For the past 2 weeks I have been working with some of the brightest, most special, talented and positive people I have had the pleasure to be with – some HS kids from the district of Columbia.

Common Ground on The Hill here at McDaniel College has spread its wings a bit wider to welcome these kids from DC; they are taking classes all day and get some CG classes too!  I specifically taught alongside Gabe (poet, break dancer) and Jonathan Gilmore (Lea’s grown up kid!!) to talk about Black culture, music and poetry.  It would be easy – and incorrect – to say I taught the class of eager kids; they taught us.

They laughed, they dropped their eyes, they poured their hearts into their work and it was very moving.  It’s easy to see these black kids from the city come up to this white suburb and let the media define for you what black youths are all about…but, here’s a thought: the media doesn’t always portray black people correctly.

…shocking, i know…keep it together now….no need to lose it….

I was reminded that teenagers both black and white care about their future no matter how they front like they don’t.  They need someone to mentor them, they need parents to listen to them, they need love, support and discipline.  They want to know right from wrong.  They want to be told to be quiet when someone else is sharing.  They want to give respect and they desire to earn yours.  I am personally making sure the 30 or so kids I came into contact with know they can count on me to write a letter of recom so they can get into a great college.  I am hopeful I’ll get the chance to teach some of them at McDaniel.

Don’t give up on our kids.  Don’t judge them by the package they come in.  Don’t let some stupid stereotype come in-between helping a good student.  They need you.

and by the way….

….we need them even more

God Bless,

EBB