Black Male Mentors Needed Now --- Preferably Black Males--

Hello ILOVEMYMESS readers,

Happy Birthday shout out to my youngest son TJ 


Doggan. He is 17 years young today!!  I am his

proud papa.

The topic for Today is mentoring!  Mentoring is

important for all people. It is especially

important in these days and times for the Young

Black Male in the United States.  I do not have to

paint a picture of the plight of this particular

group of males but don't believe ONLY what you see

on TV, Cable, and the News Media as to who and what

they are capable of becoming.

The word Mentor itself probably comes from the

Greek Tales of Homer where an old man

(Mentes) guides a young man (Telemachus) to manhood.

What is fascinating about the story is the goddess

Athena actually takes on the body of Mentor. In an

unrelated way this is how most black males have

been primarily mentored.  Thank God for

compassionate, caring, and supportive female

figures.

Mentoring, from the Greek word means enduring. It is

defined as a sustained relationship between a youth

and an adult. Through continued involvement, the

adult offers support, guidance, and assistance as

the younger person goes through a difficult period,

faces new challenges, or works to correct earlier

problems.


The mentor to mentee relationship varies and is not

necessarily bound to age. The reasoning of

mentoring is to help that other person to do a job

more effectively and/or to progress in their

career, and hopefully live a life more abundantly

more easily overcoming their obstacles, and

circumstances. The good mentor is probably someone

who has "been there, done that" before. And an

effective mentor might use a variety of approaches,

coaching, training, discussion, counseling, hand in

hand and one on one caring leadership, etc.


I would like to say I am passionate about this

subject.  I have been mentored intentionally and

unintentionally throughout the course of my life. I

also have a legitimate body of work on this subject

since I have worked as a Youth Counselor, Youth

Minister, and functioned in many communities as an

Activist and Advocate worker.


I appreciate those who have put the time in to

ensure my life would be fulfilling.  Kudos to the

many MOMS, DADS, TEACHERS, YOUTH WORKERS, YOUTH

MINISTERS, SCOUT LEADERS, SCHOLARSHIP FUNDERS,

GRANNY'S, GRANDDADS, UNCLES, AUNTS, BROTHERS,

SISTERS, FRIENDS,NEIGHBORS, COACHES, BOSSES,

SUPERVISORS, MANAGERS, POLICEMAN, CIVIL

SERVANTS,SOCIAL WORKERS, DEACONS, ELDERS, LEADING

BRETHREN, SENIOR MINISTERS AND VISITING EVANGELIST,

who served my needs and are currently serving the

world even as we write. Forgive me for the Titles  I missed!!


If you are a Mentor, evaluate your effectiveness

and increase your enthusiasm. If you are the

Mentee respect and honor the time and effort people

are giving to you.  You may not always like the

method but be sure to get the point!

My Prayer and Plea IS 4 MORE BLACK MEN TO GET INVOLVED!!