Is Obama inspiring black men to step up? A recent article pointed out some facts that could indicate that this is indeed happening. John Blake of CNN points out:
- Three of the nation's largest black fraternities have formed a partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. The fraternities -- Omega Psi Phi, Alpha Phi Alpha and Kappa Alpha Psi -- are holding a summit in Atlanta, Georgia, in December to decide how to recruit more black men as mentors.
- About 800 more African-American men have become big brothers since Obama's election
- A record number of black men -- 650,000 -- participated this year in an annual Million Father March.
- A foundation headed by billionaire George Soros, an Obama supporter, is investing $15 million in a three-year campaign to help black men.
Hearing some of these numbers makes me smile. When I was in college I use to mentor for a school called Bruce Monroe, and everyday I hoped that more black men would walk threw those doors and request to become a mentor. There were so many little black boys dying to have a strong black male figure in their life. If Obama is indeed helping black men step up, then if he doesn't do anything else, that is a lot in my book. It is like Obama has become the black male figure that black men across the country were looking for. I hope that everyday he is a reminder of how a little black boy being raised in a single parent home, barely seeing his father, can still achieve without making excuses for his situation.
If Obama hasn't made you step up, or you simply want to be involved, I have included a few organizations that you can volunteer for:
100 Black Men of America, Inc.
Volunteer at your local YMCA
Search for mentor programs in your local school
Do something today....because tomorrow might be too late!
Do you think that black men are stepping up?
-Keep Up!
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