For dialogue a twist

Bethenny Frankel's luminous eyes
framed by purpose 

"Look in a woman's eyes." Daddy instructed me when I was a boy of 15. The reasoning was sound.

Today's young man has a twist to his thinking contrary to the established patterns. Their maneuvering around identity, sexual identity is unique in large part because society, in general and many of their parents in particular, didn't give the children an analytical approach to the subject, or immerse them in historical approaches, or delve into the depths of subjects with their children. They simply placed them in the mix and worded their action with attitudes marked by cliches. I shouldn't say it is unique. It isn't as I think about it.

In 1990 my youngest brother, Michael, invited me to his school to share in his history class. "Bring your drum." he said. Michael was in the early years of his profession in a Quaker school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Abington Friends. I went intending to stay a day or two. I was there the whole week and gave 12 workshops in the auditorium. The dean at the time approached me one morning. Introducing herself with a firm handshake she said to me, "Whatever you are doing keep doing it. I haven't seen your show, but all of our misfits and whatnots are hooking class to see you, to be with you. Keep it up!"

I was stunned. As she walked away I asked Michael about it because I'd never intended to use my gifts to work with white kids. I wanted to work with Black children. This was expanding something within me. What was going on?

Michael said, "Gregory, remember in the 1960's and '70's when mostly white people were talking about not forcing the values their parents forced on them, the church and religion on their children, and why?"

"Yes."

"Well, these are their children. They are grasping, and reaching out and taking hold of the Gothic culture, drugs, sex, Satan worship, the occult. They are gravitating towards what you have. They don't have the foundation we grew up with, and without it they are in trouble and..."

Michael went on eloquently explaining the roots of an American phenomenon and export: rootlessness. Now in 2013 many of those children are parents, and they've passed on a broken lineage that is gaining acceptability, and leaving a trail of wreckage to the soul and the soil in ways too complex to unwrap here in this context. This is just enough to get thoughts going, and perhaps reaction that may turn into action. - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 7.26.13

"a lot to be said, and a lot to contest in that statement." - Dawn Wolf, Keeper of Stories