Saturday, December 31, 2011

CaveMann: Back to the Beginning

Hotep,
Its 2012. A New Year. A grand opportunity to shed your disappointments of the last 365. Feel me? According to the Mayan codex, 2012 is projected to be the end of the sensible world. Be easy, Blogsphere. It’s far from my intent to stir a panic concerning human civilization. So pump your brakes and keep looking in your rearview. The rationale of my point is riding the bumper of your speculation. I suggest that you fasten your seat belts.
Everyday breeds an ending to someone’s physical existence. Should we panic? No! Eventually everyone has an appointed place and time in which this worldly existence will end for them. The fact that you have another day to even consider panicking about what lies ahead is without question a new beginning. Na mean?
When I was sentenced to die in 1997, my initial thought processing concluded I would soon meet my end. That was nearly 15 years ago. I spent the past decade and a half familiarizing myself with the tipped scales of justice. Not overwhelming myself with emotion of frustration and anxiety about how my life was going to end. Real talk.
I’m amazed by the evolvement of technology; the genius of the I-Phone, the visual escape of Skyping or the road awareness upgrade for the crème de la crème of automobiles, the Mercedes Benz. I mean, when I left the street road awareness was simply blowing your horn. LOL.
A caveman doesn’t have to be some little hairy dude carrying a club and only speaking one syllabled words. The term, “caveman” may come to mind when you think of all of the perks of freedom I’ve missed out on. I don’t mind telling you that I’m not offended by that, because whenever I take a trip to the outside hospital or go back to court, the scenery hits me like a Jetsons’ cartoon. Feel me?
Inside these walls, everything remains the same. Clothes House and sheet change is every Tuesday and Thursday. The library book cart shows up like clockwork every Wednesday. The weekly movies are shown on Fridays and you can’t get past the harassment of certain C.O.’s when you attempt to improvise their scheduling. This existence can easily be perceived as “Stone Aged.”
But, I have a whole new year to look forward to. I refuse to allow the fact of 2011 ending with me behind these “Stone Aged” walls; undercut my future contributions to the Masses in 2012. It’s back to the beginning, people. It’s a new year to improve on the evaluation of Self. Let’s start this New Year in epic fashion. Hopefully we can all get better together. Ya heard?
Happy Kwanzaa,
MannofStat
Copyright © 2012 by Leroy Elwood Mann

Tis The Season

Hotep,

The following expression was written by Chris Gregory.  You may know him from his game winning shots or clutch ball distribution during our annual b-ball tournament.  He also contributed to last February's "Black In the Box" segment (Vol 2:  The Black Family's Commitment is Legendary).
Chris is a man of principle.  He possesses the joy that comes from knowing his Creator.  Over the years he's helped me to understand how good will always outweigh the bad.  "Tis the Season" is the embodiment of the good that Chris carries around with him 365 days of the year.  Hear his words.  Then embrace the joy that follows.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Blogsphere!
Much Love,

MannofStat
Copyright (c) 2011 by Leroy Elwood Mann

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"Tis the Season"


Perseverance – Having a hopeful attitude even in difficulties because we’re confident in God’s character – (Our Daily Bread 10-17-11) 

It’s that wonderful time of the year again to celebrate our Savior’s birth!  For those of the Christian faith, we pay honor and worship to our Heavenly Father for sending us a Redeemer.  He’s known by the names of Immanuel, the Prince of Peace and Wonderful Counselor.  I like to refer to Him as Jesus, the Son of the Most High God. 
Here on the row, we have a special candlelight service.  It’s for all who want to participate in songs, scripture reading and refreshments.  For me it’s a time of reflection from joyous childhood memories growing up.  Even though it was just me and my mother at the home place, she seemed to always make miracles for me during the holiday seasons; from decorating our artificial tree, to wrapping presents and shopping at the mall. 
Like lots of kids, she even had me believing in Santa Claus; believing if I wasn’t a good boy, Santa wouldn’t stop by the crib that year for me.  (LOL)  And eating dinner over my grandmother’s house on Christmas Day was a jubilant experience every year!  The laughter throughout the house, Christmas carols and smiling faces, are fond memories seared in my mind that I’ll always cherish deeply!
This year I’ll be spending my seventeenth Christmas on North Carolina’s Death Row.  I would much rather be at home with my family, but since that’s not the case I refuse to let the state of depression and loneliness ruin the joy of this special day!  I’m so blessed and fortunate to still have a loving, supportive cast who comes to visit me throughout the holiday season.  We all pray for my release one day, but at the present moment, my family is so grateful to our Creator to be living and experiencing another year together. 
Knowing that Jesus came into a dark world being our “Light” and “Hope,” I celebrate that Light! A Light that each individual can carry inside of them and one that reflects the goodness of Him that we can share with others, even here on the row.  There’s plenty of brother’s in Christ, including myself who try to exhibit that light of encouragement and hope in this dark place.  During the Christmas season, it’s hard for some here who don’t hear from immediate family to deal with the harsh realities of being on death row. 
This journey is a struggle for me each day too, but when I look back on how God has kept me shielded and protected from harm’s way for so many years, even kept my relationship with my family strong and intact and most importantly, kept my faith in Him and His character (Being a God who does not change like man, but One who still comforts and loves me), I can’t help but be joyous this Christmas! 
So this Christmas like all the past Christmases, I’ll be laughing, singing and smiling with my fellowmen here, knowing that each day is a step closer for me getting home.  May you all be blessed and have a very Happy Holiday season!
Peace,

Chris
Copyright © 2011 by Chris Gregory

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Just A Touch

Hotep,
“Love is just a touch away.” The sentiment behind these words helped me to endure the mental fatigue of my Naval training in the early stages of my 18th year of existence.  As I listened to the legendary crooner express these heartfelt lyrics, I began to understand the weight of something as small as a goodnight kiss, a key element that would be extracted from my life for the next three months.
My brief time in Great Lakes, Illinois was an experience that taught me to appreciate my connection to the people who knew me as I’ve known them.  My fam and my hood showed their support for me as I engaged in what I thought would be the longest three months of my life.  Real talk.
The phone calls, the homemade chocolate chip cookies (good look, Moms), the many scribes and around the way pics were all constant reminders that my placement was a temporary challenge.  One of life’s obstacle courses, an obstacle course with a finish line that was just a touch away.  Feel me?
Prison has seemed like an ongoing obstacle course.  Over the years, I’ve endured the emotional jabs and dropkicks that this life has to offer.  I’ve become well trained in repelling the flaming arrows and poison darts of hopelessness, cynicism and hate.  In order to reach the finish line of this obstacle course, I gotta keep living for tomorrow. 
As the days progress, I’ll continue to grow mentally, spiritually and emotionally, bearing my scars of incarceration with the pride of a Mann who sees beyond this finish line of confinement.  You see, our scars remind us of where we’ve been.  They don’t have to dictate where we’re going and I’m trying to fly far away from here.  Zoom!  Like Lionel Richie, ya heard?
I don’t have access to that classic Freddie Jackson joint, “Love is just a touch away.”  I can’t experience the gentleness of the touch or the warmth of a kiss either, but I’m touched by the love of my peoples.  Your support has given this contender a reason to be a champion.  Word is bond!
The Dabneys, the Wilsons, the Samuels, the Williams and the Carters have all been instrumental in the resuscitation of a Mann.  I’ll see you at the finish line, but until then, please accept this kiss to victory. Mwah!!!
One Love,
MannofStat
Copyright © 2011 by Leroy Elwood Mann

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Blazing a Trail

Hannah Max
http://www.helphannahmax.com/
Hotep,

Your MannofStat loves a story about a positive difference maker; a person who has taken a negative circumstance to produce positive results in the lives of others.  This individual paves the way for others who may have to travel similar paths, but the conditions of the journey will be more familiar and less intimidating, because of the individual who traveled this path before them.  Feel me?
Now, before anyone jumps to conclusions, No!  This post isn’t about my man, Mike Vick.  Real talk.  Mike Vick is just one of many types of trailblazers.  I want to speak on a trailblazer who doesn’t own the traditional celebrity status.  Na mean?
Meet, Miss Hannah Max.  At the tender age of 13, she’s a stellar math and biology student, which is probably enough to make her a trailblazer to most of us, right?  I mean, I didn’t discover biology until I reached the tenth grade and as for math, my most productive degree of counting came as I watched the hands of the clock reach the final minutes of math class.  SMH
Hannah is a native of Rotterdam, Netherlands.  She was diagnosed with stage IV, high-risk neuroblastoma – a rare and deadly childhood cancer that attacks the nervous system.  When she was given the opportunity to enter a cutting edge immunotherapy program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), her overseas insurance provider, IZA refused to foot the bill.
The generosity of Philadelphians reached out to Hannah’s plight, to a point of shaming IZA into doing the right thing.  Hannah’s excellent treatment at CHOP has compelled Dutch insurance providers to rethink their policies on sending neuroblastoma patients to CHOP.
Hannah was the first Dutch patient to encounter these particular medical barriers.  Her trailblazing has birthed approvals in mere days.  CHOP can now assess foreign requests for care in cases like Hannah’s within 48 hours, something that would normally take months to concede.  Now, that’s what’s up!!
Hannah’s mother affirms that her daughter’s condition is stable, but could falter if new treatment doesn’t soon become available.  To that I simply say:  Hannah’s legacy will never die.  Her journey has already helped people who haven’t been conceived yet.  Ya heard?
Keep on swinging Hannah!  Your MannofStat is cheering from the front row. You’re a star in my eyes.  Word is bond!!
Much Love,

MannofStat
Copyright © 2011 by Leroy Elwood Mann