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A SUCCESS PRIMER FOR YOUNG BLACK MEN, PART 3

      I’ve worn a variety of different hats over my lifetime.  All of them have, at time or another, ‘bumped uglies’ with the impact and effects of juvenile crime.  Whether it has been in a classroom, in a courtroom, or in the streets, juvenile crime is the issue that spends more time taking—rather than giving.  In short, regardless of what you see on social media, in the ‘mainstream mess’ or in the latest video game offering or in the latest rap/hip-hop video:

             *Juvenile crime will rob a young Black man of his economic future.

            *Juvenile crime will rob a young Black man of his mental health.

            *Juvenile crime will rob a young Black man of his educational opportunity.

            *Juvenile crime will rob a young Black man of his physical well-being.

            *Juvenile crime will rob a young Black man of quality young women for stable relationships.

            *Juvenile crime will rob a young Black man of the ability to build a quality family.

            *Lastly, Juvenile crime will rob a young Black man of a true relationship with Jesus Christ, IF he chooses crime over Christ.

      Young man, let me clue you to a few realities, in addition to the items I’ve already listed.  First, your friends who are trying to ‘lure’ you into gang life with all kinds of promises of wealth, power and glory are leading you down a dark road to Hell (Proverbs 1:10 KJV).  The juvenile facilities are full of young men who ‘tried it their way’, wound up locked up, and nary a word from their gangbanger or flash mob buddies with whom they got into trouble in the first place.

      You’ll be doing the time, all by yourself.  And no one will listen to your cry.

      Next, the young brothers who stayed on the ‘right’ side of the street and out of trouble will have graduated, gone on to college, and upright jobs and marriages.  I’ve got family members who found out this item the hard way: No one wants to return phone calls and text messages from those who have done time.  Think that scenario you have seen of this in “Creed III” or “Undefeated” plays out in real life?  Rarely, my young friend.  You’ll be hard-pressed to get a second shot at the former glory that you ‘passed over’ once you decided on a life of crime.

      Next, don’t be fooled.  You may think that you are smarter than the cops, and you may think that those who go to work and school are chumps and suckers.  Eventually, you WILL get caught, my young brother, and you will discover how quickly real life passes you by while you are serving out your time in juvie, jail, or prison.

      You’ve already got a target on your back by being a young Black man.  Don’t let Satan ride with you as the lead pony.  The ‘old time religion’ with Jesus Christ WILL keep you crime free!

      These days, a young Black man has several enemies from which he needs to not only be aware, but he must avoid at all costs.  One is called ‘bad associations.  Proverbs 1:10 provides an overview: “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.”  The remainder of this section of the chapter (verses 11-19 KJV) has a very accurate description of how Modern Street Gangs recruit new ‘soldiers’, and ‘smash and grab’ crews come together.  It also covers the unfortunate end of those young brothers who are led willingly into a life of crime.

      Then, there is ol’ Satan himself.  He’s been a liar, trickster, and destroyer from the first.  Job, Chapters 1 and 2 have a very accurate picture of him before the Lord contending for righteous Job.  IF you are on the side of Jesus Christ (notice I did NOT say ‘in church’) Satan is gunning for you, even as we speak.  His bag of tricks is the same, from generation to generation (Matthew, Chapter 4 is a great example of his three main weapons as he tempted Christ).

      Lastly, there are young—and older—women on the prowl to attempt to destroy young Black men.  The tragedy of this is that many of these females are lesbians (female sodomites) and hate men anyway!  The Book of Proverbs clearly identifies many of their negative traits; from the older, married woman who wants to be a cougar, to young Jezebels who will try to intimidate you into being ‘their man’ and attempting to dominate you, rather than allowing you to woo them in a relationship.  Beware the ‘closet lesbian’—the female sodomite--who may be cute on the outside but is full of the devil and hates men on the inside.

      Yes, my young brother, to stay crime free regardless of where you live is a big job.  Yes, there are gangs in nearly every school in one form or another.  Yes, there are ‘shady’ people—even in the church!  However, all is not lost.  You can be successful.  Put your hand in the hand of Jesus Christ and the Word of God and hang out with upright brothers. Stop filling your brain with negative music, and your eyes with violent and sexually suggestive visions.  Keep your mind and eyes on the upright prize of being successful and away from crime.  You won’t regret your decision or your direction.  One other thing—the MORE your education the LESS likely you will be heading for a prison cell.

      One more thing—do NOT hang around people who are always mocking your dreams or trying to put you down for attempting to be successful.  THOSE are people you don’t need!  THOSE are the types of people who put Joseph in a pit and sold him into slavery!  THOSE are the very people who want to drag you off to Hell with them.

 *Ramey’s Recommended Reading for the month: “Uncommon” by Tony Dungy

 *SOME OF THE SKILLS NEEDED FOR A YOUNG BLACK MAN’S ACADEMIC SUCCESS

            Discipline, Organization, Time Management, Patience, Practice, Hard Work,

            Imagination, Research, Style & Spelling, Proofreading, Paying Attention

     Mike Ramey is a Retired Minister, KJV Bible Teacher, syndicated columnist and Bible Prophecy Specialist who lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.  “The Quick Scan: A Success Primer For Young Black Men” is one of a variety of his columns appearing and abounding in print and cyberspace, written from a biblical, business, and common-sense perspective since 1996.  To drop him a line—or a whine—the address is still the same: mgmikeramey@yahoo.com.  ©2024 Barnstorm Communications International.