On October 16, 1995, The Million Man March took place in Washington D.C. Black men in the hundreds of thousands convened on our nation’s capital to self-reflect, evaluate, and create a collective and meditative focus on fixing the issues that plague African American men, communities and families.
However, since that time, much has been done, but much has also fallen to the wayside, which makes this coming weekend’s, State of Black Men Tour, that will be hitting Dallas, October 29-30, as meaningful, necessary, and crucial to local Black men as The Million Man March was to a nation of brothers nine years ago.
The State of Black Men Tour is intended to create a space for a serious discussion about Black manhood by, for, and about Black men. The outcome of these discussions is hoped to be proactive, meaning that what comes out of them will be seriously committed to and implemented by Black men as a responsible initiative to self, Black women, children and community stemming from a love that is not rooted in self-hatred, hatred of women, patriarchy/misogyny, or habits of a self-destructive nature.
Author, speaker, and activist, Kevin Powell is slated as the keynote speaker for Friday’s town hall meeting, which includes a 3-panel roundtable discussion facilitated by local AIDS activist and 97.9 The Beat, radio personality Kevin “Action” Jaxson. These panelists are currently some of Dallas’ most respected grassroots-active leaders, artists and activists.
Omar Jahwar, founder of Vision Regeneration, an organization that targets “at-risk” youth involved in gangs. Under Brother Jahwar’s leadership, Vision Regeneration has been responsible for decreasing gang activities in South Dallas’ highest crime areas. Also on the panel is photographer, video historian/educator, and activist, Dave Herman. Mr. Herman facilitates a youth-centered photojournalism program, Through the Eyes of Children. His program is highly regarded with local and regional community organizations and has been successful in the Dallas Independent School District at schools such as Charles Rice elementary, Joseph J. Rhodes elementary, Lincoln Magnet high school, Pearl C. Anderson middle school, and H.S. Thompson Learning Center. The third panelist, Rickie Clark, Founder/CEO of DA Village, a comprehensive youth development center, has the most extensive history of working with “at-risk” youth and he also trains in Rights of Passage for young Black males.
A highly sought after lecturer and commentator, Kevin Powell is producing these town hall meetings across the United States, covering 25 cities. Believing his life calling is to be a servant of the people, Powell plans to run for political office in 2006 in his home state of New York. After his keynote address on Friday, Mr. Powell will be signing his latest literary contribution, Who’s Gonna Take the Weight? Manhood, Race and Power in America (Three Rivers Press-Crown Publishing Group/Random House).
Friday’s Town Hall Meeting is free and open to the public. However, Saturday is a different story. With a keen focus on Black men and Black men only, Saturday’s workshops and discussions are for “men and boys only.” No press, no sisters allowed, which is respected. With a “dream team core” of experts landing in Big D, The Economic Empowerment workshop, which goes from 10:00 am to noon, will be lead by Christopher Brooks of Detroit, the Fatherhood workshop, running from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, will be led by Charlie Braxton. Mr. Braxton is a music historian and journalist out of Mississippi; and the Relationship workshop, lasting from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm, will be lead by Cheo Tyehimba, a writer/activist out of Oakland, California. There will be a lunch break from Noon to 1:00pm.
All workshops will be held at the Black Forest Theatre located at 1920 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
For more information, please call 214-939-ARTS.