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     I would like to take the time to welcome each reader to “THE MANHOOD LINE,” a column written to put forth solutions for men, regardless of their color, achievements, age or issues.  Let me say from the outset that this column is unique.  It is not a column to show women where their problems may be.  However, this column it is an answer for many, many, many men whom you and I know are tired of being labeled as monsters, misfits, or idiots. 

      Brothers, we are here to answer your question

     Before we get into the last part of this series, I wanted to inject a few things which surfaced before I made the decision of putting this column to bed and shipping it out.

     I happened to have a conversation with a veteran Minister whom I have a lot of respect.  His attitude towards Ministers and regular Christians being involved in politics?  Not very supportive.  He believes that Christians in general, and Ministers (Pastors included) should stay out of the political arena.  Yes, we s

     Before we get into the last part of this series, I wanted to inject a few things which surfaced before I made the decision of putting this column to bed and shipping it out.

     I happened to have a conversation with a veteran Minister whom I have a lot of respect.  His attitude towards Ministers and regular Christians being involved in politics?  Not very supportive.  He believes that Christians in general, and Ministers (Pastors included) should stay out of the political arena.  Yes, we

     Great political quote from the late Democrat President Harry Truman: “An honest public servant can’t become rich in politics. He can only attain greatness and satisfaction by service.” Keep in mind that Truman was one of those politicians that no one wanted as Vice President (just like Teddy Roosevelt). FDR died suddenly, and Truman became President. If you know your history, one of the things that happened on his watch; Israel became a nation, and the U.S. was the first nation to recognize

“A man’s love goes through his stomach. A woman’s love goes through her purse.”

--South Africa

     There seems to have been a welcomed re-surfacing of interest in proverbs from the Motherland of Africa. The electronic frontier has been criss-crossed by a variety of websites, each one worthy in its own right to bring the truth of what our ancestors stated in brevity on the subject of the day from ages past. However, for those who still into reading books and turning pages, such written works seem

     Before we get started with our next installment of this series, I wanted to drop in a few key books that will help men keep sharp during their venture into the political arena. The two books that I have on my radar involved Black conservatives, how politics impacted their lives, and how their families remained strong during their political careers and public visibility.

     One book is J. C. Watts’ “What Color is a Conservative”. The second is Sheriff David Clarke’s “Cop Under Fire”. Both a

Brothers, allow me to slip in a few things about the media and politics, as we begin our time together this month.

*First, make neither one--media or politics--your god OR idol. Your risk of getting hurt or deceived will be GREATLY reduced. BOTH of them are a game; a pursuit to be understood, mastered and, if possible, overcome with a political victory.

*Second, do NOT be afraid of either or them. Some media people and politicians rely on intimidation, bluff or bluster. God does NOT create a spiri

     One of the places where local party officials get access to a wealth of untapped volunteers comes--ironically--from your local school house. Students who take high school courses in Social Studies, U. S. History, Civics or American History are given the opportunity to earn extra credit by ‘working the polls’ during the primary and general elections.

     Don’t be fooled. The ‘dirty little secret (DLS)’ is, while the ‘mainstream mess (MSM)’ cries about the ‘low scores of students’ IN public e

     Those who gripe about politics don’t necessarily want to see problems solved.

     They just want to talk about the problems and hope the problems will resolve themselves, with the least amount of damage to themselves and their families.

     Those of us who are Men of color have just as much right as to run for elective office as the next person. The problem is that there are few in the way of resources available to encourage men TO get involved in politics; to build and coach men in the way

The Perfect Script

One of the most profound things that my wife and I were blessed to learn was by author Ra Un Nefer Amen. He indicated that we all have been conditioned to have a script of the ideal person and the ideal relationship. This script can include anything from physical characteristics to financial status and personality type. When we first fall in love and have those butterflies in our stomach and fire in our hearts, it’s probably due to us feeling like we found the man or woman of o

Sometimes it seems like African Americans are in a silent war – the war against the media.  The problem is that most of us don’t even know that the war is raging on; and we are losing.  Many of the breakthroughs on television of positive African American male characters have been reversed, and what once seemed like a leveling of the media playing field has turned into a 500-foot waterslide leading us right down the tubes.

It happened so fast that we may not have even realized it, but gone from TV

MEMO: KILLING THE ‘LEADERLESS’ LIE

BY MIKE RAMEY

While the Depression-that-no-one-wants-to-admit-we-are-in continues, the end of the school year is rapidly approaching. Schools across the land are getting hammered with firings, layoffs and a variety of hiring and pay freezes. Not just the ‘great’ schools but ALL schools--whether they be private, parochial, public or charter.

And the teachers said: “AMEN”.

However--left out of the discussion is the fact that a lot of school WASTE has been exposed to

MEMO: TOUGHEN UP, BABY!

BY MIKE RAMEY

Three quick things off of this month’s memo, right from the outset. First, our economy is in DEPRESSION not RECESSION. I make this statement to prepare the brotherhood for the ugly truth, rather than to believe the beautiful lie that the economy is going to get better in one or two cycles. Second, to be counted a man of quality, you have to learn how to toughen up in hard times! ‘Males’ who spend more time worrying about where their next video game is coming f