One More for Deuce

Note:  This post was written on the eve of my 44^th birthday (7/21/2012).  The Mann legacy continues to roll on and on like a rolling stone.

Hotep,

Looking at the pictures of my grandseed is a humbling experience.  By the time this goes to press, the nativity of my granddaughter, Daleah Janeice Mann, a.k.a. Tear, will be warming the heart of this G-Dad, another brick in the fortress of the Mann legacy.  Ya heard?

The baby girl will forever be her G-Dad’s Summer Breeze, but as the seasons change, her older brother Daveante Elwood Mann, Jr., a.k.a. Deuce grows one year older.  He continues to light up my life with his shiny smile and the dreamy brown eyes of every Mann before him.  That’s what’s up! 

To some, four years of existence in this cold world doesn’t come close to the relevance of living a full life.  Well, reading my Nana’s obituary helped me to realize that every root, branch or stem of my family tree is worthy of celebration.  Na mean?

I’m not going to wait until my grandson graduates Kiddie College or receive a basketball scholarship to USC to tell him how proud I am that he’s a part of me.  Here and now is the prime opportunity to just say:  I love you, Lil’ Mann.  You inspire me to be a much better Mann than I was the day before.  Feel me?

The roots of our family tree were cultivated by the hands of honor, moxy and reverence.  A crisis of today doesn’t stagnate the progression of tomorrow.  My will to live flows through the post-toddler veins you now possess, Deuce.  As you continue to grow, just keep in mind that your existence was predestined. 

Long before Daveante Sr. met Jessica; Long before Leroy Jr. meet Tweedy; Long before Julius met Rachel; the Creator knew what your existence would mean to me, Deuce.  He knew that one day I’d need to see the face of my future to understand how to turn the key of my existence.  Word is bond!

I can only imagine how advanced technology will have become by the time you and your baby sis are knowledgeable enough to operate the necessary software – linking you to the realness of your East Coast lineage.  My story is your history, Lil’ Mann.  Don’t attempt to follow in my footsteps.  All I ask is that you acknowledge them as you blaze you own trail.  Aight?

Happy Birthday, Deuce!!  Your 4^th year is just as relevant as my 44^th. Ya heard?

Much Love,

G-Dad, a.k.a.

MannofStat

Copyright © 2012 by Leroy Elwood Mann

Potential

“You can lose your heart, but keep your head.”

-          The Conversation

Hotep,

The jewel above was spoken by the grandmother of bestselling author, Hill Harper.  I came across these words of wisdom while reading, “The Conversation,” written by Hill.  The read has taught me that anyone who has experienced a failed relationship carries some form of emotional baggage.  Now, I realize this is a sensitive matter for some.  So before you replace this expression with your screen-saver; just hear me out.  Aight?

A failed relationship is a small portion of life’s letdowns.  Life’s letdowns can be a needed push into reaching our potential.  I’m a firm believer that reaching your potential is about effort and attitude.  Keeping your head is a must.  Na mean?

Potential may apply to the 8^th grader with the wicked jumpshot, but the middle-aged adult who’s recently grasped hi calling isn’t short on potential either.  I mean, I write what I live.  My mission has always been about giving the masses a view from the inside.  In doing so, my daily expression have caught the ears and eyes of countries around the globe.  My life experience is gradually becoming a picture screen to the world.  Feel me?

Reading The Conversation has been more than an insightful experience.  I felt like I was looking in the mirror when I came across this particular quote:  “True power lies in our ability to create, to make something out of nothing, to invent in a way where there was no way, and to build what others had only envisioned.  That ability is potential.”  That’s definitely what’s up!!

This W2TM platform is notw something that stemmed from a life that is considered nothing.  I give my Creator all the glory for making a way out of no way.  Despite my shortcomings, periodical disappointments and various heartbreaks, my potential continues to thrive.  And God knows I’ve had some heartbreaks that would make me hold my breath if love was in the air.  Real talk.

My personal view of potential isn’t far-fetched.  Think about it:  Earvin “Magic” Johnson closed out a stellar pro basketball career with his announcement that he’d contracted the HIV virus.  Throughout his NBA career, most fans equated his potential with his ability to win championships for the city of Los Angeles.  In hindsight, we can see that he hadn’t even scratched the surface of his true potential until he hung up his kicks and passed the torch to “Air” Jordan.  Na mean?

Magic changed the world’s view of HIV.  I can remember saying: “If he can get it, anybody can.”  Magic taught us that HIV wasn’t about your sexual preference; it was about living a risky lifestyle.  But most importantly; Magic taught us that HIV doesn’t have to be a death sentence.  Can you feel where I’m going with this, blogosphere?

Two decades have passes and Magic continues to grace us with his Hollywood smile.  He is now more successful than he’s ever been on the court.  Magic had to fight for his life to reach his true potential.  And here I am doing the same.  Word is bond!

I’ll continue to fight for my life with the zeal of a champion, while understanding that whatever I may face is nothing anyone hasn’t faced before.  Ya heard?

“Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.”

-          Ecclesiastes 3:15

Nuff Said,

MannofStat

Copyright © 2012 by Leroy Elwood Mann

Seeing the Row through Ebony Eyes

Hotep,

I’m still mourning the recent loss of my grandmother.  I miss you dearly Nana.  I don’t know why, but I figured putting my pen down, for a few days would help keep my emotions in check.  As you can see; my ink continues to take its rightful place between the lines of this paper.  I’m a writer; my ink is my therapy.  What was I thinking?  SMH

Losing the matriarch of my tribe inspired me to briefly abandon the helplessness and disgust – that comes with the reality of not being permitted to attend a loved one’s homegoing – and capture the inside view of a matriarch from another tribe.  I’ve always liked the name “Ebony,” so I’ll address this open-minded individual as such, for obvious reasons.  Na mean?

Ebony is currently employed at Central Prison.  Like so many sistas before her, she works to feed and clothe her fam.  To Ebony, this job is mere work.  It doesn’t define her character in the workplace.  Nor does it define the woman she takes to her home, once her shift is complete.

Ebony chooses to deal with her workplace as a learning tool.  She tends to interact with the prisoners the way she would deal with a perfect stranger at the refrigerated section of a supermarket; cordially.  “Death row is nothing like I thought it would be, when I started working here.  I expected to be in the midst of savages, throughout my day.  It’s nothing like that.”

Unlike a majority of people employed at Central Prison, Ebony is far from taciturn – when dealing with prisoners.  She understands that all justice isn’t just.  She sees through the unwavering tint of commonage.  “I know everyone isn’t the same.  I can see a killer or I can see the person who blew a fuse, and now spends everyday living with remorse.  I honestly believe there are certain death row prisoners that would get out of prison, and never have another brush with the law.”

Now, don’t get it twisted; Ebony is far from being blinded by her optimism.  “I know that some are better than others at concealing their true selves, but there are some people that just shouldn’t be on death row.  I think at least 8% of the death row populace is capable of rehabilitation.  And within that small percentile (uses her index finger and thumb for emphasis) there’s someone that didn’t commit murder at all.”  Wow!  At this point, I just wanted to raise my hands and rejoice, because this sista was most definitely preaching to the choir.  Ya heard?

Ebony is well aware that North Carolina’s death row is the only death row in the country that hosts an annual b-ball tournament.  “Other death row facilities keep death row prisoners locked down 23 hours a day.  You guys walk to and from the chow hall 3 times a day.  You spend one hour of recreation, outside every day.  I mean, if a b-ball tournament has been successful for this long, death row should have other outlets.  More communal – like programs should be available to you guys.

Other staff members begin to make themselves noticeable, so Ebony and I briefly part ways.  I recognize this opportunity has been a blessing.  When we reconvene, I chose to conclude this Rap Session with a final thought from Ebony: “Once a person is given a death sentence; it’s the end for that individual.  Don’t get me wrong; you can obviously beat it on appeal, but if you don’t; it’s the end.  So why continue to persecute these individuals?  North Carolina’s death row has convinced me that everyone wearing a red jumpsuit doesn’t qualify as the worst of the worst.”  That’s what’s up!!

Coming to you live and direct from death row.  Your MannofStat lives to innovate and stimulate minds.  Word is bond!

Keepin it 100,

MannofStat, NP 4 Life

Copyright © 2012 by Leroy Elwood Mann

A Rose of Significance

Hotep, 

No matter how you slice it; blogging from a death row prison cell is a very unique method of practicing my first amendment constitutional right.  Now, you may think: “He’s locked up.  Writing and religion is the norm in prison.” Right?

Well, I won’t deny that that may stand true for some residents inside this box.  But, for the record; my well established relationship with my Creator doesn’t qualify as religion.  And this relationship allows me to recognize the significance of my gifts.  Feel me?

Writing isn’t new to me.  Short stories, essays, songs, or love letters; writing has always been my passion.  For this reason, when I’m inspired by the acts of innovation, or encounter another – whose existence exudes a go-getter’s spirit of independence – I’m driven to share my gift of expression with the masses.  Na mean?

Shane Parson’s is a 27 year old veteran of the U.S. Army.  At 27, Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix, Amy Winehouse, and Jean-Michel Basquiat met their untimely demises.  27 is an unfortunate number for me as well.  This concrete box became my place of residence 5 months after my 27^th birthday.  SMH.

Shane is not incarcerated, nor is he a non-physical existence.  He’s making a positive difference as a member of the “Wounded Warrior Project.”  You see, at the tender age of 21, Sgt. Shane Parsons lost both legs to a roadside bomb near Baghdad.  Going into cardiac arrest 3 times – following the explosion – left him with a severe anoxic brain injury.

He lost some depth perception, and his ability to read and write, but is currently reading at a 1^st grade level.  He recently passed a coaching certification test, and is now an assistant football coach at St. Wendelin, a catholic high school in his native Ohio.  That’s what’s up!

The 9/11 attacks occurred during Shane’s junior year of high school.  “I got really pissed and wanted to do something about it.”  He later told his mother he’d do it all over again.  “There is nothing that can ever keep me down.  I rock-climb, I ski, I play hockey, I hunt, I do everything.  There’s no such thing as no….”, words to live by.  If that ain’t a spirit of independence, then I don’t know what is.

This death sentence has temporarily crippled my ability to come and go as I please.  It has staggered some of my relations with friends and fam.  It paralyzes my physical connection to my son and grandseeds, but it won’t stop my general exercise of the first amendment right to freedom of speech.  Nor will it incapacitate my fight for freedom or quest for true love.  Ya heard?

My expressions are for the world’s ears.  No doubt.  But, this particular post is dedicated to Ms. Rosalie.  A matriarch who exudes the go-getter’s spirit of independence I spoke of earlier.  Keep fighting, and get better soon.

Ms. Rose, the significance of your existence just happens to be the foundation of this movement.  I give you the embrace of North Philly and the support of a fellow go-getter.  May God’s choice blessings be yours.  Word is bond!

Much Love,

MannofStat, NP 4 Life

Copyright © 2012 by Leroy Elwood Mann