Greetings,
First up, mark your calendars for this Thursday, August 21st at 6:30pm for a symposium on the Black Male Crisis-A Call to Action. Three keynote speakers will be followed by a panel discussion with audience participation. The three keynote speakers are Thomas Dortch (past-chairman of 100 Black Men of America), Nancy Flake Johnson (newly appointed president of the Atlanta Urban League) and yours truly Dr. Mike. If you've never heard a Dr. Mike lecture (or need a refresher), make sure you attend this life-changing event. Put on by the Community Council of Metro Atlanta, this event will be enlightening and provide clear directions for next steps regarding Black males.
Second, I visited New Orleans over the weekend to get an update on the Lower Ninth redevelopment, hang out with my good friend Dr. Peter Scharf and have an introductory conversation over tea with Gangland (History Channel) producer Tracey Davis. Between taping various residents of the Lower 9th (Thank you to Mr. Robert Freeman for the interview and introductions--he lost his mother and granddaughter during Katrina) earlier in the day and before Peter and I watched the opening kick-off of the Saints v. Texans game in the SuperDome, three young Black males had had their lives snuffed out prematurely. As I opined in a previous email, is this becoming the deadliest summer for young Black males in America? Even after the Birmingham video I posted, in the following week four people in one household were murdered in Birmingham. You can view each of the videos at:
YouTube - 3 killed in 2 hours in New Orleans, August '08 (3killed 2hours New Orleans)
YouTube - Lower Ninth Ward, 3-years post-Katrina, Part II (Lower 9th, 8/08, Pt. 2)
YouTube - Lower Ninth Ward, 3-years post-Katrina, Part I (Lower 9th, 8/08, Pt. 1)
It's always great hearing from you. Many educators have emailed informing me that the videos posted on YouTube have been helpful teaching tools. Feel free to use them, but please let me know if you are doing so. I'd appreciate it. I also look to see you at the Katrina anniversary in a few weeks. Of course, you know I'll be there with cameras rolling. Speaking of which, four young Black males traveled with me to New Orleans a couple of months ago. The pictures are uploaded to DrMikeWeaver.com and if you'd like to read impressions of their first visit to New Orleans, then shoot me an email and I'll forward.
Also, mark your calendars for the historic and momentous event at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta as Let Us Make Man co-sponsors with Sankofa United Church of Christ, "Is God's Hands on Barack Obama's Candidacy?" on August 28th at 5pm. The dialogue will be followed by a viewing on the lawn of Barack Obama's acceptance speech in Denver via video feed. Call 877.588.1626 for more information. Join my very good friend Derrick Boazman every weekday on WAOK 1380AM from 2-6pm for the best in news and talk radio. Listen worldwide to "Truth to Power" via the online stream at WAOK.com.
Too, you can catch me on The AlleyPat Show every Monday at 7pm. The show airs live and I sit among four other panelists discussing various issues du jour. We're on PeopleTV, Comcast channel 24 in Atlanta. And for everyone who's emailed with a speaking engagement/lecture request, please accept my apologies for not getting back with you. It's been a very busy summer; up to and including being rear-ended by a tractor trailer, completely totaling our Volvo. I'm in the process of partnering with a publicist/manager to handle scheduling events. As you can imagine, it's difficult to navigate it all, so we're putting together a team. Be patient and we'll get with you very soon, but keep sending reminders.
That's it. Next up, the most controversial and troubling piece I've ever embarked upon. We've been working on the film throughout the summer and should have it ready in a few more weeks. It was emotional for us all and particularly for me as I had to relive one of the darkest chapters of adolescence. Well, until the next time, take care.
Peace and Great Health,
Mike
(404) 755-7200 office
Dr. Mike F. Weaver | Health Promotion, Education and Behavior
therootscriedout.com
YouTube searchword "therootscriedout"
P.S. What happened to Tent City in New Orleans?
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