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Accepting Authority

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Donald and his friends were troublemakers, constantly getting into trouble with authority figures at their high school. They skipped classes, talked back to teachers, and even got into physical altercations with other students. They thought they were invincible, until one day they found themselves in the principal’s office.

Mr. Jackson, the school principal, sat behind his desk and sternly looked at the boys. “I’ve had it with you four,” he said. “You’re disrupting the learning environment and causing chaos in the school. Your behavior is unacceptable and I’m considering expelling you.”

Donald and his friends looked at each other nervously. They knew they had to do something to avoid expulsion. They had heard rumors about how tough it was to survive in the streets without a high school diploma. They didn’t want to end up as statistics.

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After some reflection, the boys realized that they needed to accept and respect authority figures in order to avoid getting into trouble. They decided to change their behavior and attitude towards their teachers and the principal.

The next day, they came to school on time, attended all their classes, and even participated in class discussions. They listened to their teachers and followed the school rules. They started to see the positive impact of their changed behavior. They were learning more, making friends, and even earning the respect of their teachers.

As a result of their efforts, Mr. Jackson noticed their positive change in behavior and decided to give them a second chance. He called them into his office again and congratulated them on their progress. “I’m proud of you boys,” he said. “You’ve proven that you can be responsible and respectful. Keep up the good work and I believe you’ll go far.”

Donald and his friends left the principal’s office feeling relieved and proud of themselves. They realized that their behavior had consequences, and that they had the power to change their destiny. They continued to work hard, respect authority, and make positive choices, knowing that they had a bright future ahead of them.

Reigning Supreme: The Three Kings of the Hood

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Khalil, Jamal, and Marcus were three young black kings who reigned supreme over their hood. With their wit, charm, and street smarts, they were the ones everyone wanted to hang out with. But when a group of troublemakers stepped onto their turf, they realized that their charisma alone wasn’t going to cut it.

The three friends were chilling on Khalil’s stoop one hot summer day when a car pulled up. The troublemakers stepped out, looking for a fight. Khalil, Jamal, and Marcus stood their ground, but they were quickly outnumbered and overpowered. The three kings of the block were left bruised and beaten, but their pride was hurt more than anything else.

Determined to never feel that way again, they met up the next day and decided to train themselves into better fighters. They woke up early every morning to run laps and practiced their moves at the basketball court. They lifted weights and honed their skills, day in and day out.

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Months later, when the troublemakers returned, Khalil, Jamal, and Marcus were ready. They had become faster, stronger, and more agile. They were able to take on their opponents and emerge victorious. They knew that hard work and determination had paid off, and they were the reigning kings of the block once again.

But their victory wasn’t just about fighting off troublemakers. It was about proving to themselves that they were capable of achieving anything they set their minds to. They were determined to continue training, improving, and dominating in everything they did.

With their newfound strength and self-confidence, the three kings of the hood were unstoppable. They inspired their peers to work hard and believe in themselves. And in a world that often tried to put them down, they stood tall, reigniting the flame of hope in their community.

Rebuilding: a story of friendship and intentionality

5EC0F016-28C9-4FE5-83AC-4FBEC2B32D06Tyrone and Marcus had been best friends since they were kids, but they had lost touch over the years. Tyrone was now a teenager, living with his family in a predominantly Black neighborhood in the city. He was a talented basketball player, but had been struggling with injuries and the pressures of college recruitment. Marcus, on the other hand, had moved away to pursue a career in music, and was now a successful producer living in Los Angeles.

One day, Tyrone was scrolling through his social media feed when he saw a post from Marcus. He hesitated at first, but eventually decided to reach out and message him. To his surprise, Marcus responded immediately, and they caught up on old times. As they chatted, Tyrone realized how much he had missed his friend and how much he had changed since they last spoke.

Over the next few weeks, Tyrone and Marcus exchanged messages and talked on the phone regularly. Tyrone shared his struggles with basketball and college applications, while Marcus talked about his work in the music industry. They laughed, reminisced, and supported each other through their challenges.

But as time went on, Tyrone began to feel like he wasn’t being fully present in his conversations with Marcus. He was distracted by his phone, his friends, and the pressures of his daily life. He realized that he needed to be more intentional in his friendship with Marcus if he wanted to rebuild their connection.

One day, he decided to take a break from his phone and go for a walk in the park. He brought a basketball with him, and started shooting hoops alone. As he played, he thought about his friendship with Marcus and how much it meant to him. He realized that he needed to be more intentional in his conversations, and to prioritize his friendship over his distractions.

The next time he talked to Marcus, he told him about his realization. Marcus was impressed and proud of Tyrone for recognizing the importance of being present and intentional in their friendship. From that day on, Tyrone made an effort to fully engage in his conversations with Marcus, to actively listen and support him, and to show up for their friendship in meaningful ways.

As they continued to reconnect, Tyrone and Marcus realized that their friendship had evolved, but that it was still strong and meaningful. They had both grown and changed, but their bond remained intact. They learned that being present and intentional in their friendship was the key to rebuilding their connection and sustaining it for the long haul.

In the end, Tyrone realized that the time he spent with Marcus was just as important as his basketball training or his college applications. He learned that prioritizing his friendships and being intentional in his relationships was the key to a fulfilling and successful life.

No Burnout for Darnell!

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Darnell was a 16-year-old Black high school student with a promising future. He was captain of the basketball team and excelled academically. Darnell had a strong support system with his family and friends, but he was constantly pushing himself to do more.

One day, Darnell woke up feeling exhausted and drained. He had been staying up late studying and practicing basketball, and he had a game that night. Darnell’s mom noticed his fatigue and suggested he take a break, but Darnell didn’t want to disappoint his team or jeopardize his academic success.

Darnell went through the motions of the day, feeling like a shell of himself. During the game, he missed crucial shots and made mistakes he never would have made before. His coach pulled him aside and asked what was going on, but Darnell brushed it off and said he was fine.

After the game, Darnell went home and collapsed into bed, feeling physically and mentally exhausted. His mom sat on his bed and talked to him about the importance of self-care and taking breaks. Darnell finally admitted that he felt like he was constantly under pressure to perform and succeed.

educator clarence callaway,  10 Essential Steps for African-American Males to Survive in School.
educator clarence callaway, 10 Essential Steps for African-American Males to Survive in School.

Together, Darnell and his mom came up with a plan for self-care. They scheduled regular check-ins where Darnell could talk about his feelings and take a break from his responsibilities. They also set boundaries around his study and practice time, making sure he had time to rest and recharge.

At first, it was hard for Darnell to let go of the pressure to always be productive and successful. But over time, he noticed that he was more focused and energized when he took time for self-care. His grades improved, and he became a better basketball player.

Darnell realized that he didn’t have to sacrifice his health and well-being to succeed. By prioritizing self-care, he was able to thrive in his career and personal life.

One day, Darnell woke up feeling exhausted and drained. He had been staying up late studying and practicing basketball, and he had a game that night. Darnell’s mom noticed his fatigue and suggested he take a break, but Darnell didn’t want to disappoint his team or jeopardize his academic success.

Darnell went through the motions of the day, feeling like a shell of himself. During the game, he missed crucial shots and made mistakes he never would have made before. His coach pulled him aside and asked what was going on, but Darnell brushed it off and said he was fine.

After the game, Darnell went home and collapsed into bed, feeling physically and mentally exhausted. His mom sat on his bed and talked to him about the importance of self-care and taking breaks. Darnell finally admitted that he felt like he was constantly under pressure to perform and succeed.

Together, Darnell and his mom came up with a plan for self-care. They scheduled regular check-ins where Darnell could talk about his feelings and take a break from his responsibilities. They also set boundaries around his study and practice time, making sure he had time to rest and recharge.

At first, it was hard for Darnell to let go of the pressure to always be productive and successful. But over time, he noticed that he was more focused and energized when he took time for self-care. His grades improved, and he became a better basketball player.

Darnell realized that he didn’t have to sacrifice his health and well-being to succeed. By prioritizing self-care, he was able to thrive in his career and personal life.