The Men of the Tenth Inc. Teaching the Truth to the Youth November 2012

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Over the past century there have been individuals that have shared, questioned, and discussed their dreams. Some of these individuals told us that they had a dream, while others asked, “if a dream explodes.” Rapper Jay Z stated in the song It Was All a Dream that “nobody’s built like you, you’ve designed yourself.” Jay Z has built himself up to become an extraordinary individual. He is not just an entertainer; he is also a successful businessman. However, Jay Z was not always successful. He has achieved success through persistence and his ability to do-for-self. He started his own record company in the early 90’s and declared that the “industry is shady and it need to be taken over.” Although Jay knew the music business need his presence, it almost never happened because of his criminal past.

Like many inner-city youth Jay spent his teen years involved in drugs and illegal behavior. However, he used his lyrical gift and strong work ethic to become a worldwide celebrity. Jay’s impact on our society is so strong that fellow rapper, Kanye West stated in the song Crack Music that “our soldiers ran for the stove cause/cause dreams of being Hova/went from being a broke man to being a dopeman/to being the president/look there hope man.” Kanye’s message suggest that many black and brown people turn to drug dealing because they need money to survive and make it in society although they still inspire to be a successful businessman like Jay Z.

What is becoming a problem is that to many young men and women view the entertainment world and becoming a celebrity as the only way to achieve success. Young

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people need to recognizing that we live in a world where not only a high school dropout like Jay Z can become the owner of a record company, night club, clothing company, and part owner of an NBA franchise through displaying will, passion, and efficacy to transform and built upon their desires. In fact, Jay Z’s will to exhibit these characteristics is the reason why he is one of the few individuals that was able to trade in drug money to attain legitimate millions through business. Although too many youngsters think they are going to be the next Jay Z, and think they are going to rap their way into success. They must understand what is required to design yourself and built upon a life of success.

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The Men of the Tenth Inc. November 2012

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Alain LeRoy Locke was the first Black person to become a Rhodes Scholar. He came from a family of educators. His father was a teacher and a graduate of Howard University Law School. Therefore, it was no surprise that Alain became such an excellent student.

Alain was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1885. He was the only child of Pliny and Mary Locke. When Alain was young, he contracted a disease called rheumatic fever. It damaged his heart, so he had to lead a quiet life. Avoiding sports and other tiring activities, he put his time and energies into his studies and the arts.

Alain went to Central High School in Philadelphia. He then went to a college for teachers. Next, he went to Harvard College and finished a four-years course in three years. In 1907, he won a very important prize for an essay in English. He was also elected to Phi Beta Kappa, a national honor society for outstanding college students, and received his Bachelors of Arts degree.

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In 1907, Alain Locke was chosen for a Rhodes Scholarship. But first, he had to pass a very difficult exam in mathematics, and the Greek and Latin languages. He passed with flying colors. As a result, it made him the first Black to become a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University in England.

But, because he was Black, he was not welcomed. Five of Oxford’s colleges turned him down before he was admitted to Hertford College. In 1910 and 1911, he went to the University of Berlin in Germany. He then began to write about Black art and racism in America.

In 1912, Locke returned to the United States. He began teaching at Howard University. He would teach there on-and-off for forty years. In 1918, he earned a doctor’s degree from Harvard. That same year, his first book on America’s race relations was published. In 1925, Locke wrote a book on Black cultural achievements. It was called The New Negro. It helped to fight racism by pointing out to the White society the significant contributions that Blacks had made.

Locke would also discover and help young Black writers. He spoke out for what he called “The New Negro Movement.” He helped to establish Black theater as it is known today. His collection of African art was world famous. In 1927, with the help of T. Montgomery Gregory, he wrote Plays of Negro Life.

By 1945, Locke had become one of the world’s most famous scholars. He was elected the first Black president of the American Association for Adult Education, a mostly all-White group. In 1953, through Locke’s 15-year tiring effort, Howard received a Phi Beta Kappa chapter. In 1954, Howard University started an African Studies Program. Locke had suggested this very same program 30 years earlier.

On June 9, 1954, Locke died of a fatal heart attack. At the time, with the help of Margaret Just Butcher, he had been working on a book, The Negro in American Culture. She would later finish the book.

Reprinted from (A Gift of Heritage Historic Black First, Volume 7)

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The Men of the Tenth Inc. November 2012

Equipment

Figure it out for yourself, my lad,

You've all that the greatest of men have had, Two arms, two hands, two legs, two eyes And a brain to use if you would be wise.

With this equipment they all began, So start for the top and say, "I can." Look them over, the wise and great

They take their food from a common plate, And similar knives and forks they use, With similar laces they tie their shoes.

The world considers them brave and smart, But you've all they had when they made their

start.

You can triumph and come to skill, You can be great if you only will.

You're well equipped for what fight you choose,

You have legs and arms and a brain to use, And the man who has risen great deeds to do

Began his life with no more than you.

You are the handicap you must face, You are the one who must choose your place,

You must say where you want to go, How much you will study the truth to know.

God has equipped you for life, but He Lets you decide what you want to be.

Courage must come from the soul within,

The man must furnish the will to win. So figure it out for yourself, my lad.

You were born with all that the great have had, With your equipment they all began, Get hold of yourself and say: "I can."

--Edgar A. Guest

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1. Create a plan- you must design a plan for how you are going to achieve your goals. This is not something you can do in five minutes. When you are designing a plan you must include all destructive circumstances that may occur. By creating a well thought-out plan will help you be more prepared to make adjustments for any roadblocks may appear.

2. Stay on course- because life has a way of testing every individual, you must always remind yourself why you want to achieve your goals. Always reminding yourself of your WHY is a constant self-boast you will need during challenging times or when your vision gets cloudy.

3. Execute, Execute, Execute- as long as you execute your plan you will never fail to achieve your goal. If you were to review the history of leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, President Obama, Reginald Lewis, and Jay Z. You will find that they were all successful because they executed their plans. For example, in Reginald Lewis’ autobiography he provides a detail plan for how he was going to get accepted into Harvard University. Reflecting on his plan Lewis stated, “This was the brief and I’ve never executed better.”

The Men of the Tenth Inc. November 2012

It is a shame and disgrace to the intelligence of any people to lie at the feet and doorsteps of another

nation, asking, praying to be cared for. Love and unity of self and kind is the key to our salvation.

(Excerpt from Message to the Blackman in America)

Self-Love Elijah Muhammad

The Men of the Tenth Inc. 750 Faile Street Suite 2E Bronx, New York 10474 www.themenofthetenth.org