Monday, September 30, 2013

Who’s Under That Sheet?


“At least I could see if I could do something about the racist terrorists in our backyard.”
                                                 William Stetson Kennedy


Hotep,

That powerful statement was made, from the context of a patriot, who was prohibited from serving his country during World War II.  His back injury may have left him unable to fight abroad, but Mr. William Stetson Kennedy stood firm on the front line of the fight against racism in America.  Ya heard?

The author and folklorist took the term “undercover” to new heights when he infiltrated the notorious Ku Klux Klan in the 1940’s.  He exposed their folklore – all of their secret handshakes, passwords and how silly they were, dressing up in white sheets.  I guess I don’t have to tell you how dangerous it was – back then – for a white man to take a stand against the powers that be.

Today, these racial terrorists no longer have to hide under bed linens to make their presence felt in our society, but the occasional public sheet bearing continues to exist.  In modern day, they acquire permits to exercise their constitutional right, to freely express themselves; similar to an Anti-Death Penalty March, or a Cure for Cancer Walk-a-thon.  Is it just me, or do you too see something wrong with this picture?

How is it possible for the Ku Klux Klan to still exist?  I mean, the many decades of hanging people from trees, the burning of crosses on people’s property and the burning of churches, should result in the demise of such a horrid institution…not true.  This was the degree of terror that caused Stetson Kennedy to take his stand.  The fact that the KKK is permitted to publicly adorn themselves with the white sheets that symbolize their reign of terror is disgraceful.  Not only to this country, but it’s a disgrace to humanity as a whole.  Na mean?

Now, there will be some who will say:  “Who is he to talk? He’s a death row prisoner transmitting through the blogosphere.”  This is so true.  The same laws that support a KKK rally also allows me to be all up in your cyberspace.  Real talk.  But, there’s a slight difference in what I do and the hatred they spew.  I’m trying to make a change for the better, as the embodiment of racial injustice.  The KKK and their many supporters believe that racial injustice is a platonic relationship between a black Mann and a white woman.  Feel me?

Our societal conditions are enveloped by the metaphorical white sheet that symbolizes white supremacy.  Crack cocaine continues to poison the minds of our youth and pollutes the streets they walk on.  Police brutality continues to run high in poverty – stricken communities and minorities overwhelmingly populate the death row housing units throughout the United States.  Word is bond!

As long as we continue to think of only ourselves, and close our eyes and ears to the reality surrounding us, we will be draping our existence with the same white sheet that represents hate, racial injustice and murder.  Ya heard?  So I ask you: “Who’s Under that Sheet?”

Rest in peace, Mr. Stetson Kennedy, 1916-2011.  Job well done.

Keep it 100,

MannofStat
Copyright © 2013 by Leroy Elwood Mann


Sunday, September 15, 2013

5 Words


Hotep,

The pride of a grandparent, it’s an emotion elusive to my day-to-day existence.  That is; until the day you took your first breath. 

“Jessica had the Baby.” Four words that pushed my chest forward; my shoulders back; and angled my head to the sky.  Four words that will be a gift that continues to give to the generations of Manns to come.  Feel me?

It escapes me how the first five years of your life is already a landmark in my own.  Where has the time gone, Lil’ Mann?  To be perfectly honest, I don’t even understand this pride I feel as a grandparent.  I can only attest to the feeling being very similar to being in love for the very first time.  Wow!! Believe me; that’s a feeling you’ll never shake Lil’ Mann.  SMH

I find myself constantly thinking of ways to assist in the cultivation of that beautiful sponge between your ears.  You should have started kindergarten a couple of weeks ago, so reading this isn’t far behind.  It may be some time before you realize you’re reading much more than words, but what’s most important is that you’ll know this expression is an eternal connection between you and I.  Son of my son, this is a connections that makes the hardest of men unashamed of shedding a tear.  This is a connection that pulls the heartstrings of strangers, while solidifying our connection to those closest to us.

Daveante E. Mann, Jr., son of my son, you are destined for greatness.  You’ve impacted so many lives in so little time, that I have no other choice but to expect great things from you.  Greatness begins with its believer.  Set the bar high for yourself, and exceed your own expectations.  Greatness comes from within, Lil’ Mann.  Ya heard?

Now, I know this concept may be a little deep for a 5 year old to ingest.  Or is it?  Well, nothing beats a failure, but a try.  I’m a believer in your greatness Lil’ Mann.  I trust that this expression will somehow influence the good that’s already a part of your make-up.  It’s up to you to turn it into something great.  Na mean?

You’ve been a blessing to me, for the past 5 years.  So, it’s only right that I leave you a word of immortality for each year:  “Jessica had the Baby.  Hallelujah!!” Happy birthday, Lil’ Mann!!

Always 100,

MannofStat, a.k.a., G-Dad
Copyright © 2013 by Leroy Elwood Mann

Monday, September 9, 2013

Being Who You Are


“The biggest fallacy on earth is that you can be anything that you want to be.  You can only be what you were meant to be.”
        Oprah Winfrey

Hotep,

Recently, a death row chaplain was consumed by a deep state of depression.  He ended his life by hanging himself from a tree in his backyard.  A few weeks prior; he was relieved of his position at Central Prison, allegedly for viewing Internet porn during work hours.  SMH

Early on in this Word to the Masses movement, I wrote a post entitled, “Depressed No More.” The inspiration for this post came from a sermon by this particular chaplain.  The message itself was powerful, but in hindsight a bit ironic.  Read the post and see for yourself.  (http://word2themasses.blogspot.com/2010/11/depressed-no-more.html)

No one is exempt from the highs and lows of this worldly existence.  The key to negotiating the highs and overcoming the lows is being true to you throughout.  Even while bearing the cross – Jesus remained true to himself.  He refused to allow the world to dictate what his destiny would be.  At the hands of death, he stood firm in being who/what he was meant to be.  Feel me?

When I think of people being true to who they are, my homegirl, Dawn Staley comes to mind.  She was recently inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.  She was enshrined as a member of the class of 2K13 on 9/8/2013, in Springfield, MA.

Now, for anyone outside of the North Philly hemisphere – unfamiliar with Dawn’s accomplishments – let me just give you a brief rundown of her legendary bio:  She played high school ball at Murrell Dobbins Tech (in North Philly).  

Then she accepted a scholarship to play ball at the University of Virginia – where she starred in 3 Final Fours and copped 2 National Player of the Year awards.  She also won Olympic gold medals in 96’, 00’ and 04,’ and had a stellar professional career in both the ABL and WNBA.  That’s what’s up!

Dawn remained true to her North Philly roots when she returned home to coach the Lady Owls of Temple University.  After 8 years, she moved on to coach the Lady Gamecocks of South Carolina.  Basketball is definitely in her blood.  But, this 5’6” dynamo is much more than a ballplayer. 

She often refers to basketball as the gift that keeps on giving.  How true that statement is.  The reaction of the ballers on the row when they read our game –to-game commentary is priceless.  It’s a gift that works both ways.  Na mean?

Just recently, Dawn joined former President Bill Clinton on a 10-day trip to Africa, as part of a delegation that is following up on the progress of programs that were established by the Clinton Foundation.  “Coming out of North Philly, no one’s supposed to survive,” she says.  Helping people on an international scale is simply who she is.  Basketball was merely the vessel to bring it to fruition.  Dawn is everything right about being who you are.  Word is bond!

The chaplain taking his own life isn’t encouraging for anyone searching for meaning.  I can only hope that people will use this type of tragedy to discourage them from giving up on the development of the bigger picture.  At your lowest point in life, you can make a positive difference in someone else’s.

North Philly embraces your life achievements, Dawn.  You inspire a Mann to keep pushing when it seems the world is applying a full court press.  From point guard to point guard; thanks for being who you are.  Ya heard?

“Following a leader isn’t enough.  You must be true to your own calling to succeed.”
-Mitzi Miller, Editor –in Chief of Jet Magazine.

Always 100,

MannofStat, NP 4Life
Copyright © 2013 by Leroy Elwood Mann

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Provisional Existence of Unknown Limit


“He who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how.”
   Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzche

Hotep,

I’m sure the above quote has you wondering how your MannofStat came across the literary expression of a German philosopher.  Right?  Well, believe it or not, I’m currently enrolled in a reading and writing class with 20 other residents from the row.  Dr. Peter Kuhns coordinated “Writing from Captivity”.  We meet every Wednesday, from 3-4:30 p.m.  This class is the first of it’s kind, and is so worthy of being chronicled in the W2TM vault.  Na mean?

Our initial reading assignment was a book entitled, “Man’s Search For Meaning.” A story chronicling the experiences of Dr. Viktor E. Frankl, while being held captive in Nazi concentration camps throughout Poland.  This is how I came across that high-powered quote from Nietzche; more from him later. Aight?

This book is a powerful read.  The concentration camp experiences are very similar to my present day confinement.  Now, I won’t deny my 2000-calorie diet portions are far more plentiful than Dr. Frankl’s periodical rations of bread and water.  It’s more of the psychological warfare he speaks of that connects my personal struggle to his own.

One facet of this literary work speaks of how prison life is designed to strip a person of everything he/she has known themselves to be.  A prime example of how a state manufactured inferiority complex is imposed upon a person is by including the term “inmate” with your name.  Or, the way I’m forced to add my prison number to my outgoing mail.  If my state issued identity number isn’t written beside my name, my mail won’t leave the prison mail room.  Word is bond!!

I can strongly relate to Dr. Frankl’s perspective of prisoners becoming desensitized to the brutality of their environment, as a means of coping with their horrific experiences.  I gotta tell you People; after enduring 35 executions – here at Central Prison – discussing the lethal injection debate, exhausted appeals and clemency hearings are as emotionless as the weekly laundry delivery.  Real talk.

Much like Dr. Frankl; my circumstance has bred the motive for mastering the art of living. I refuse to accept my present circumstance, but my purpose in this life drives me to improve this circumstance, by making a positive difference in my environment.  It’s been a long hard lesson, but I’ve learned that love is just as strong as death.  Feel me?

Loving a person can get you through some tough times. Just thinking of that special someone will eclipse the morbidity of death.  The truth is: love is what inspires me.  Love is why my existence will always have meaning.  Love is why I’ll never give up on freedom.  Knowing that my life has meaning is the reason these words are far from a delusion of reprieve.  Love is what gives me meaning.

Love has healed the metaphorical stab wounds in my back.  The betrayal, humiliation and desertion are nonfactors to a prisoner who isn’t a slave to fate.  It’s so good to be loved, Blogosphere.  But it’s even better to genuinely love someone.  Feel me?

So, here I am, today.  Sharing a sound mind with the world, while battling the psychological warfare of my captors.  My liberation is on the horizon – making me the embodiment of another famous quote spoken by Nietzche:

“That which does not kill me makes me stronger.” Ya heard?

Still Living,

MannofStat
Copyright © 2013 by Leroy Elwood Mann