conversations about the truth. What that may be to me, is not necessarily truth to you.

When the smoke clears I’m very young and still learning. I hope to continue to learn at Hampton. But even if I’m not here, I’m still going to be learning. I’ve learned, ironically, more what I thought already knew.

That to whom much is given much is required.

I’ve learned that when you lead, even if you intend to lead only to serve, that there are things that you just can’t do. Responsibility that you just can not skate. Standards that can not be lowered or adjusted at your own will.

I don’t think I fully understood that. I still might not the way I need to. I like representing people. I like giving a voice to the voiceless. With great power comes great responsiblty. That is what I have learned.

This whole expirence has taught me more than any classes or any set of lessons that I have had over my three years.

When the smoke clears, I’ve spent the past two weeks telling a few pepole that it’s not all about them. It’s about those they serve around them. As head strong as I am, and I am, I will not be the one that says a lot of things and lives by none of them. I refuse to do that.

So…At the end of the day. I choose Hampton. I choose to stay for the three years I have been here. I choose to deal with all I dealt with and support all that I supported. It’s not about me, and when the smoke clears it won’t be about me.

It will be about the people who are standing with me when I’m still standing, or left standing when I’m gone. Those people deserved more than an angry tirade on a blog post.

Those people deserve more then to have there support of me defined by what I said, when what I have done or not done should be the issue.

When the smoke clears, while I disagree with everything she has done in my case, I’m sure the VP For Student Affairs thinks she is doing the right thing by her current students.

While I don’t agree with the system, I was the one in the office every Thursday, and recent alumni are quick to remind me that we only recently could do that. Those conversations would never be about me, I don’t know how anything was ever reframed as such.

When the smoke clears, after the dust settles and the controversy dies down, my only concern is for the people I have worked for and worked with.

Perhaps my comments where a little more aggressive than they ever needed to be. For that I’ll apolgize because what is worse than being the subject of an overreaction is responding in kind with an overreaction of your own. Justifying the orginal action in the first place. That is stupid.

When the smoke clears however, I am and will remain innocent. I’m sure that is not what had pepole reading, but whatever the reason you read (or are reading) please know that is the reason why I wrote (and am writing.)

Cause at the end of the day. When everyone’s opinion is heard. When the sub agendas are taken away. When the accusations stop flying and the blogs are no longer read. When the final judgement has been made…..You have left the lives of three innocent men…when the smoke clears……

Some of you may know, and for those who do not the situation is completely outlined in my blog post before this one, for the past month I have been embroiled in a situation that has placed my future unnecessarily in limbo. An incident that occurred on July, 9^th, 2010 has stretched out and keeps itself going all the way to today.

First of all, to all those that have supported, looked out, been concerned, or in anyway showed you appreciation for the kid and what he has done, I want to thank you.

To all those who have felt the kindness of my heart in the past, but as the shadows crept up, ran like rats, hid likes snakes, or have basically refused to support myself and getting my support in the past, I say shame on you (and you know who you are.)

Either way if you think I am talking about you I probably am. I’m three days away from a month long fast designed to cleanse my soul, so I’m get all the evil out right now, for those who feed on such things to feast before the famine. Its not until the ft is cut off and your hurt starts to skip a beat that you realize that there where leeches all over you.

Whatever happened on the night in question, (whether you believe me or not) one thing that can not be denied is what I have given of myself to Hampton University. The home by the sea that for some reason is trying to vomit me out. I’ve worked with some impressive students and some that where not so impressive. I have given my all to causes that a birthed, causes that I cared about, and causes that where not even my own. I am a person that values loyalty, respect, and trust above all else. I did the things that others did not want and where not willing to do. Was I or am I a saint, by no means (not even a bit close). I’ve hurt people been arrogant/stubborn more times then I can remember. I (then and now) refused to be anyone else except me.

But whatever my faults, whatever you may think of me, if you know me you know how hard I work even when I didn’t have to. You know how hard I work for other people after my work at the school but me in a position where I was pretty secure in my own position. I’m a Sigma (most of you know me only as a Sigma) and what we do is we help people. That is what I did and have tried to do.

The problem with helping people at Hampton University is that the school, its officials, and certain people in the Administration will do anything to maintain control. Students are not the motivation and Hampton, preserving Hampton (for better or for worse) is the major motivation at Hampton University. Whatever that means and at whatever cost. Page 5, the campus shooting, and the entire way this past summer has progressed are events that happened when I was here that prove that. When faced with a choice between doing what is right by the students and doing what is right by the legacy of Hampton, the legacy wins every time. It’s a attitude that leaves no incident under managed, means no student, professor, or employee is not expendable at anytime. It’s a policy based in fantasy and illusion not reality.

When they are people that stand up to this attitude of control, people that try and fight for the common student at Hampton University like in a page 5 the reaction of the immune system at the home by the sea is to reject and fight them like a plague, even if it means attacking its own.

For three years I gave my life, my sweat and tears to trying to make Hampton a better place. To strike a balance between those that cared about Hampton and those that cared about the people at Hampton. I would have done anything to protect Hampton even from itself, even from itself. Imagine my surprise when I realized it would not to the same for me.

So now it seems that this place that I have tried so hard to make better seems to think having me attend their will make it worse. Now it seems that because of the desires and decisions of one woman, all the work I have given to Hampton University will mean nothing. Now it seems that the immune system for the home by the sea has identified me as some sort of virus.

One thing is for sure do, the world is and will always will be bigger that one HBCU in southern VA with a population of 5,000 people. My high school had 5,000 people they never saw a great issue with me. My region of my fraternity has about the same, and they elected me. No. I refuse to sit here today and act like all knowing Hampton ( or one person at Hampton that has been given unchecked power to do whatever she wants) can judge me.

Only God can judge me,

and he knows my heart.

Let the students I helped over my three years judge me or the lives a touched. Let my work judge me and the countless hours of service to the University judge me. No, if the immune system does not want me it has more to do with it than me.

The reason I am making this so public, the reason I am putting all this out there is because I’m angry (of course) but also because win or lose this battle the war between students who seek an environment to learn and live and a school that seeks to control at all cost will still be going on. Whether I win or lose this battle, there seems to be no way to win the battle for the future.

On this old plantation in VA that used to be called little Scotland, the only ones that win are the slave owners, the overseers, and the house negros that will gladly sell their souls for the approval of the latter and former. The fields Negro, the masses, get ignored. They get marginalized, until they dare to get out of line, dare to challenge control, then the immune system begins to act.

Should I be excreted from the “body”, bare this in mind. I know where the shadows are where the students’ money is actually going, why certain money just seems to disappear, who really does what, why so many people seem to know nothing, and others with all the answers happen to answer to no one. All of this I’ve learned by working for the body, with in the body, helping it heal itself, now it seems the body that is my home by the sea would rather be in full control of itself then help itself. It would rather be defend a process than a cause. It would rather be right then do the right thing, all that is regrettable, but either way life will move on.

I do not know what will happen over the next few weeks as this process that gone on for a month draws to a close. I would hope that either way, the school that I have given free labor to for the past three years would at the very least if its not going to do the right thing put me in a position to finish my education at another slave plantation (or school) this Fall. So far, it does not even seem like it is willing to do that.

What I do know, what I have learned, is watch who you trust. As soon as they use you for what they want, as soon as the vampires are not thirsty, as soon as the leeches are full…….that is when the immune system starts to work…that is when control becomes the most important thing again.

I am an honors student and a member of Hampton University’s Honors College. I have sat on its Executive Board for the past three years under the direction of Dr. Freddye Davy. I have been appointed a Teacher’s Assistant for the University 101 Honors class for the past two years, under the direction of Dr. Jarvis Taylor. In such a capacity I worked directly with honor freshmen students. Also, for the past three years, I have been a counselor for the Honors College A+ program. In which I oversaw between 40-50 young males and females between the ages of 13-17.

I have represented Hampton University in debate competition several times. Last summer, I debated in the presence of a gathering of HBCU Presidents in Washington D.C during HBCU Week.

In addition, I have given numerous hours of service to the Hampton University campus and its community. Of which some include the following: I was a stage manager for Terpsichorean Dance Company during their presentations. I have been part of production crew for Hampton University’s Hampton Players show productions.

I am a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. in this schools chapter, Beta Gamma. For which I have served as Secretary, Director of Education, Director of Communication, Vice President, and currently I am President of the Beta Gamma Chapter. In addition, I am the Associate Regional Director of the Fraternity’s Eastern Region. In this position, I represent and oversee all undergraduates in the Eastern Region which includes 18 states and 75 Chapters.

Furthermore, I am the Hampton University National Pan-Hellenic Council
President. A position I was first elected to in September of 2009 and was reelected in May 2010 and continue to serve today. In such a capacity, I have worked directly with Ms. Sharon Trabbold (Director of Student Activities) and the Office of the Vice President For Student Affairs. As such, I have represented the school numerous times at other schools and events over the past year.

In addition, for the past year and half I have served as the President of the Political Science Club. In which I have built from a membership that was in single digits to one of over twenty students.

I am an active member of the New York Pre-Alumni and Caribbean Pre- Alumni Associations. Also, I am a recent addition to the Hampton University Greer Dawson Student Leadership Program.

During my matriculation at Hampton I have accumulated over 300 hours of community service in my three years.

I also have worked in several departments helping Hampton students. Some of which include, being a Resident Assistant during the Summer Session for the Pre- College Program during the summer of 2008.

I have worked in the Department of Freshmen Studies under the direction of Ms. Sharon Simmons. Also, I have also served numerous hours in the Office of Student Activities.

In my three years at Hampton University, I have accumulated 148 credits although my degree program requires just 129 credits for graduation. I am currently two classes (POL 403 and POL 404) away from graduating cum laude with departmental honors. My intention was to finish my service to the Hampton University community, and that is the reason I am still at Hampton University.

On the evening of July, 9th, 2010, which was a Friday, at around 10pm I arrived at the residence of 59-B in the Hampton Harbors Apartment Complex next to campus. The Hampton Harbors Apartment Complex contains private, off-campus housing owned by the school but operated by a third party and not governed under the same rules as on campus residential housing. The majority of the occupants are upper classmen students at Hampton University. The apartment unit I arrived at, 59-B, belongs to two other Hampton students both of whom I have known for at least a year if not longer. In my possession at the time of my arrival was three bottles of alcohol, which I had purchased earlier in the evening for personal consumption that night and for the remainder of the weekend. The purchase was legal because I am 22 years old as of today. I was initially in 59-B from 10pm until 10:20pm. While I was there at that time there were approx. 12-15 people also there that included; the two student owners of the house, several of their male friends, and anywhere from 6-8 young ladies that where Pre- College students that I knew.

Discussion between me and the two students that rented the apartment had been that some people may be coming to the apartment as the night progressed if nothing else was going on in the area. I am not certain who was invited or how many people where invited, but it was expressed to me that it would not be a lot of people and that the intention was not to allow the number of people in the apartment to get excessive. I invited no one initially and invited only five people as the night progressed to 59-B, all of whom where upperclassmen.

At about 10:20pm, the majority of the ladies that where at the apartment at that time decided to leave in order explore what else was going in the area. At this time, left in the apartment was one of those young ladies who were with one of the students that rented the apartment, the other student who rented the apartment, and his friends. His friends where in his room so I cannot say with any accuracy how many of them where there. Very shortly after the exit of the young ladies, I decided to go back to my house which is 38-A in the same apartment complex, maybe 3-5 minutes away.

My intention was to come right back to 59-B right after I left my house. Because of that intention, I did not take the alcohol I had purchased with me at that time. It is my belief that the people that remained in the house knew that the alcohol was mine and that it was my desire not to share it with anyone on that night. It was stored in the back of the freezer in the kitchen of 59-B, at the time of my departure. I have a statement from a Hampton University graduate who spent most of the night at 38-A placing me at my apartment from 10:30pm to 10:45pm. His statement also speaks to the fact that two groups of young man come by my house that night and asked if I knew of anything going on. My response to them was no because, 59-B was a private gathering as far as I was concerned, there was some studying at my apartment, and I knew of nothing else going on in the immediate area at the time that they asked.

I would latter go on to find out about several other gatherings in the Harbors Complex, such of the nature as that which was going in 59-B, as well as several other off campus parties planned for that evening. I have submitted a flyer from one such event that occurred on the night in question. This particular flyer was reproduced and disseminated in the Harbors Complex as well as many places on campus. The flyer advertises that event as beginning at 9pm on the night of July, 9th, a full hour before I was in 59-B. I submit it as further proof that the gathering at 59-B was not the only event that night. As well as, proof that anyone that was in 59-B, may have visited other locations in the area before or after attending the gathering at the apartment.

While at my house I took a shower, changed clothes, and dropped off some stuff I had with me. I did not go immediately back to 59-B as I intended. I went to several other apartments in the Harbors complex looking to see where the majority of the people in the area were. I did this under the impression and assumption that there were not many people at 59-B. An assumption based on how I left the apartment in at 10:20pm.

I returned to 59-B around 11:20pm. When I returned there where about 30 people at the apartment, both males and females, some of whom I knew but the majority of which I did not. Some lights where off and the main light was coming from the kitchen. I went to the kitchen to retrieve the alcohol that I had brought and left there; when I did it was in the freezer where I had left it. Upon further examination, I realized that some of the alcohol was gone from the bottles that where there. I did not know who consumed it and didn’t ask what happened to it until end of the evening. The alcohol in question then lasted about 10 more minutes and was done after that.

At no point during the night did I serve any underage students alcohol in the residence of 59-B. I have statements from two current Hampton University students that were in attendance at the gathering at 59-B during the time that I was there from 11:20pm to 12:20am, stating that I did not serve any type of alcohol to any underage students.

At 12:20pm, I left the gathering at 59-B. I returned to my house after 12:20am and left there at 12:40am to walk a pre-college student back to campus. I have a statement from that student speaking to that and confirming last seeing me around 1:00am in front of a dorm on campus. At that point in time, I returned to my house to end the evening.

I am currently indefinitely suspended from Hampton University for allegedly serving alcohol to underage students. The evidence that has been presented to me at the post-separation hearing, and because of such the only evidence I believe the disciplinary action to be based on, are statements from nine young ladies allegedly taken some point after their apparent attendance at the gathering at 59-B. Also, the fact that all nine young ladies questioned allegedly picked my picture out of a five man line up identifying me as the one who served them that night. This was stated to have occurred during a subsequent Hampton University police investigation. These two circumstances are all that are being used by the school to claim that my actions on July, 9^th where in violation of certain policies and warrant the disciplinary administrative action of indefinite suspension ending my matriculation at Hampton University currently.

The reason I believe that an appeal should be granted to allow me to continue my matriculation at Hampton University on the basis that there was not enough substantial evidence to make the ruling and that the post separation hearing was not fair to the accused is as follows:

The statements that the young ladies have made, as well as the consistency and accuracy of these statements have been brought into question. I have a statement from one of the young ladies (the student that went to the hospital as outlined in the allegations) stating that she does not think it was me that served her on that night and that she does not know who served her on that night.

In fact, that the young lady (who does not know me and I do not know her) thought that the truth was being so misrepresented that she contacted me through an R.A, and offered to write me a statement ahead of my post-separation hearing to help advance my case.

Furthermore, the other young ladies in question I believe I do not know do not know me. They all apparently resided in Twitchell Hall during this summer and I cannot think of one young lady that I was ever introduced to from that residence hall for the entire summer. Their statements reflect the fact that they did not identify me by name; rather some of them refereed to me by the alias “diddi” which is a name that I am referred to by close friends and (originally only) my Fraternity brothers. I do not introduce myself by my nickname; rather on first introduction I use my full name. This tells me that the young ladies in question were never introduced to me personally, but rather were told who I was through a third person who referred to me by my nickname.

In addition, the record will show the claim from the statements that the young ladies where served “Pepsi and Vodka”. I never saw any Vodka and/or Pepsi in existence in 59-B on the night of July, 9^th when I was there. It has also been told to me by the owners of the apartment that there was no Vodka and/or Pepsi there that night prior to the event nor was any purchased for the event. The record will show that the alcohol that I brought for myself was in fact not vodka, and was of such that it could have not been mistaken for vodka by these young ladies if they were making true statements. More importantly, as stated before I have statements that directly contradict and refute any claims by anyone that I served anyone anything on the night of July, 9^th in 59-B.

The Hampton University Police Officer that conducted the investigation has stated in the record he was given three names of young men to start an investigation with on the evening of July, 10^th. The origin of these names was not stated in the record and is in question. This needs further examination, because the three names given represent less than 1/5^th of the approximately 15-20 young men that were in 59-B from the time of my reentry at 11:20pm to my exit at 12:20pm. None of the other male attendants (including the second student that rented the apartment) has received letters of disciplinary action or where even questioned during the subsequent Hampton police investigation.

This officer has indicated that it was from those names he was given that he conducted research and generated pictures of the three of us. He stated that he showed the nine young ladies in question all of our pictures together along with two other young men (not young men who necessarily where even at the event on the night in question) and all nine allegedly picked me out as one the people who were serving them alcohol.

The picture used to indentify me was taken in September of 2007. It shows me without dreadlocks (of which I currently have and have been growing for two years), with no facial hair, and with dark green, Nike brand contacts that make my eye color appear “black”. The picture shown to the nine young ladies looks nothing like me currently and does not represent what they would have seen on the night of the incident if they were in fact in attendance. If the young ladies did pick that picture out of a lineup of pictures, they might have as well been picking out someone else because the picture in question could not and should not have been used to represent what I look like currently.

In addition, as stated earlier I have a statement from one of the nine young ladies that brings the entire picture line up into question. The young lady contacted me a week after the day of the incident through her R.A at the time, and indicated to me that from what she was hearing from other people the truth was being misrepresented at least in my case. She stated that she had been shown a picture by the Hampton University Police and was told it was me. When she indicated it was not the person that served her on the night in question, they informed her that it was me and that the picture she was viewing was my freshmen picture.

This brings into question the credibility of my identification via the picture line up for all nine young ladies. Not just because of the inaccuracy of the picture used to supposedly identify me, but because the statement she has submitted has indicated that witnesses where lead to pick me out of the picture line up despite the lack of knowledge as to whom I was, and uncertainly to who served them alcohol at all.

As to the fairness of the post-separation hearing, the lack of due process becomes a question. The disciplinary action taken against me based solely on the statements of the young ladies was imposed before I had any knowledge that an investigation involving myself had even started. I was never asked for a statement prior to the imposing of the disciplinary action, even during the Hampton University Police investigation of the incident. My first statement as to what happened the night of the incident to any University officials on the record came at the post-separation hearing. It seems to me as if I was deemed guilty, and asked to prove myself innocent without the benefit of knowing the full extent of charges against me. To this day, I have not been given an opportunity to face any of my accusers, although the only evidence which is being used to stop my matriculation at Hampton University are their words and statements. None of the nine young ladies have ever looked, or have ever been given the opportunity to look, me in the face and say that I served them anything.

As the record will indicate, I cannot say for certain who consumed the alcohol I brought while I was not at the function in 59-B from 10:30pm to 11:20pm. I unfortunately cannot say that it was not consumed by or served to students who where underage while I was not there. Neither can I explain why statements from the witnesses have implicated me as serving them alcohol on that night. However, I can say this; the young ladies did not know me before or after the alleged incident. There would be no reason for me to serve alcohol that I had brought for myself to someone I had not meet before and would not ever see again.

What I can state with all certainty is that I did not serve any underage students alcohol on the night of July 9^th in the residence of 59-B. It is possible these young ladies where caught violating the law and school policy on alcohol, faced with the possibility of being sent home from the Pre-College Program, and said the first names that they knew where at the party in order to save themselves from that fate.

If the school presented all the evidence against me at the post-separation hearing, as was stated would occur, the issue is this: How low is the burden of proof allowed to be to end a student’s academic career? I have attended this school for three years, never had any disciplinary action taken against me or alcohol related incident of any kind, not once. I have never been brought up on any disciplinary charges at all, not even a warning. These young ladies, who were attending this school for only three weeks at the time of the incident, clearly violated several directives given to them (i.e. not going to the Hampton Harbors Apartment Complex, not drinking while underage, not being on campus while intoxicated). However, while these young ladies are allowed to continue their matriculation at Hampton University, their inaccurate statements are all that are being used to end my matriculation.

To conclude a review of the evidence that is being used against me, the school has offered the statements of nine young ladies of which one was been apparently retracted, and the others are contradicted directly by my witnesses statements. They have also offered identification by a picture line up which a picture was used of me from three years ago. Furthermore, one of the young ladies has already suggested that the line up identification was a lot more guided than has been suggested up to this point. No criminal charges have been filed against me and no police report has been produced for me to see. There is no substantial evidence that has been offered other than the statements of the young ladies.

In conclusion, it is my belief that an appeal of the ruling from the Vice President For Student Affairs from July, 23^rd following the post-separation Administrative Hearing of July, 21^st been granted on the basis that the verdict was not supported by enough evidence to justify the end of my matriculation at Hampton University.

I am in a struggle to scope up the money to fully pay for everything I need to do in what will be my last year of undergrad. I took a look at my account and it reads that I have 65,000 paid to Hampton University with a balance of zero…65 thousand…

I said to myself, with everything that I know now (hinds sight always being 20/20) there is no way that I could have seen myself going to a more expensive school. No way could I see it being worth it from where I sit now. What could possibly be worth that much more? How much better is the education that it could have been worth double the amazing amount of money I have already given. I don’t feel as if I have 65,000 worth of anything, whether it be experience, knowledge, fun, or network. So what if I was at this point and I was at NYU 120,000 in, or Rutgers 90,000 in, or University of Pennsylvania 145, 000 in. How would I feel?

Right now at this moment I cannot imagine what those schools would have given me that would have been worth that much more. What would have been worth committing that much more money if I could have? IDK

Now, some of you all went to my High School and we have been majoring in things since 11^th grade. Some of you don’t go to HBCU’s and pay “real school” money for what I consider same school education. Some of you are on full ride, whether that be an academic or an athletic scholarship. Some of you have just graduated, and are entering the real world. The New World Order and your perspective on this is somewhat different.

My question is this: What do you know now 1,2,3,4 years in (or done with) your Higher Education experience  that a High School Senior doesn’t? I’m not asking what your best advice is, I’ve heard that before. I’m asking is there anything that you can point out that is concrete that you can say is worth the 20,000, 30,000, 40,000, you (or someone or thing on your behalf) has given to your institution of higher learning? Thinking back to your senior year of High School if you can…..What do you know now that you didn’t know then that was worth the time and money you have invested? Dollar for Dollar, hour for hour.  Can you identify that 45,000 piece of knowledge?

Now some of you have/had majors that you couldn’t really get into until you got to college. Business majors never really studied business on this scale in most places. Public Relations majors never had the practical tools that a college atmosphere gives you. But I swear as far as I know I was learning the same things in AP Government as a Junior in High School that I studied in Public Policy as Junior in College. High School was free, that class cost me $250 per credit hour. I got a 5 on my AP, a B+ in that class.

65,000 dollars later I know I’m somewhere. I know I’m closer to my goal..that is Law School. But besides that I know I’m somewhere..I just can’t tell you where. After 65,000 dollars I can’t put my finger on what that has brought or what seeds have been planted…..

What do you know now that you didn’t know then that was worth the time and money you have invested?

Just something to think about……

Before I begin to write about this pressing issue, I want to let it be known I am NOT a male chauvinist by any means, I love women and respect women especially black women more than you could imagine, but I see a pressing issue within the new subculture of black women which is in effect HURTING not helping the black community as a whole.

Myself, as well as a friend of mine had a very in depth conversation yesterday about what is holding the black community back from developing economically. Some may say the inherent problem of racism, preditory lending, foreclosure, etc, etc, etc. Yes, this may be true to an extent, but what many African Amercans do not realize is that African Americans make up only 13% of the total population in the United States, yet spend 1 trillion dollars a year, the most of any race collectively. To me, that seems very odd, how is it we can spend 1 trillion dollars a year, yet be the most undeveloped race in America? They say money buys you power, well clearly together we have the buying power to change our status, so where is the problem? Now, there are amongst many other reasons as to why we have not developed and will possibly never develop anytime soon. I mean look at what African Americans thrive at Pop culture and sports..where are the thriving black businesses? We do not have BET anymore lol The Black Banks? There is no black bank in america that has more than 1 million dollars. But this in not what I want to discuss here, I went on a tangent excuse me lol

The independence complex

This is an idea that is diametrically opposed when comparing between male and female. A mans idea of independence is that of financial security with the realization and understanding that being self sufficient is wonderful yet there still needs to be a backbone or rope we must hang on to in case all that we worked for is gone in a second, we set up security nets for ourselves and still rely on others for support or help. Females on the other hand believe independence is doing everything on your own and basically burn your bridges that you they have made to get where they are. Independent successful black females believe in career first, family second. Thats good and all, but when your 50 and financially stable and decide to have children what are the chances that you’ll be able to have any? When your 50 and financially stable what do you have to show for yourself besides your successful careers?

This is where the problem lies in the black community. Look at the wealthiest black women in the United States. Oprah is a billionaire with NO children, Mariah Carey is a millionaire with no kids, Condelezza Rice former secretary of state with no kids, Janet Jackson is a millionaire with no kids, and various others (there are plenty more as well but no need to write this list to get my point across) But when you compare to the wealthiest white “Independent” women in the United States you see things like J.K. Rowling author of the Harry Potter Series millionaire with 3 kids, Madonna famouse artist with 3 kids, The Walton sisters between them 5 kids (richest women in the world), Abigail Johnson head of Fidelity Investments had 2 kids, Barbara Cox Anthony daughter of Cox Cable founder has 2 children. So when you compare across the board white women can be successful, and independent without sacrificing the family aspect of their lives. Whereas with the black women sense of the “Independence complex” believe career first family later which in effect hurts our community.

How does it hurt our community, look at it this way if Oprah had 1 child he or she would inherit her fortune right, if he or she inherits her fortune he or she could for one keep the money in the black community, use the money as groundwork for their success to continue the cycle of wealth and financial security within that family, then could have children who inherit Oprahs money as well as the new money Oprahs child could potentially make. Her family would be set for life, and the money stays in OUR community. But as of now Oprah has no next of kin so if she were to die tomorrow (god forbid) where would her money go? Same with the rest of the successful independent black womean listed above, WHERE WOULD IT GO? Its funny to see how african americans mainly african american females get upset when they see Sandra Bullock adopting a black baby or Angelina Jolie adopting a black baby yet these are the same females with no kids and do not wish to have children until they have their “Independence”. Yet, the females who are having these children are the black females who arent financially stable at all. We are perpetuating a cycle of regress rather than progress. Teen pregnancy kills the African American community. These teens have no foundation for development or anything to pass on to their children so these kids start of with nothing, but the women who do have the stability are reluctant to have children because of “FEAR”

The African American community has always been at a disadvantage to develop because we have never had anything to pass on to our children. i.e. PROPERTY! We wonder why other races make so much more than us and have so much more than us. Maybe its because they build wealth and pass it through generations. We as african americans build wealth and keep to ourselves or give to charity lol

Now Im not saying that black men do not have an independence complex as well, there are many issues within the black community that hold us back collectively, but this new movement of “Independent Black Woman” will do more harm than good in the long run. Because if the successful black women do not reproduce success, then where does that leave the rest of african american community who are unsuccessful and reproducing? Yes, everyone has the opportunity to be successful given whatever background or circumstance you come from in America, but there will be more considerable barriers and road blocks for those of unsuccessful black women compared to successful black women. For example, children born to teen mothers are 80% likely to be a teen parent as well. So when a black women has children at 16, that child is already at a disadvantage immediately given the mothers status as well as the fact they are already expected to get pregnant before they can even walk or talk.

Black women I am not saying you need a man or anything like that, but what I am saying is have some damn KIDS!! lol we need to perpetuate a cycle of success rather than regress. Please become successful black women but also realize that if you are a billionaire with no children you just add to the variables which hinder our community as a whole. So again HAVE SOME DAMN KIDS!! lol

Racism is no longer “the” problem. If black Americans are to ever reach total equality in America, we must realize that fighting racism can no longer be our number one priority.

150 years ago, boundless racism resulted in tens of thousands of innocent black Americans being lawfully “whipped” or “beaten” by slave owners each and every day of the year. In the year 2000, in spite of allegedly committing several felonies prior to being “punched and kicked” by police officers, Thomas Jones may well end up a millionaire as a result of his NAACP sponsored lawsuit against the city of Philadelphia.

100 years ago, black Americans were often dragged to death behind the thundering hooves of horses ridden by sheet-covered Klansmen who were considered heroes in their white communities. In the year 2000, the men who dragged John Byrd to death behind the wheels of a pickup truck in Texas were quickly punished to the full extent of the law.

50 years ago, dozens of black Americans were being shot, lynched, or mutilated by men who were not afraid to openly brag about their gruesome crimes to their friends and families. In the year 2000, the “possible” lynching of Raynard Johnson has launched investigations by the state of Mississippi and the federal government. There is little doubt that if the FBI finds evidence of criminal wrongdoing, the perpetrators will be brought to justice.

Racism has always existed in America and, as long as there is ignorance and hatred, racism will continue to exist in America. While it is undeniable that past racism is the source of all the problems that afflict black America today, black Americans must look toward the future.

The amount and the nature of racism that exist in the year 2000 cannot prevent black America from reaching socioeconomic equality with the rest of America. On the other hand, even if all racism were completely eliminated from the hearts and minds of every American today, 95% of all black Americans would be no better off tomorrow than they were yesterday.

In the year 2000, it is not racism that is holding black Americans back. In the year 2000, black America’s most debilitating problem is the lack of education and knowledge. Based on percentages of population, white Americans earn twice as many college degrees as black Americans. 83% of white Americans graduate from high school versus only 74% of black Americans.

Black Americans are dead last (behind whites, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and Hispanics) in reading proficiency, math proficiency, and science proficiency. In the technologically based global economy of the 21st century there is no need to discriminate against black Americans based on the color of our skin.

“De facto educational discrimination” will work just as well -and it is legal. It is unfortunate that this message gets pushed further and further into the background every time a racist act results in death or injury to a black American.

Black America will never attain socioeconomic equality with white America until black Americans reach educational equivalency with white Americans. Based on this truism, “Project 2019″ challenges black America to accomplish this task by the year 2019, the 400th anniversary of the beginning of Slavery in America. Reaching educational parity is a necessary task, it is attainable, and it is one of the most positive goals ever established for black America.

Because racism has been “the” problem for more than 90% of our time in America, it is easy enough to understand why most black Americans believe that eliminating every vestige of racism is the only way that blacks will ever succeed in America. This is also the reason why most black leaders are more willing to discuss past, current, and future racism in America than they are willing to discuss concepts and challenges like Project 2019.

However, as we continue our journey into the 21st century, black Americans must be made to understand that knowledge is power.

Black Americans must also understand that as long as our legacy of being the least educated and least knowledgeable people in America continues, black Americans will continue to be the people with the least amount of power and, therefore, the least amount of success in America.