GUEST COLUMN: The Trayvon Martin Case

WHY THE TRAYVON MARTIN TRAVESTY IS THE BLACK MAN'S REALITY IN 2012
By: Brian Green

Some of my friends and associates have asked me, why have I been so silent about the Trayvon Martin case?  The honest to goodness truth is that I am embarrassed.  I am embarrassed that I live in a society where a 17-year old black kid cannot walk to the store and buy his little brother candy.  I am embarrassed that an alleged killer is not charged or even arrested or held for questioning, and that evidence is not harvested but instead, he is sent home with a proverbial pat on his back for killing someone wearing a hoodie.

So yes, I've been pretty silent about this the whole time. There has been a lot of talk about the hoodie and that there is no such thing as clothes that can get you killed; a lot of talk about the rights of people to wear what they wish and even talk about cities that cite and charge young men a fine for wearing saggy pants (Albany, GA).

I have been silent because I have lots of friends of every color-- and I do not think this is an indictment on white people, it isn't-- but it is an indictment on racism and how it is alive and well in our country.

The Makings of a Great Stocking Stuffer

UPDATE-- For the developing young man on your holiday shopping list, consider a copy of "The Makings of a Man" by Jabari Price, Michael Holoman and Gerard Droze to put under the Christmas tree or in their stocking.  This morning, the authors announced a special holiday offer:  If you order the book between November 26 and December 24, you will receive free shipping.  If you order four (4) copies of the book, you will receive a free fifth copy!

Great holiday gift idea!

In “The Makings of a Man”-- released in early November through New Dawning Publications-- Price, Holoman and Droze set out to deconstruct society’s image of a man and explore the reasons why planning, communication, checks and balances, leadership and the ability to face challenges are so vitally important to the fully developed man.  “We hope the book makes the intangible qualities of manhood tangible for every young man who reads it,” said Droze.

"The Makings of a Man" costs $15.00 including tax.  To order your copy, click here.

Release date announced for "The Makings of a Man"

Columbia, SC-- Excitement is building daily for local authors Jabari Price, Michael Holoman and Gerard Droze as they prepare for the official release of their first book. According to Dawn Mills Campbell, president and chief executive officer of New Dawning Publications, "The Makings of a Man" has arrived from the printer and will be available on November 19th.

Authors (L - R) Michael Holoman,
Gerard Droze and Jabari Price

"It's wonderful to finally have a release date," said co-author Gerard Droze.  "We are so excited to see this project continue to progress from dream to reality."

Those who pre-ordered advance copies of "The Makings of a Man" could begin receiving their books within the next 7-10 days.

The book examines two important questions:  1. What does it take to truly be considered a man?  2.  How do young males learn it?  "The Makings of a Man" gives readers food for thought from three distinct perspectives.

Author trio aims to change conventional mindset about manhood

Authors (l-r) Michael Holoman,
O. Gerard Droze and Jabari Price

What does it take to truly be considered a man and how do young males learn it? Two questions with answers that vary depending on whom you ask.  In their debut book, “The Makings of a Man,” authors Jabari Price, Michael Holoman and O. Gerard Droze explore manhood and offer their perspectives on how to achieve it from three distinct points of view.

“Not every young man is lucky enough to have a handful of positive male role models to fashion themselves after,” said Jabari Price.  “But, I believe every young man is influenced, in some way, by the males around them regardless of whether those role models are positive or not.”  Price was raised, by his father, in a single-parent household.