Donald L. Dowridge, Jr.
Will the picture be twisted where that same infant will find him/herself in a family where they will be abused and treated as a refugee? I will admit I have a heart in this situation because I am a product of the latter.
The person I am today, well respected by my peers and society as a whole, at one time was not! I and my two siblings derived off a Baltimore doorstep as infants to find ourselves separated and not knowing each other until some twenty some years later.
In my case, being tossed from foster home to foster home like a rag doll was a depth of a feat. For there was no instance of a positive role model for me to pattern myself after, Each adult figure in my close contained A.O. was bent on bringing destruction to my self worth, esteem, respect, endurance, future, manhood, and education.
Portion of my GOD given ability and positive strength would peek through as if the sun peeking through a stormy day. Later in life after my involvement in the Black Spades gang warfare of the South Bronx in the seventies, I joined the U.S. Army, which was the beginning of change.
I will admit I was not ready for this change, but I guess GOD had another plan for this child of wrath. As life went on through the peaks and valleys, curiosity lead me to engaged in the classroom of Peninsula Community College located in Monterrey, California where I began to find out who I was and somewhat what I would stand for as a Black Man during the course of my existence here on Mother Earth.
A person who lack knowledge, understanding, and advancing with education did not receive these important life lessons from a loving home, I had to want to obtain these things and I am not ashamed to say I wanted them and am still hungry for knowledge and prosperity!
How many of our nation prisons, streets, allies are filled with people who were left on a doorstep and couldn't find their way through? The majority, but not all are people who unfortunately were born in a situation they did not ask for or lack the will power to want to better themselves.
Each of us knows someone who allows their environment to get the best of them and at that point, “There goes the dream of prosperity in the true sense of getting the best of life”. Yes, it's a darn shame that the boat of despair pulls up in front of peoples homes and without knowledge they load up and there they go. Destruction awaits them and failure rears it ugly head and devours them as if a delicious pressed tuna sandwich.
As in a recent discussion with peers, we that have cannot and should not turn our cheeks to the wind and forget about those who are on that boat of despair. I am a perfect example of having somebody in my past that saw in me what I didn't. Despite my ignorance, they continued to pester me until I began to give in and allow greatness to turn me inside out. Am I my brothers/sisters keepers or what? It takes a village to raise our people, not just children, people!
As I awaken each day Thanking GOD, Kissing & Striving For Excellence I keep in mind the struggles of those who are left to hope to one day find their true purpose of their life as I did.
We Can't Give Up!
We Don't Give Up!
We Shouldn't Give Up!
We Won't Give Up!
We Don't Give Up!
We Shouldn't Give Up!
We Won't Give Up!
- Donald L. Dowridge, Jr.
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