Nov, 2011

The Men of the

TENTH INC. November 2011

By: LaVon Williams

Juicy Often times as Americans we never take time to reflect on what we had until it is gone. We do not treasure our valuables when we should, nor do we acknowledge the lessons that have been left behind by poets and lyrical geniuses. However, just the other day, I received a powerful message from one of the most brilliant lyricist, rapper, and poet of the twenty‐first century. To some he is known as Frank Wright, Notorious BIG, or Biggie. The message he left came from the first verve in his debut song, Juicy. This verse contains a powerful message that suggest if you know your history, study, and demonstrate hard work to perfect your craft, rewards will come your way.

For example, in the first verse of Juicy, Biggie describes how his due diligence paid off and provided him with the opportunity to live a Juicy lifestyle. In the first verse Biggie stated the following:

It was all a dream/I used to read Word Up magazine/Salt'n'Pepa and Heavy D up in the limousine/Hangin' pictures on my wall /Every Saturday Rap Attack, Mr. Magic,

pg. 4

Will to Live

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A footballs player’s struggle to survive.

Stir Yourselves

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Life Lessons from Marcus Garvey

November 2011

“Born sinner, the opposite of a winner /Remember when I used to eat sardines for dinner”

Untouchable I remember when Mrs. King and I were in India, we journeyed down one afternoon to the southernmost part of India, the state of Kerala, the city of Trivandrum. That afternoon I was to speak in one of the schools, what we would call high schools in our country and it was a school attended by and large y students who were the children of former untouchables…

The principal introduced me and then as he came to the conclusion of his introduction, he says “Young people, I would like to present to you a fellow untouchable from the United States of America.” And for a moment I was a bit shocked and peeved that I would be referred to as an untouchable…

I started thinking about the fact: twenty million of my brothers and sisters were still smothering in an airtight cage of poverty in an affluent society. I started thinking about the fact: these twenty million brothers and sisters were still by and large housed in rat‐infested, unendurable slums in the big cities of our nation, still attending inadequate schools faced with improper recreational facilities. And I said to myself, “Yes, I am an untouchable, and ever Negro in the United States of America is an untouchable.”

(Excerpt from The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr., 1998)

Marley Marl /I let my tape rock 'til my tape popped/Smokin' weed and bamboo, sippin' on private stock /Way back,

when I had the red and black lumberjack /With the hat to match /Remember Rappin' Duke, duh-ha, duh-ha/You never thought that hip-hop would take it this far /Now I'm in the limelight 'cause I rhyme tight /Time to get paid, blow up like the World Trade /Born sinner, the opposite of a winner /Remember when I used to eat sardines for dinner /Peace to Ron G, Brucey B, Kid Capri /Funkmaster Flex, Lovebug Starsky /I'm blowin' up like you thought I would /Call the crib, same number same hood /It's all good

Like all great writers Biggie provides his audience with an introduction, body, and conclusion, which is the standard in academic writing. His introduction discusses how he practiced and read about what other superstars accomplished. The body of his lyrics consists of his struggles and the perception people have about hip‐hop. He concludes the verse with the success and support he has achieved while remaining humble.

Reflecting on Biggie’s lyrics made me realize how so much brilliance and creativity has left the hip‐hop music scene. In addition, his lyrics remind me about overcoming adversity. Biggies lyrics assert a message similar to Fredericks Douglass famous writing that, “Without struggle there is no progress.” Although Biggie was not an abolitionist, he was a black man dealing with the struggle of finding a purpose in America. His struggle and transformation from crack dealer to celebrity is what made him unique. Therefore, he should not just be known for his lyrics; he should also be known for making something out of nothing. And that is the hip‐hop definition of Juicy.

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November 2011

By: The Clark Family

Rasual “Rocky” Clark On September 15, 2000, 16 years old Rasul “Rocky” Clark was a starting running back for Eisenhower High School located in Blue Island, Illinois. While playing Oak Forest High School, four plays into the game, Rocky was tackled and suffered two broken vertebrae in his neck and a devastating spinal cord injury. Rocky Clark’s life changed from the instant he was hit. He was paralyzed from the neck down. After this catastrophic injury, Rocky and his mom Annette were told by his school that he would be well taken care of through the insurance policy that they carry for all of their students at Eisenhower High School. For almost ten years, Rocky had excellent care with around the clock nurses in his home, access to pain medication, prescription drugs and medical supplies.

In August of 2010, Rocky now 26 years old received a letter stating that the $5 million insurance policy that covered him had reached its lifetime maximum and “has come to an end.” The benefits that he was receiving, that kept him alive and that helped him surpass life expectancy for most quadriplegics was no longer going to help him live. Rocky says “I was told that I would be taken care of for the rest of my life, now it seems that I’m being penalized for living too long.”

Rocky is now being supported by Medicaid and has some support from the state. Rocky, with the constant help of his mother Annette who has never left his side, was able to be weaned off of his ventilator and was eventually admitted to college. Now, Rocky’s collegiate aspirations are being cut short by him being suddenly denied coverage from his former health care provider.

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November 2011 Rasual Rocky Clark (Continued)

The issue with Rocky Clark being denied health care because of a cap that was imposed on him by his health provider is a justice issue, all life is valuable before God, and as we all know “but for the grace God go I.”

We feel that the school district where Rocky played football has a moral responsibility to continue to take care of Rocky for the rest of his life as they said that they would do when he first suffered the injury.

Annette desperately needs medical supplies for Rocky and help with paying for his medicine, which is very expensive. Also, help is needed financially to help Rocky keep his childhood home that is handicapped accessible.

Together we can be God’s hands and feet and help a young man who wants to live and to thrive after a devastating and life altering injury.

How Can You Help

Rocky is in the need of the following items:

1. Large Gloves, Latex Free (No Powder) 2. Bottled Water 3. Large Garbage Bags 4. 100% Cranberry Juice 5. Toilet Paper 6. Pre‐Moisture Wipes 7. Mepilex Border 10x10/4x4 in 8. Paper Towels 9. Liquid Tide

Any monetary donations can also be sent to the following address:

Annette Clark 3105 W. Lydia Ave. Robbins, Illinois 60472

OR

Paypal https://www.paypal.com to FriendsofRocky21@aol.com

Voting Power In the 1960’s, the slogan Black Power empowered minority’s thoughts in America. This slogan ignited minorities to become conscious of their strength’s as a people while pursing equality for all. However, during the same period the Voting Rights Act of 1965 made minorities eligible to vote without having to overcome poll taxes, property taxes, literacy test, and language barriers.

As a result, we now have a black president in office and another black candidate running for office.

In 1983, Rev. Jesse Jackson asserted, “black candidates should run to gain political victories, but also to gain collective self‐respect and recognition.” Because we live in a country that has a black president, blacks should never live and operate below their political privileges and rights ever again.

Therefore, to reinsure the status of minorities never changes in America, we must vote! Moreover, during election time we must be conscious of the candidates that run for office and support those we identify with, because that is a definite way to demonstrate our power.

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Stir Yourselves

We must give up that silly idea of folding our hands and waiting upon God to do everything for us. If God intended that, He would not have given us a mind; He would not have given us intelligence; He would not have given us His soul; He would not have placed us here in the midst of creation, and surrounded us with all the beautiful things of nature. Whatsoever you want in

The Men of the

TENTH INC. 750 Faile Ave Suite 2E Bronx, New York 10474

life you must make up your mind to do it for yourself and accomplish it for yourself; whether it is rearing a home, expanding an Empire, if you want to do it, you must do it for yourself and then God will bless the effort because He will realize that you are using your intelligence for the best.

(Excerpt from Marcus Garvey: Life and Lessons, 1987)