Character Development

Dear Brothers and Sisters;

I believe it is so important to the development of character for our youth to be exposed to strong and positive role models. Ideally this exposure would take place in the physical realm. Nevertheless, the feeding of the mind should not be stunted because our youth have not been fortunate enough to have access to positive role models. I also believe our youth's minds' need to be fed positive role models even in the form of literature. I have decided to dedicate this blog to the sharing of literature for the character development of our youth. I know we all have read books that have had an impact on us. This is our place and time to share the blessings that these books have had on our development. I know there is going to be a myriad of books that people will say impacted their life.

Please do not confine these books to adult books. We also have to instill character development in our very young. Perhaps, parents could read certain books to the very young that deals with character development.

Please note the plot, brief summary and background of the book. How the book impacted you? What age ranges do you think the book would be good for?

For example: The Autobiography of Malcolm X

This is the autobiography of one of the most controversial leaders in the history of Black America. Malcolm X whose given name was Malcolm Little grew up in Omaha Nebraska in the 1940s. His father was killed when he was very young by a group of white men. The killing of his father had the effect of devastating the family, until eventually the family was taken over by social services and the mother went crazy.

Eventually he would leave Nebraska and move to Boston and then to Harlem, where he would become a street hustler. He was then busted for a crime of breaking and entering, which involved some white women. He was sentenced to jail.

While in jail he was converted to the Nation of Islam, which preached Black Nationalism. As he began to learn the knowledge of self through the Nation of Islam he began to clean himself mentally, physically and spiritually.

When he was free from prison he became a spokesman for the The Honorable Elijah Muhammad in the Nation of Islam. As he began spreading the gospel of the Nation, the Nation prospered.

Part of the laws that governed the Nation of Islam in America was marital fidelity. If you were caught with outside relations you could be punished within the Nation and perhaps expelled.

However, Malcolm was soon to learn that his spiritual father had broken the rules of fidelity and outside relations. This would eventually cause a rift between Malcolm and the Nation of Islam, which would be exploited by the enemies of Black people and the Nation.

As Malcolm was separated from the Nation it was easier for the government and his enemies to foment a climate of hate which would ultimately result in his assassination.

Nevertheless, his death would not come before he captured the hearts and minds of Black America. His rise to prominance coincided with his character development guided by the Nation of Islam. A very powerful and important figure in the history of America.

He was the spark in our generation that led to the search for the knowledge of self.

I would highly recommend this book for ages 16 and up

TheBlackAmericanTeacher

Please share!!!