July 2001 Black Male of the Month

Just this past Sunday, our church, Galilee Baptist Church in Suitland, Maryland, held its Men's Day. At the 11 am services, Men Under Construction, the program he developed for young men 13 to 21, held it's Rites of Passage ceremonies. I wish you could have seen the faces of the graduates' mothers when their sons presented them with a dozen roses. You should have seen the looks of pride on the faces of the fathers as they placed the Kente cloths around the graduates' necks.

If you could have seen the beaming faces of the graduates' relatives you would have also been able to understand why there wasn't a dry eye in the place. My husband spent 15 straight Saturdays tranforming a group of pouting wannabe thugs into a platoon of sharp, brilliant, well-spoken, well-dressed young men. Everyone in our church was so proud. He's been doing it since 1992. He's helped and taught over 300 young men within that time period. The program is now being used in churches in Detroit, Dallas, Baltimore, and Richmond.

Demitri said it was a good feeling to actually be blessed enough to see the assignment GOD gave you carried out and finished. He said so many start the ball rolling but so seldom are afforded the opportunity to see the job finished. Did I mention the Pastor asked him to Chair the Chairman of our Deacon's Ministry's retirement Dinner. Demitri even wrote, produced, and directed a movie about the man's life. It was a success. I suppose that's why our Pastor asked him to be the temporary Director of our Media Ministry.

Earlier this year, Blacks In Government (B.I.G.) asked him out to Sacremento, California, to conduct a workshop on successfully moving the African American family into the 21st Century. It was such a success we've been asked to return in August. We're currently in negotiations with a major publishing house that has expressed a great deal of interest in the book he wrote for our daughter, "Dear Rhonda - Twelve Letters to My Daughter and Her Sisters." His words of encouragement have been heard at graduation celebrations and atheletic banquets.

As an assistant coach at Gwynn Park Senior High School in Brandywine, Maryland, he helped motivate them to the Maryland State High School Football Championship lasy year. (Their first ever!) He's working with them again this year. He often drives 50 miles from Gaithersburg (where he works) to Brandywine to help with practice. During the summer practices he would work with the kids in the morning practices and then go to work 8 to 10 hours in the afternoon. All this for no pay.

If you ask him about it, he'll just say, I must work the works of HIM that sent me while it is day because soon night time will come when no one can work." When faced with a problem, he just sings, "Let's Face the Music and Dance." His loving care and concern for our daughter, Rhonda, has made her confident with an independent streak that encouraged her to apply, attend, and make the Dean's List of a college where she knew no one and had to make all new friends. Those two are quite a pair. He's a good man and worthy of your Black Male of the Month award.

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