A Happy Father's Day

FATHERS

June 2009

A few years ago a friend invited me to attend Sunday morning worship service at St. Paul’s AME, African Methodist Episcopal Church in Berkeley, California on FATHERS Day.

Upon entering this beautiful new building you could hear male voices singing the praises of the Lord.

Singing for their happiness and their salvation. It sure sounded like they were enjoying themselves this Sunday.

One of Saint Paul’s ushers guided me to the designated area for the disabled which was the first pew in the front of the church. Sitting next to me was a family of six.

Mother, father, daughter, and son. They also had a set of twins a boy and a girl.

The twins were dressed for church in their finest attire with their eyes wide open, obviously aware of the world around them.

It just amazed me the way this father held each twin. When the mother finished feeding one he took them in his arms, held them and talked to them as if they were adults. This father kissed his babies over and over again. You could hear the sounds of joyful cooing coming from each twin.

This father cooed and wooed them in returned and it was evident that both loved it.

When the mother finished feeding the second child, the proud father once again held and talked to the second twin.

They began to smile and talk back to thier father.

It was so wonderful to observe this interaction in person.

On this specific morning everyone was privileged to witness the bonding of child to father.

This is definitely something we need more of in the African American community.

THIS IS WHAT AMERICA NEEDS; THIS IS WHAT AMERICA SHOULD STRIVE FOR, A LOVING AND PEACEFUL FAMILY.

The preacher looked over in our corner many times while he was preaching to the congregation.

Right in the middle of the message he pointed to the father and his family, Stating,

“See this is what I’m talking about on this blessed day. You my fine brother are a wonderful father.

This is exactly the kind of example America needs to see but hardly ever gets to see”.

What the congregation did not know was that he is one of the few African American referees in the National Football League.

The Twins are now seven years old and are a fine example of what we can do with love and nurturing. Watching them grow up is a complete thrill. Watching them learn about life in America is a treat

Lead to respect ….. Respect to lead

FATHERS

Our great nation has lost many of it’s African American,

FATHERS.

Our nation has lost many African American male political leaders

FATHERS.

Our great nation has lost the African American male social and political consciousness,

FATHERS

It is time to “Honor Thy FATHER."

As African American males we have to reclaim the family, reclaim the streets, reclaim our homes.

This should be the goal of the 2010 African American male

FATHERS

Not just being fathers to your child but fathers to every black child on your street, every black child in your neighborhood, every black child in your district, every black child in your state, and yes every black child in your country.

It is time for African Americans to define the role of FATHER not the Government of the United States.

FATHERS need to teach and preach respect whenever and how ever he can.

FATHERS need to help the homeless and the disabled at least once a day.

FATHERS to the many fatherless African American children in this country.

FATHERS it is our duty to stop this country’s Black On Black violence.

FATHERS it is our duty to stop the drug dealing on our streets

FATHERS it is our duty to stop our women from selling themselves to the highest bidder.

FATHERS need to stop seeing every Jaquinta, Malika, and Mary Jo, and go home to your own wife or girlfriend.

FATHERS stay with your woman now and forever more.

It is time to show the world what’s right without might and that violence is a dead end street.

Our white FATHERS in Washington D. C. have not learned this yet with the seven year battle in

the Middle East...

Think about this:

Our Spiritual FATHER
God our Heavenly Father

Our Earthly Spiritual FATHER
The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Jr.

Islamic Spiritual Leader
Allah

American Islamic FATHER
The Hon. Louis Farrakhan

Political FATHER
Barack Hussein Obama

Judicial FATHER
Thurgood Marshall

Educational FATHERS
Booker T. Washington, and George Washington Carver

Political Activist FATHERS
Travis Smiley, Henry Lewis Gates, Dr. Cornell West

Military- FATHER
Eugene Bullard – pilot

Astronaut- FATHER
Robert H. Lawrence Jr.

Writer FATHER
James Baldwin

Singer FATHER
Paul Robeson

Business FATHERS
Johnson & Johnson

Movie- Director FATHER
Gorden Parks, Spike Lee

Actor FATHERS
Sidney Poitier, Bill Cosby

Show host – FATHERS
Nat King Cole

Basketball FATHERS
Herry “Buckey” Lew, Earl Lloyd,
Chuck Cooper, Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton

Football FATHER
Marion Motley

Baseball FATHER
Jackie Robinson

Hockey FATHER
Willie O’Ree

Disabled FATHER
Kenny Franklin

My FATHER
George Thomas Gray 2nd

God-FATHER
Gary Norris Gray

Being a substitute FATHER is the next best thing.

This tradition continues with my nine God-Daughters who live all over the world.

Nine ladies that their God-FATHER has guided in life, love, and the pursuit of happiness.

Receiving phone calls from the Eastern United States, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines make FATHERS Day a joyous Sunday.

This is our community responsibility and we are responsible for each other in this life.

While sitting in my family’s back yard, a sister of one of my classmates drove up and parked on our street. At first we did not recognize her.

This sister got out of the car put a baseball bat near the car and took off down the street. Looking at her face you could see the anger in her eyes.

A little boy came by, picked up the baseball bat, and took off with it. Thank goodness, because that eliminated the chance of deadly violence.

Consequently, when this sister came back, the bat was gone. It was then that I recognized who she was, and told her to come to me. She reluctantly did so. She stated that she was having problems with somebody and if she had to use the bat she would.

Grabbing her hand we began to talk and then she began to cry. We gave each other a hug and she promised me that she would not be back that night.

That is being a FATHER right then, being a FATHER in a time of need.

That is what this country needs and its time my African American Brothers to step up to the plate.

Its time my African American brothers to do a good deed each day.

Enjoy each deed, not because you have to but because you want to.

There is so much love for that little sister that, it made me want to do to battle with her boyfriend, but that same love caused me to give wise counsel instead.

This should be one of the goals of African American Men, make America peaceful and loving again.

This is the Spirit of a FATHER !!!! .
Happy Fathers Day My Brothers and Sisters