Reach - Then Teach: Recent Episodes
Derrick Brown
"Reach - Then Teach" offers host Derrick Brown's wisdom earned through life lessons learned about mentoring, mediation, and problem solving.
The show uses "standup storytelling" (commentary, teaching, spoken word (poetry), rap, and song) to deliver compelling, thematic, personal narratives about love, change, equality, power, (self-)control, and purpose.
Popular segments include "Dear Hannah (Letters To My Daughter)", "Fight The Good Fight", "LEarning", and "The BIG Picture."
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Dear Hannah ... If you are wondering ... "What do you DO with all these songs ...?" Thanks for asking. I have a catalog of 45 of these #Autoethnographies (self-reflective "studies") that anchor a yearlong (two-semester) course I developed called #TheSeeSayShow. Sharing them lets me see which ones "slap" (resonate with unprompted, diverse audiences). #TheSeeSayShow is my holistic response to what I see in my high school classroom every day. It paves a pathway to power and purpose through #Autoethnography (self-study), self-reflection, and small-group fellowship (AKA "discipleship"). I lead the way by sharing my journey with transparency (and discretion) ... as the leading student in my class (AKA "the teacher"). Each unit begins with one of these songs - which are effective at grabbing the attention of even "today's" distracted students. After sharing the song, I ask students "what do you remember" ... and "what do you wonder". That begins a unique conversation with each student ... that has no end. Each student's charge is to produce a multimedia "mixtape" (which is - like its musical counterpart - a talent display and historical archive) ... that includes self-selected artistic elements of self-expression (like "beatitudes" photoessays, songs, poems, stories) ... powered by an autoethnographic journal of self-reflective "thought partnership" with ChatGPT (like the one I have produced during Summer 2025 by taking my own class) ... developed according to the AI Reflective Pedagogy Protocol ... of how they "Holler" ... then keep adding to it ... then share it with their children's children. I will not see these "endings" ... but am honored to bear witness to the beginning. I am a "born witness" ... and have borne witness ... for a minute. #HappyFather'sDay ... and thanks for reading. Selah. Love, Daddy
Dear Hannah, Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation where someone makes another person doubt their own judgment, perception, or sanity. It is heinous (wicked), pernicious (harmful), prevalent, and effective. How do you combat something so powerful? How do you resist (refuse to accept or comply ... not be affected)? I can "see" the lies when I believe and respect the truth. I can "say" what accepts the lie, affirms the truth, accounts for those who believe either (or both) ... and walk in my assigned authority ... see, I am not assigned authority at
In June 2023, The Computer History Museum (Mountain View, CA) published my oral history (https://bit.ly/CHMOH_DB_YT) for my contributions to the computing world as an Internet strategist for The Universal Black Pages (an Internet directory of African-related content), and as the founding director of KnowledgeBase’s Project CHIP (which refurbished and redistributed 1500+ computers to Georgia families and organizations). My oral history experience inspired a new project called #YourStory. #YourStory combines #StandupStorytelling with principles and best practices of oral history recording to document the thoughts and experiences of ordinary people who do extraordinary work. EPISODE 2.20 "TRANSCRIPT": 77m46sec ... (concluding thoughts) I am big on oral histories, and may have found a "sweet spot" ... Marc Weber believes that Elloree's oral history is a "thing" 79m54sec ...
In June 2023, The Computer History Museum (Mountain View, CA) published my oral history (https://bit.ly/CHMOH_DB_YT) for my contributions to the computing world as an Internet strategist for The Universal Black Pages (an Internet directory of African-related content), and as the founding director of KnowledgeBase’s Project CHIP (which refurbished and redistributed 1500+ computers to Georgia families and organizations). My oral history experience inspired a new project called #YourStory. #YourStory combines #StandupStorytelling with principles and best practices of oral history recording to document the thoughts and experiences of ordinary people who do extraordinary work. EPISODE 2.19 "TRANSCRIPT": ... 75m18sec ... one (more) word of advice ... write your visions plainly ... make time to pray and think ... 77m46sec ...
In June 2023, The Computer History Museum (Mountain View, CA) published my oral history (https://bit.ly/CHMOH_DB_YT) for my contributions to the computing world as an Internet strategist for The Universal Black Pages (an Internet directory of African-related content), and as the founding director of KnowledgeBase’s Project CHIP (which refurbished and redistributed 1500+ computers to Georgia families and organizations). My oral history experience inspired a new project called #YourStory. #YourStory combines #StandupStorytelling with principles and best practices of oral history recording to document the thoughts and experiences of ordinary people who do extraordinary work. EPISODE 2.18 "TRANSCRIPT": ... 73m37sec ... advice for young people ... do not mistake activity for achievement ... you have limited time and resources ... so you have no time or resources to waste ... 75m18sec ...
In June 2023, The Computer History Museum (Mountain View, CA) published my oral history (https://bit.ly/CHMOH_DB_YT) for my contributions to the computing world as an Internet strategist for The Universal Black Pages (an Internet directory of African-related content), and as the founding director of KnowledgeBase’s Project CHIP (which refurbished and redistributed 1500+ computers to Georgia families and organizations). My oral history experience inspired a new project called #YourStory. #YourStory combines #StandupStorytelling with principles and best practices of oral history recording to document the thoughts and experiences of ordinary people who do extraordinary work. EPISODE 2.17 "TRANSCRIPT": 71m37sec ... 72m08sec ... next question ... who has taken the UBP's place in today's Internet? INSTAGRAM, BLACK TWITTER & FACEBOOK ... 73m37sec
In June 2023, The Computer History Museum (Mountain View, CA) published my oral history (https://bit.ly/CHMOH_DB_YT) for my contributions to the computing world as an Internet strategist for The Universal Black Pages (an Internet directory of African-related content), and as the founding director of KnowledgeBase’s Project CHIP (which refurbished and redistributed 1500+ computers to Georgia families and organizations). My oral history experience inspired a new project called #YourStory. #YourStory combines #StandupStorytelling with principles and best practices of oral history recording to document the thoughts and experiences of ordinary people who do extraordinary work. EPISODE 2.16 "TRANSCRIPT": 67m44sec ... looking back, looking ahead (on computing and technology access) ... (on computing) the computer is my employee ... I use it to produce efficient work ... I use it to save time, so that I can reinvest that time in being an "equalizer" ... the computer buys me a lot of time ... 69m42sec ... (on access) kids always bring cellphone, never bring pencils ... it's not about access - it's an attitude (priority), aptitude, and altitude issue ... 71m20sec - 71m33sec audio becomes unsynced during my rant about technology access not being as big an issue as resource priority ... 71m37sec ...
In June 2023, The Computer History Museum (Mountain View, CA) published my oral history (https://bit.ly/CHMOH_DB_YT) for my contributions to the computing world as an Internet strategist for The Universal Black Pages (an Internet directory of African-related content), and as the founding director of KnowledgeBase’s Project CHIP (which refurbished and redistributed 1500+ computers to Georgia families and organizations). My oral history experience inspired a new project called #YourStory. #YourStory combines #StandupStorytelling with principles and best practices of oral history recording to document the thoughts and experiences of ordinary people who do extraordinary work. EPISODE 2.15 "TRANSCRIPT": 65m56sec ... wrapup notes ... UBP ended in 1998 ... I don't like to give up, but chose to move forward 67m44sec ...
In June 2023, The Computer History Museum (Mountain View, CA) published my oral history (https://bit.ly/CHMOH_DB_YT) for my contributions to the computing world as an Internet strategist for The Universal Black Pages (an Internet directory of African-related content), and as the founding director of KnowledgeBase’s Project CHIP (which refurbished and redistributed 1500+ computers to Georgia families and organizations). My oral history experience inspired a new project called #YourStory. #YourStory combines #StandupStorytelling with principles and best practices of oral history recording to document the thoughts and experiences of ordinary people who do extraordinary work. EPISODE 2.14 "TRANSCRIPT": 64m48sec ... I talk about KMLB, our marriage, and family ... 65m56sec ...
In June 2023, The Computer History Museum (Mountain View, CA) published my oral history (https://bit.ly/CHMOH_DB_YT) for my contributions to the computing world as an Internet strategist for The Universal Black Pages (an Internet directory of African-related content), and as the founding director of KnowledgeBase’s Project CHIP (which refurbished and redistributed 1500+ computers to Georgia families and organizations). My oral history experience inspired a new project called #YourStory. #YourStory combines #StandupStorytelling with principles and best practices of oral history recording to document the thoughts and experiences of ordinary people who do extraordinary work. EPISODE 2.13 "TRANSCRIPT": 61m17sec ... KB is my once and future gig ... I teach high school classes infused with KB concepts, and am preparing to do a one-man show ... I teach geometry to students who must be weaned of their dependence on rote learning and "faking it" ... they must be taught to SEE, SAY, and SHOW ... shout out to Dorothy Parler, Yvonne Pinson, and Carolyn Randolph ... I am teaching because my daughter attends school in our district ... I talk about HAB ... 64m48sec ...
In June 2023, The Computer History Museum (Mountain View, CA) published my oral history (https://bit.ly/CHMOH_DB_YT) for my contributions to the computing world as an Internet strategist for The Universal Black Pages (an Internet directory of African-related content), and as the founding director of KnowledgeBase’s Project CHIP (which refurbished and redistributed 1500+ computers to Georgia families and organizations). My oral history experience inspired a new project called #YourStory. #YourStory combines #StandupStorytelling with principles and best practices of oral history recording to document the thoughts and experiences of ordinary people who do extraordinary work. EPISODE 2.12 "TRANSCRIPT": 59m37sec ... KB is a for-profit venture mow (we refiled our articles of incorporation) ... we work with people who will work with us ... 61m17sec ...
In June 2023, The Computer History Museum (Mountain View, CA) published my oral history (https://bit.ly/CHMOH_DB_YT) for my contributions to the computing world as an Internet strategist for The Universal Black Pages (an Internet directory of African-related content), and as the founding director of KnowledgeBase’s Project CHIP (which refurbished and redistributed 1500+ computers to Georgia families and organizations). My oral history experience inspired a new project called #YourStory. #YourStory combines #StandupStorytelling with principles and best practices of oral history recording to document the thoughts and experiences of ordinary people who do extraordinary work. EPISODE 2.10 "TRANSCRIPT": 56m01sec ... CMcI's last question ... "as you look back, how has the role of Black tech leaders evolved?" ... we can do more ... REAL success is predicated on relationships, equipping, attitude, and leadership ... 58m55sec
In June 2023, The Computer History Museum (Mountain View, CA) published my oral history (https://bit.ly/CHMOH_DB_YT) for my contributions to the computing world as an Internet strategist for The Universal Black Pages (an Internet directory of African-related content), and as the founding director of KnowledgeBase’s Project CHIP (which refurbished and redistributed 1500+ computers to Georgia families and organizations). My oral history experience inspired a new project called #YourStory. #YourStory combines #StandupStorytelling with principles and best practices of oral history recording to document the thoughts and experiences of ordinary people who do extraordinary work. EPISODE 2.09 "TRANSCRIPT": 48m02sec ... CMcI is getting ready to close ... tell us about the White House briefing ... I was on a mission - the KnowledgeBase mission ... we know the poseurs and the players now ... play with the players, avoid the poseurs ... AJC reporter (Andrew Glass) snuck into the briefing ... I sat next to him, talked to him, and sent him my manifesto ... that got me a lot of favorable press coverage ... this was helpful to KB ... Project CHIP refurbishes and redistributes obsolete computers ... we built CTCs, then hosted camps there ... Ernest Holsendolph of the AJC called me Johnny Appleseed (in 1998) ... his press coverage brought us lots of business opportunities (Fort Valley, Rome) ... I have "agency" 54m02sec ... I have run KB as part-time gig since 1998, and have stayed true to its mission ... 54m55sec I have evolved into a #StandupStoryteller ... my orange jacket is an homage to Clemson and my Native American heritage 56m01sec ...
In June 2023, The Computer History Museum (Mountain View, CA) published my oral history (https://bit.ly/CHMOH_DB_YT) for my contributions to the computing world as an Internet strategist for The Universal Black Pages (an Internet directory of African-related content), and as the founding director of KnowledgeBase’s Project CHIP (which refurbished and redistributed 1500+ computers to Georgia families and organizations). My oral history experience inspired a new project called #YourStory. #YourStory combines #StandupStorytelling with principles and best practices of oral history recording to document the thoughts and experiences of ordinary people who do extraordinary work. EPISODE 2.08 "TRANSCRIPT": ... 45m35sec Anita Brown (Miss DC) and I may have met at the CBC meeting ... she was a caring, compassionate, strategic thought partner ... not sure if BGO had 25,000 members, but who cares ... she was a connector ... we were both Browns ... indeed CMcI 48m02sec ...
In June 2023, The Computer History Museum (Mountain View, CA) published my oral history (https://bit.ly/CHMOH_DB_YT) for my contributions to the computing world as an Internet strategist for The Universal Black Pages (an Internet directory of African-related content), and as the founding director of KnowledgeBase’s Project CHIP (which refurbished and redistributed 1500+ computers to Georgia families and organizations). My oral history experience inspired a new project called #YourStory. #YourStory combines #StandupStorytelling with principles and best practices of oral history recording to document the thoughts and experiences of ordinary people who do extraordinary work. EPISODE 2.07 "TRANSCRIPT": 42m11sec ... 1996 CBC meeting ... Tupac Shakur was murdered on 9-13-1996 ... the African-American Internet vanguard met, preened, and postured ... we saw the presumed leaders, but were not impressed ... 45m35sec
In June 2023, The Computer History Museum (Mountain View, CA) published my oral history (https://bit.ly/CHMOH_DB_YT) for my contributions to the computing world as an Internet strategist for The Universal Black Pages (an Internet directory of African-related content), and as the founding director of KnowledgeBase’s Project CHIP (which refurbished and redistributed 1500+ computers to Georgia families and organizations). My oral history experience inspired a new project called #YourStory. #YourStory combines #StandupStorytelling with principles and best practices of oral history recording to document the thoughts and experiences of ordinary people who do extraordinary work. EPISODE 2.06 "TRANSCRIPT": ... CMcI - GET BACK IN HERE! 36m41 CMcI will take us through the "tougher" parts of the journey ... when did UBP tensions arise? We fell apart at the organizational meeting ... 39m20sec the thumb had no respect for the other fingers on the hand ... I retell the ATDC / Dwight Holter to CMcI in more detail ... 4 legs on the stool ... after our collapse, I became ATDC's Lotus Notes database developer ... I now know who the VCs are, and can "hollar" at them ... mmm-hmmm CMcI 42m11sec ...
In June 2023, The Computer History Museum (Mountain View, CA) published my oral history (https://bit.ly/CHMOH_DB_YT) for my contributions to the computing world as an Internet strategist for The Universal Black Pages (an Internet directory of African-related content), and as the founding director of KnowledgeBase’s Project CHIP (which refurbished and redistributed 1500+ computers to Georgia families and organizations). My oral history experience inspired a new project called #YourStory. #YourStory combines #StandupStorytelling with principles and best practices of oral history recording to document the thoughts and experiences of ordinary people who do extraordinary work. EPISODE 2.05 "TRANSCRIPT": ... 26m22sec ... What was your vision for making The UBP make dollars AND sense? I liked responding to site submitters like Ann Nesby of The Sounds of Blackness ... this built organic community ... people saw us as connectors of the disconnected (The Diaspora) 28m37sec ... 29m30sec I describe The UBP's site submission and review processes ... 30m35sec I loved Infoseek and learned to do advanced searches there ... 31m30sec we had 300 sites in late 1994 ... by 1998, we had 4000 reviewed sites and 3000 unreviewed submissions ... 32m36sec The Diaspora is well-represented on The Internet ... Cafe Los Negroes 33m20sec ... 33m43sec CMcI returns (whew!) ... we had around 30,000 unique visitors per month ... 34m47sec Frats page were the most popular ... hmmm (CMcI) ... 36m06sec Bowie State's Deltas want to connect with Tennessee State's Deltas 36m37sec ...
In June 2023, The Computer History Museum (Mountain View, CA) published my oral history (https://bit.ly/CHMOH_DB_YT) for my contributions to the computing world as an Internet strategist for The Universal Black Pages (an Internet directory of African-related content), and as the founding director of KnowledgeBase’s Project CHIP (which refurbished and redistributed 1500+ computers to Georgia families and organizations). My oral history experience inspired a new project called #YourStory. #YourStory combines #StandupStorytelling with principles and best practices of oral history recording to document the thoughts and experiences of ordinary people who do extraordinary work. EPISODE 2.04 "TRANSCRIPT": ... 22m10sec ... GT had a 4-quarter master's degree ... BGSA provided emotional and strategic support to its members ... we could see what we wanted to be ... 23m53sec ... people took a while, but they finished! 24m22sec ... I was an official attendee at every BGSA member's graduation ... 25m00sec GT OMED functions like Clemson's PEER 25m30sec OMED provided us with student data 26m00sec GT has SHPE, GTSBE, BGSA, SWE 26m22sec ...
In June 2023, The Computer History Museum (Mountain View, CA) published my oral history (https://bit.ly/CHMOH_DB_YT) for my contributions to the computing world as an Internet strategist for The Universal Black Pages (an Internet directory of African-related content), and as the founding director of KnowledgeBase’s Project CHIP (which refurbished and redistributed 1500+ computers to Georgia families and organizations). My oral history experience inspired a new project called #YourStory. #YourStory combines #StandupStorytelling with principles and best practices of oral history recording to document the thoughts and experiences of ordinary people who do extraordinary work. EPISODE 2.03 "TRANSCRIPT": ... 20m40sec ... long pause from MW … 20m48sec ... Software engineers were great study partners (especially in Probability / Random & Stochastic Processes) ... 22m10sec ...
In June 2023, The Computer History Museum (Mountain View, CA) published my oral history (https://bit.ly/CHMOH_DB_YT) for my contributions to the computing world as an Internet strategist for The Universal Black Pages (an Internet directory of African-related content), and as the founding director of KnowledgeBase’s Project CHIP (which refurbished and redistributed 1500+ computers to Georgia families and organizations). My oral history experience inspired a new project called #YourStory. #YourStory combines #StandupStorytelling with principles and best practices of oral history recording to document the thoughts and experiences of ordinary people who do extraordinary work. EPISODE 2.02 "TRANSCRIPT": ... 15m18sec Why was I not interested in going full-bore with The UBP as a startup? ... well, the startup world is not for me ... I am an organizer (an equalizer) and a lover of people ... I am the leader of my people ... 17m14sec LEarning is learning the promotes earning money and other resources (knowledge, strategy, relationships) ... 18m18sec my momentum carried me away from startups and towards people who helped people ... 18m52sec ... Project CHIP placed 1500 computers with homes and organizations ... 19m27 built CTC in Rome, GA 20m02sec KB provided "fulfillment" ... it was where I wanted to be, and where I needed to be ... 20m40sec ...
Dear Hannah - I'm a #StandupStoryteller. I'm the "Brother From Another Planet". Strange people think I am strange. I think that what I experience is strange. And still I rise. I just completed another school year. I am trying to see where I have been ... and where I am going. Speaking of "all money ain't good money"... I have known for several years that school finance facilitates most of the inconvenient truth I am learning and sharing. This year I finally had the time and bandwidth to analyze and synthesize the connection. Let me tell you a quick story ... then show a picture that confirms the words. This joint is called "How Schools Make Money" ...
Dear Hannah - GRASPP is an acronym that reminds me to check the "battle plan" of my team by examining Group Morale, Relationships, Administration, Spiritual Tone, Planning, and Problem Solving. Having a battle plan does not ensure victory, but it does give you a solid approach ... which always gives you a chance to win. I spit "GRASPP (Battle Plan)" to my teammates at our 9-20-2024 department meeting to outline my "journey" that brought me to this team. My performance was polarizing ... I received effusive praise (even a public declaration of such from a district official in attendance), apathy, and the "cold shoulder". A friend shared that "GRASPP" (and especially the resulting praise from from the district official) probably made its audience look and feel "bad" ... for which I might pay a price. So let me count the costs ... I shared "GRASPP" as a (recordable) #StandupStorytelling opportunity to speak truth (in love) to power ... to connect to and lift up the marginalized (say "hello") ... and to let "hit dogs holler" (say "heck no" to our declining "status quo" ... and "tell 'em that I smell em") ... I counted these costs and decided to pay them ... FWIW, I have discerned (in the 8 months since this performance) that people were impressed by, offended by, and oblivious to "GRASPP" ... the "bounding theory" says that it both predicted and contributed to the oppressive level of classroom scrutiny I experienced this year. None of this "backtracking" impacts today's reality ... I must still survive my environment by engaging in #StandupStorytelling's hope, healing, change, and "counterstory" telling ... while avoiding unnecessary adult interactions ... and must recognize that some of this approach is not sustainable (because both invite more "slings and arrows") ...
In June 2023, The Computer History Museum (Mountain View, CA) published my oral history (https://bit.ly/CHMOH_DB_YT) for my contributions to the computing world as an Internet strategist for The Universal Black Pages (an Internet directory of African-related content), and as the founding director of KnowledgeBase’s Project CHIP (which refurbished and redistributed 1500+ computers to Georgia families and organizations). My oral history experience inspired a new project called #YourStory. #YourStory combines #StandupStorytelling with principles and best practices of oral history recording to document the thoughts and experiences of ordinary people who do extraordinary work. EPISODE 2.01 "TRANSCRIPT": ... Alou Macalou was the primary developer of The UBP ... in December 1994 I wrote KB's first business plan ... Alou contacted me that month about commercializing The UBP ... our strategic alliance was formed ... we put business plan together ... Dr. Vince Carter and Dr. Gary May became advisors (Gary May is Chancellor of UC-Davis ... not Cal State ...03m48sec ATDC story ... Dwight Holter ... 4-legged stool (Management, Market, Technology, finance) ... 06m40sec I am "key man" ... 07m58sec we raised $20K ($6K) ... 08m50sec no cash flow => cracks start to show ... 09m30sec this is like a marriage, and we got twisted when things got topsy-turvy 09m51sec Microsoft chooses us for diversity recruiting ... Internet advertising is a "thing" ... 11m50sec we had advertising revenue by mid-1996(?) ... we had momentum, and could have done more ... 12m54sec ... we did not pay ourselves salaries ... I was VPSS, Alou was CEO, Larry was CTO 13m30sec I entered with my exit plan - to launch KnowledgeBase 13m58sec I raised all the investment $$ 14m34sec ... I recouped all the investment $$ ... Netgate was our site host 15m11sec ...
Dear Hannah - I'm a #StandupStoryteller. I'm the "Brother From Another Planet". Strange people think I am strange. I think that what I experience is strange. And still I rise. Self-reflection is my "superpower". I am committed to generating hope, healing, and change ... powered by autoethnographic self-reflection, #StandupStorytelling, #YourStory, and publishing. What I see and experience makes me wanna "holler". Rather than wallow in lament, though ... I want to "spit it so they git it" ... success results when preparation meets opportunity ... opportunities are sometimes disguised as 'lost opportunities' ... don't choke on the smoke from the okey-doke ... use what you got to give 'em what they need ...
Dear Hannah - I'm a #StandupStoryteller. I'm the "Brother From Another Planet". Strange people think I am strange. I think that what I experience is strange. And still I rise. Self-reflection is my "superpower". I am committed to generating hope, healing, and change ... powered by autoethnographic self-reflection, #StandupStorytelling, #YourStory, and publishing. What I see and experience makes me wanna "holler". Rather than wallow in lament, though ... I want to "spit it so they git it" ...
In June 2023, The Computer History Museum (Mountain View, CA) published my oral history (https://bit.ly/CHMOH_DB_YT) for my contributions to the computing world as an Internet strategist for The Universal Black Pages (an Internet directory of African-related content), and as the founding director of KnowledgeBase’s Project CHIP (which refurbished and redistributed 1500+ computers to Georgia families and organizations). My oral history experience inspired a new project called #YourStory. #YourStory combines #StandupStorytelling with principles and best practices of oral history recording to document the thoughts and experiences of ordinary people who do extraordinary work. EPISODE 1.14 "TRANSCRIPT": ... ... 56m55sec ... Marc Weber said "I broke the chronology" ... CMcI says "that's OK - we are there" ... 57m05sec ... then we back up to talk about BGSA ... and InfoComm ... and fish fry parties and DJing ... and birthing the KB concept as grassroots outreach and organizing ... and birthing The UBP concept as a commercialized search engine like Yahoo , Infoseek, Alta Vista, and Lycos ... 71m42sec ... Marc Weber asks if we need to stop to render first 71 minutes of footage ... CMcI now departs for a while ... THE END
Dear Hannah - I'm a #StandupStoryteller. I'm the "Brother From Another Planet". Strange people think I am strange. I think that what I experience is strange. And still I rise. We are all born. Then we "dash" to the "finish line". During the "dash" - we live, love, LEarn, handle our business, and tell our own stories. This is "us" ...
Dear Hannah - My name is Derrick. My name means "leader of my people". I am the brother from another planet. "My people" do not always know that they are "my people". I teach students, not subjects. This is my mission statement. I have realized that this is a "loaded" statement. See - I have a lot of students who do not know that they are "my students". I have a lot of students who live in what I call "Lie-Lie Land". They are not honest with themselves. Their "lie" is their "truth" ... Love, Daddy
In June 2023, The Computer History Museum (Mountain View, CA) published my oral history (https://bit.ly/CHMOH_DB_YT) for my contributions to the computing world as an Internet strategist for The Universal Black Pages (an Internet directory of African-related content), and as the founding director of KnowledgeBase’s Project CHIP (which refurbished and redistributed 1500+ computers to Georgia families and organizations). My oral history experience inspired a new project called #YourStory. #YourStory combines #StandupStorytelling with principles and best practices of oral history recording to document the thoughts and experiences of ordinary people who do extraordinary work. EPISODE 1.13 "TRANSCRIPT": ... 52m46sec ... I learned about the online world by looking over shoulders in the computer lab ... I looked over Jerry Volcy's shoulders a lot ... he introduced me to Netscape ... how can you create a software tool to get onto the Internet from home? ... this is like watching the invention of the car or hammer ... 56m55sec ...
In June 2023, The Computer History Museum (Mountain View, CA) published my oral history (https://bit.ly/CHMOH_DB_YT) for my contributions to the computing world as an Internet strategist for The Universal Black Pages (an Internet directory of African-related content), and as the founding director of KnowledgeBase’s Project CHIP (which refurbished and redistributed 1500+ computers to Georgia families and organizations). My oral history experience inspired a new project called #YourStory. #YourStory combines #StandupStorytelling with principles and best practices of oral history recording to document the thoughts and experiences of ordinary people who do extraordinary work. EPISODE 1.12 "TRANSCRIPT": 47m41sec ... I graduated from Clemson in December 1991 ... which means I enjoyed a 5th football season ... I took nonverbal communication ... I did not write much at Clemson, and should have stirred that gift ... gotcha (CMcI) ... PEER taught me to always listen for opportunity knocks ... became a GEM Fellow at MITRE ... "mitre" means "to fit together" ... I gained lots of knowledge and savvy as a GEM Fellow ... 51m15sec ... Marc Weber asks about me deejaying parties at Clemson ... I tell him that this happened at GT ... at Clemson, I was "about those books" ... 51m59sec ... I made a social choice for grad school ... 52m46sec ...
Dear Hannah - I'm a #StandupStoryteller. I'm the "Brother From Another Planet". Strange people think I am strange. I think that what I experience is strange. And still I rise. I just completed another school year. I am trying to see where I have been ... and where I am going. I made a key move this year. I was able to create a STEM partnership with a young aerospace engineer from GTRI ... who was from Marietta ... and had graduated from Georgia Tech. This partnership allowed me to host Saturday morning fellowships in my classroom. Our agenda for our Spring fellowship included a project with a required homework assignment ...
Dear Hannah - I'm a #StandupStoryteller. I'm the "Brother From Another Planet". Strange people think I am strange. I think that what I experience is strange. And still I rise. I just completed another school year. I am trying to see where I have been ... and where I am going. Here's one of this year's greater challenges. One of my geometry classes engaged in some "shortcuts and shenanigans" ... perhaps aided by iPhones and students in other classes ... on what turned out to be the easiest test we took all year. You would know the test was easy by engaging the work with fidelity. The harsh reality is that several students have other students do most of their work. Tests reveal this.The "problem in question" was straightforward ... with a slight "twist" that deviated from the "plug and chug" script that placates students ...
Dear Hannah - I'm a #StandupStoryteller. I'm the "Brother From Another Planet". Strange people think I am strange. I think that what I experience is strange. And still I rise. I just completed another school year. I am trying to see where I have been ... and where I am going. Sometimes you teach people how to treat you. Sometimes they teach you how to treat them. I have mentioned my 3rd-block class a lot here. In the Spring, we built a certain comfort and familiarity ... which can often breed contempt. Near the end of the school year, I casually referred to my 3rd-block class as "jabronis" while telling them what we would do on that day. I was channeling Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson from his wrestling days. What I did not know, though, was what "The Rock" was "cookin'" when he used the word ...
Dear Hannah - I'm a #StandupStoryteller. I'm the "Brother From Another Planet". Strange people think I am strange. I think that what I experience is strange. And still I rise. I just completed another school year. I am trying to see where I have been ... and where I am going. Math standards changed again this year. Math, though, has not changed. Math is still as universal a language as music. It is a language that is best communicated using words ... plain, simple words. If you read math standards (the old ones or the new ones), the words might get in your way. The math standards are perhaps written by math teachers ... who may not be as adept at "turning a phrase" ... as they are in mistaking rigamarole (unnecessary compilation) with rigor (appropriate level of difficulty) ...
Dear Hannah - I'm a #StandupStoryteller. I'm the "Brother From Another Planet". Strange people think I am strange. I think that what I experience is strange. And still I rise. I just completed another school year. I am trying to see where I have been ... and where I am going. This year, I added "Connections" and another game I call "Category Challenge" to my critical thinking arsenal ... and was able to test it a lot with several classes. Each of these games either list or group items that fit specific categories (a collection of items with common attributes). Each may owe some royalties to the old-school game "Scattergories" that I played in college and grad school ...
Dear Hannah - I'm a #StandupStoryteller. I'm the "Brother From Another Planet". Strange people think I am strange. I think that what I experience is strange. And still I rise. I just completed another school year. I am trying to see where I have been ... and where I am going. In January 2024, my daughter's school won their district level reading bowl ... a reading bowl named for Helen Ruffin ... a Black librarian from the Dekalb County school system ... who envisioned this event as a test or a measure of reading comprehension ... based on all the books that were nominated for this Georgia book award, whose name escapes me ... but I understand the premise of the contest ... and I like contests like this (for the most part) ...
Dear Hannah - I'm a #StandupStoryteller. I'm the "Brother From Another Planet". Strange people think I am strange. I think that what I experience is strange. And still I rise. I just completed another school year. I am trying to see where I have been ... and where I am going. Let me spit some truth serum. "This Masquerade" may never be dismantled. It may be too hard to see it ... to even begin to disrupt it. Why is it so hard to see? Well, every school stakeholder group (teachers, administrators, board members, students, parents, and community) has "blind spots" generated by strange, twisted combinations of self-interest, self-promotion, humility, ignorance, arrogance, ambition, hubris, delusion, dishonesty, omniscience, sarcasm, boondoggle, rigamarole, dogmatism, narcissism, classism, elitism, idealism, racism, ageism, chauvinism, feminism ... and several flavors of "buddy complexes" and "savior complexes" ...
Dear Hannah - I'm a #StandupStoryteller. I'm the "Brother From Another Planet". Strange people think I am strange. I think that what I experience is strange. And still I rise. I just completed another school year. I am trying to see where I have been ... and where I am going. I accept that "mental math", critical thinking, and problem solving skills are in rapid decline in our society ... amongst young people and adults. I focus a lot of my energy on countering that trend. You don't have to like math, but ... you must get your money right. When we study exponential functions, it provides an opportunity to introduce one of my "mental money math" favorites ... "The Rule of 72". The "Rule of 72" says that you can estimate the number of years it takes an investment's future value to "double" by dividing 72 by its interest rate (rate of return) ...
Dear Hannah - I'm a #StandupStoryteller. I'm the "Brother From Another Planet". Strange people think I am strange. I think that what I experience is strange. And still I rise. I just completed another school year. I am trying to see where I have been ... and where I am going. Language and discourse are more important than vocabulary. Vocabulary is knowledge of words. If you say "Chuck D's stentorian cadence commands his audience's attention" - you probably have a large vocabulary. Language is the means by which we use words, numbers and sounds to communicate. If you instead say "Chuck D's loud, booming delivery commands his audience's attention" - you have impressive language skills. Discourse is extended verbal expression in speech and writing. If you instead say "Denzel's smooth delivery captivates his audience" - you, my friend, are skilled in discourse ...
Dear Hannah - I'm a #StandupStoryteller. I'm the "Brother From Another Planet". Strange people think I am strange. I think that what I experience is strange. And still I rise. I just completed another school year. I am trying to see where I have been ... and where I am going. I did not do a formal "annual report" last year. This art was the takeaway, though, of my reflection time last Summer. The common ground it establishes is that "all of us could stand to do a little better than we did last year". How do we get there? I answered that rhetorical question with some art ...
Dear Hannah - I'm a #StandupStoryteller. I'm the "Brother From Another Planet". Strange people think I am strange. I think that what I experience is strange. And still I rise. I just completed another school year. I am trying to see where I have been ... and where I am going. I am Keisha's husband. I am Hannah's father. They are "mi gente" (my people). I am their provider, protector, friend, helper, and connector. They are both powerful people. Keisha is pursuing her Ph.D. Hannah will minister to nations ...
Dear Hannah - I'm a #StandupStoryteller. I'm the "Brother From Another Planet". Strange people think I am strange. I think that what I experience is strange. And still I rise. I just completed another school year. I am trying to see where I have been ... and where I am going. Let's move away from analyzing the status quo. Let's move toward discussing hope, healing, and substantive change. Our world is deceitful and wicked ... but life is still for the living. There are still purposeful pursuits that are worth our time and energy. Purpose fuels my fire ... not sharing inconvenient truth. Inconvenient truth does show how to navigate treacherous, choppy waters, though. And still I rise ... I observed an important anniversary a couple of weeks ago. It was the 10th anniversary of the 15th anniversary of a computer camp I created and ran at Georgia Tech when I was a graduate student. Looking back, it was not a computer camp at all ... rather, it was a creative problem solving camp. I taught kids how to build computers as a strategy to help them conquer their fear of this cold, intimidating machine ... and learn to use them as productive business partners...
Dear Hannah - I'm a #StandupStoryteller. I'm the "Brother From Another Planet". Strange people think I am strange. I think that what I experience is strange. And still I rise. I just completed another school year. I am trying to see where I have been ... and where I am going. Speaking of "all money ain't good money"... I have known for several years that school finance facilitates most of the inconvenient truth I am learning and sharing. This year I finally had the time and bandwidth to analyze and synthesize the connection. Let me tell you a quick story ... then show a picture that confirms the words. This joint is called "How Schools Make Money" ...
Dear Hannah - I'm a #StandupStoryteller. I'm the "Brother From Another Planet". Strange people think I am strange. I think that what I experience is strange. And still I rise. I just completed another school year. I am trying to see where I have been ... and where I am going. Our recent pandemic gave us this art. It is art that visualizes (and hides) data culled from hundreds of anecdotal experiences shared online (as part of a viral campaign). It is art that presents a visual history of the impact of an inconvenient truth. I am careful about who sees this. It is not for a casual audience. I first showed it to our leader during a Black History Month interview ...
Dear Hannah - I'm a #StandupStoryteller. I'm the "Brother From Another Planet". Strange people think I am strange. I think that what I experience is strange. And still I rise. I just completed another school year. I am trying to see where I have been ... and where I am going. A friend analyzed our school environment many years ago. They asked me to vet their data-driven findings ... for accountability. I did. I found that they told no lies. They told a sobering, inconvenient truth ...
Dear Hannah - I'm a #StandupStoryteller. I'm the "Brother From Another Planet". Strange people think I am strange. I think that what I experience is strange. And still I rise. I just completed another school year. I am trying to see where I have been ... and where I am going. Math standards changed again this year. Math, though, has not changed. Math is still as universal a language as music. It is a language that is best communicated using words ... plain, simple words. If you read math standards (the old ones or the new ones), the words might get in your way. The math standards are perhaps written by math teachers ... who may not be as adept at "turning a phrase" ... as they are in mistaking rigamarole (unnecessary compilation) with rigor (appropriate level of difficulty) ...
Dear Hannah - I'm a #StandupStoryteller. I'm the "Brother From Another Planet". Strange people think I am strange. I think that what I experience is strange. And still I rise. I just completed another school year. I am trying to see where I have been ... and where I am going. In January 2024, my daughter's school won their district level reading bowl ... a reading bowl named for Helen Ruffin ... a Black librarian from the Dekalb County school system ... who envisioned this event as a test or a measure of reading comprehension ... based on all the books that were nominated for this Georgia book award, whose name escapes me ... but I understand the premise of the contest ... and I like contests like this (for the most part) ...
Dear Hannah - I'm a #StandupStoryteller. I'm the "Brother From Another Planet". Strange people think I am strange. I think that what I experience is strange. And still I rise. I just completed another school year. I am trying to see where I have been ... and where I am going. Let's move away from analyzing the status quo. Let's move toward discussing hope, healing, and substantive change. Our world is deceitful and wicked ... but life is still for the living. There are still purposeful pursuits that are worth our time and energy. Purpose fuels my fire ... not sharing inconvenient truth. Inconvenient truth does show how to navigate treacherous, choppy waters, though. And still I rise ...
Dear Hannah - I'm a #StandupStoryteller. I'm the "Brother From Another Planet". Strange people think I am strange. I think that what I experience is strange. And still I rise. I just completed another school year. I am trying to see where I have been ... and where I am going. A friend analyzed our school environment many years ago. They asked me to vet their data-driven findings ... for accountability. I did. I found that they told no lies. They told a sobering, inconvenient truth ...
Dear Hannah- I aspire to be a five-tool+ "standup storyteller" (AKA "griot") - poet, rapper, singer, teacher, orator, writer, producer, director. I am still learning how to use my tools, but I am getting there. LEarn to use your gifts. Love, Daddy
Dear Hannah - As the name suggests, The People In My Neighborhood (TPIMN) is a project that helps me learn more about where I live. It began as an effort to organize the neighbors in our subdivision, then grew into an effort to learn about our adjacent communities - then their adjacent communities, etc. It has grown into a powerful storytelling tool. Love, Daddy
Dear Hannah - Nine Men's Morris is an ancient board game combining the speed of checkers, the strategy of chess and the simplicity of tic-tac-toe. It is easy to play, but difficult to master. Become a master. Love, Daddy
Dear Hannah - Vision, Mission, and Steps provide a path that helps you to walk in your life's purpose. Vision describes what your efforts will produce / create - it describes your "end". Mission describes the concrete path to your vision - it describes your "means". Steps describe specific projects and tasks required to navigate that path - your "who", "what", "when", "where", "why", and "how". Write these - so that whomever reads it may run with it. Love, Daddy
Dear Hannah - The NOW YOU KNOW History Quiz Bowl is a gameshow that tells the story of 25 ordinary people who did extraordinary things. This game is a walk through history, and the embracing of what our world calls diversity, sensitivity, and inclusion ...
Dear Hannah - My name is Derrick. I have one purpose today. I want to tell people who I am, and what I do, hope, and dream about ... let me share my journey's progress over the last year ... Love, Daddy
Dear Hannah - LEarn to do math, then learn what math does. I developed the game Talk To Me to support this LEarning journey ...
Dear Hannah, I help people who help people. Then we help people to help people. I do this by creating and nurturing a "discipling" fellowship that uses mentoring, mediation, and problem solving to promote personal growth ...
Dear Hannah, My name is Derrick. My name means "leader of my people". I am the brother from another planet. My ways are strange - even to strange people. I know why the caged bird sings. And still I rise. I like to gather "my people" for small-group fellowship that facilitates hope, healing, and change. Nothing gathers and connects us like playing games. Nothing divides and alienates us like playing games ...
Dear Hannah - In January 2024, your school (Dunleith Elementary School) won our school district's Reading Bowl for perhaps the first time ever. That's a great story ... but it is part of a bigger story ... one that I do not know how to tell completely. So, I will tell you what I can. Let me show you something ...
Dear Hannah ... I'm a #StandupStoryteller. I'm the brother from another planet. Strange people think I am strange. I think that what I experience is strange. And still I rise. I am learning to be #CircumspectAboutDisrespect. Let me show you something ...
[1-16-2017] Being part of a church has helped me to grow - both in my walk with God, and in my understanding of life and people.Church helped me to wake up, grow up, speak up, and wise up. The experience has not always been "pretty" - but has taught me key lessons ...
- Your gifts can become weapons (against you and others) without the BALANCE of healing and accepting, affirming, accountable, authoritative relationships (SEE TABLE BELOW).
- Hurt people hurt people.
- Healed people help people heal.
- People who help people sometimes exploit the people they help - and the people who help them.
- We are all mentors to each other through shared life experiences - good, bad, and ugly.
- Your mentor's good works are beacons of light that show you the path; his missteps are clear warnings to you. Take heed.
[3-3-2017] A long time ago (1997) in Petersburg, VA (where my wife Keisha was born and raised), Tim and Daphne Maxwell Reid launched New Millennium Studios - a 15,000-square-foot full-service movie production studio on 60 acres of land ... land with a rich Civil War history. It was the only full-service movie production studio in the state of Virginia. Tim Reid (a native of Norfolk, VA) may be best known as "Ray" - Tia and Tamera's dad on the 1990's sitcom "Sister, Sister". He was also the star of the underrated, award-winning 1980's CBS sitcom "Frank's Place". Daphne Maxwell Reid was "Aunt Viv" (the second one) on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air". She was also on "Frank's Place". After me and Keisha married in March 2011, that Christmas holiday I took her to New Millennium Studios for their guided tour. We arrived and thought we were the only guests who signed up for our time slot. It turned out that we were the only 2 people in the studio besides Tim and Daphne. Daphne was our tour guide. This lady epitomizes style and elegant grace. She explained that the Steven Spielberg movie "Lincoln" had just wrapped up filming at New Millennium. That was part of the reason why it was so quiet during our visit. She took the time to tell us the history of the studio, the land it sat on, and the reality of the tough times they were enduring. Their vision was for New Millennium to become the centerpiece of a Virginia film community. The growth of their business in Virginia was hindered, though, by a lack of state-supported film production financial incentives. As she led us through their offices, I spotted Tim Reid at his desk and we made eye contact ...
[2-26-2017] Charles Darrow lost his job as a heater salesman at the beginning of The Great Depression in 1929. He then created, patented, copyrighted, and licensed Monopoly between 1933 and 1935 - but Monopoly was based on versions of real estate trading games whose patents date back to 1904. Why did Darrow's version flourish - making him the first millionaire game designer? Well, two lessons come to mind ...
[3-5-2017] A long time ago, a movie called "The Matrix" captured our attention. The movie conveyed that reality was not "real" - but simulated and imagined. It made lots of "real" money, though. A few years after, author Sophia Stewart sued the key players behind "The Matrix" for copyright infringement. She also sued the key players behind "The Terminator". She alleged that both movies were based on works she created in the early 1980s. Court documents show that Stewart did not win her lawsuit. They also suggest that she did not win because her case was legally difficult to prove - not necessarily because it was false. Stewart had to show that the defendants viewed her works, and had to show how they were incorporated into both films ...
[3-17-2017] American history has not been kind to Paul Robeson. Robeson was a complex individual. Even complex individuals can be erased - one dimension at a time. As an actor and singer, he was erased - even as one of the most powerful and popular performers in the world. As a football player, he was erased - even as a Rutgers University All-American. As a civil rights activist, he was erased ("blacklisted") for his "un-American" support of communism and The Soviet Union. Despite these concerted efforts, we still have choices regarding how we remember Robeson. We can either acknowledge his considerable achievements and prowess - or dismiss them. We either agree on, disagree on, or misunderstand his politics. There are two noteworthy nuggets that have earned my respect, though ...
[2-4-2018] I was able to attend Brother Darryl Robinson's homegoing yesterday. I drove down with Willie Frasier. We met during the 1985 Clemson Career Workshop, too, and have been friends ever since. He shared some great memories of "Cheese" during our ride. He was Cheese's roommate for a while. I never knew, but was not surprised ... not in the least. Yesterday was amazing in more ways than I can recount here ... but I will stick to the highlights. We arrived just after Omega Psi Phi's memorial service ended ...
[3-2-2024] Hey folks. My name is Derrick Brown. I'm a #StandupStoryteller. I'm the brother from another planet. Strange people think I am strange. I think that what I experience is strange. And still I rise. #HappyBlackHistoryMonth. On a good day, I have a keen focus on life, liberty, and my pursuit of happiness. That focus intensifies during #BlackHistoryMonth. On a good day, I am intentional about my interactions and conversations. That focus intensifies during #BlackHistoryMonth. See - life for me is no crystal stair. But I climb the steps every day. And learn to avoid what is in my way. I am learning to plant ... then allow seeds to grow. I am learning to move on when the seeds say "no". I am learning to navigate life's status quo. I am learning to stay ... and learning to "go". Let me show you something ...
[2-11-2024] Good morning, good people. Let me show you something ... I am a missionary on a journey to powerful purpose ... with a charge to help others get there, too. That pathway is paved with ministry, entrepreneurship, stewardship, litercy, numeracy, language, self-expression, self-identity, and analysis / synthesis. This journey has given birth to a dream ... that I will use #StandupStorytelling (oration, rap, singing, spoken word, and teaching) to bring messages of hope, healing, and change ... to small-group audiences that embrace mentoring, mediation, and problem solving. I have to finance my dream. Finance is the management of money and other resources. I do not have a lot of money. I do have a lot of resources ...
[1-28-2018] I met Darryl "Cheese" Robinson when I was 15 years old. He was my hall counselor during the Clemson Career Workshop in 1985. He may have been the head counselor - then again, maybe not.But if he wasn't - it sure seemed like he was. His room door was always open, and he was always in there speaking into someone. Older students. Younger students. It did not matter - he was dropping knowledge for the masses ...
Today, I will share a story that articulates a concrete strategy to create sustainable change through persistent efforts to connect (with like-minded people), collect (information), protect (spirit, energy, and identity), and project (collaborate in consistent, meaningful ways).
On 2-4-2021, I hosted and moderated a conversation. The participants in this conversation were all connected to the history and legacy of the Lemon Street Schools. The Lemon Street Schools were segregated schools for Cobb County Blacks. When integration closed the schools and absorbed them into the Marietta City School district, a lot of people were hurt. A lot of their legacy was suppressed, ignored and marginalized … but still they rise. That resilient spirit has been evident in all the conversations that we had … the recent one, and the ones previous to that. What may not be as evident is how this conversation models the type of sensitive inclusion that will help us all do life in an understanding way. See, I've been having this beautiful restorative conversation with the Lemon Street community for months now. I hold the conversations as sacred because of the way they have inspired me. These folks have helped me breathe again … and I don't want to disturb that groove at all. I wanna keep it all to myself. But there are bigger fish to fry … there's a bigger picture to paint. So you have to open this conversation to others ...
Harriet Tubman conducted 13 rescue missions on the Underground Railroad over a 10-year period. Those long journeys to freedom resulted in lots of hungry people. Tubman was a professional cook - which provided her mission's startup capital, and creativity under pressure. She once stopped at a market to buy 2 chickens, and almost came face-to-face with a former overseer ... so she dropped one of the chickens and started to chase it. The comedy allowed her to escape unnoticed - even though everyone could see her. When they can't see you, learn to take advantage of being "hidden" and underestimated.
I am a "Standup Storyteller". I am comfortable standing up and speaking my truth. Here's today's truth - I have blind spots. Help me to see them today by listening. I have a special set of skills ... acquired over a long career ... that make me attractive as a workhorse problem solving employee ... but not necessarily as a leader. Let me say that this lack of validation follows a pattern in my life. This lack of validation has become my validation.
I don't know a lot about the Tuskegee Airmen. Don't know a lot of details, but now here's what I do know. I know that they were a group of courageous men of color ... who sought to break barriers in a profession ... that constructed a lot of them ... to make sure that pilots were of a certain hue, if you understand what I'm saying. And to overcome those barriers, they had to defeat barriers about intelligence and that means intelligence requirements ... not being able to combine physical, mental strength and courage along with the intelligence and the wherewithal to maintain your orientation when you are turned upside down. I know they overcame all of that. I know that the Tuskegee Airmen went to the Tuskegee Institute, now known as Tuskegee University, and I know that they overcame and they excelled to a degree where they became "the crew" in America's wars fought on other soils. But now I also know that they became a reliable crew in fighting the war that's been waged on American soil for far too long. And that is the war for equality, for equity, for the access to opportunity. And the more important war for access to better circumstances that produce equality and equity.
Once upon a time, the President gave a group of African-American community leaders a seat at the table. The leaders brought their own menu. It took a long time to make the meeting a reality - lots of letters & telegrams, and several more civil rights crises (like the desegregation of Little Rock, AR schools) for 29-year-old Southern Christian Leadership Conference leader Martin Luther King, Jr. to convene a meeting with then President Dwight D. Eisenhower on June 23, 1958. King attended the meeting with 62-year-old National Urban League Executive Director Lester Granger, 69-year-old organizer A. Philip Randolph, and 57-year-old NAACP Executive Secretary Roy Wilkins.
(Marietta, GA) Lemon Street High School's Mr. Lewis Clyde Scott taught many students ... several of whom became teachers. He has transferred his wealth (his knowledge) in ways that have personally inspired me ... without my ever having met him. I have met many of his students. Their lives and stories have told me the kind of teacher and influence he is. On 2-10-2022, I presented some of them to the public ... and they will present Mr. Scott to you from their experiences.
The "SeeSayShow" is a short "class monologue" that shares stories powered by "real-world" LEarning. I teach my classes in a building that used to be an annex to the former segregated high school for Cobb County Blacks. Today's episode shares a story about the first Black city councilman in our city (a graduate of the segregated high school), and how a lawsuit helped to facilitate his election. I am using a "quiz bowl" gameshow shtick to engage the students.
MLK's letter writing practice was strategic. It probably helped him remember who he was meeting, who they were, and what their encounters and meetings produced. These letters were probably his KnowledgeBase, and helped him to make moves.
Dear Hannah,It's not all about engineering with me.‘Smart’ buildings merge environmentally responsible design with embedded (“hidden”) computing technology (powered by lots of sensors).This podcast lesson introduces ‘smart’ buildings that rely on ‘The Internet Of Things’ (a massive Web of ‘connected’ personal devices and appliances).It concludes by asking student teams to ‘unplug’ and use only their “Spidey senses” (an innate ability to sense problems, but an even stronger sense of how to solve them) to apply these ‘smart’ concepts to improving their schools’ culture, climate, and community.Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,It's not all about engineering with me.This podcast lesson introduces students to Artificial Intelligence by showing how Boolean Algebra (a system of symbolic logic) can be used to represent “rules” in a virtual world (a video game or simulation).Teams of 3-4 students will then build and present a virtual world by using Boolean Algebra to create a consistent set of “rules” based on propositions (statements that affirm or deny something) and implications (logical judgements based on evidence and prior observation).The 'virtual world' that I create in the lesson is one where equality is predicated on both opportunity and circumstance.Imagine that.Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah, Make your dreams come true through direct, strategic action. Move your character towards faith and love through humility and confidence. Move with coordination and balance. Move those you influence through thought leadership. Love, Daddy
Dear Hannah, Life is going to happen. Take the good with the bad, and keep going. Let your principles and your conscience be your guide.
Love, Daddy
Dear Hannah,
(I Have Learned To Respect) The Power Of Love".NOT ...(That "Always & Forever" love.That "Float On" love.That "Outstanding" love.That "Yearning For Your Love" love.That "Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday" love.That "Computer" love.That "For The Love Of You" love.That "Cry Together" love.That "You Don't Have To Cry" love.That "Break Up To Make Up" love.That "Holding On (Is Very Hard To Do) When Love Is Gone" love.That "Every Time I Turn Around (I'm Back In Love Again)" love.)Nah ... I'm talking 'bout that "We Both Deserve Each Other's Love" love.That "Love Ballad" love - feel me?
Love,
Daddy
Dear Hannah,
(I Have Learned To Respect) The Power Of Love".
NOT ...(That "Always & Forever" love.That "Float On" love.That "Outstanding" love.That "Yearning For Your Love" love.That "Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday" love.That "Computer" love.That "For The Love Of You" love.That "Cry Together" love.That "You Don't Have To Cry" love.That "Break Up To Make Up" love.That "Holding On (Is Very Hard To Do) When Love Is Gone" love.That "Every Time I Turn Around (I'm Back In Love Again)" love.)Nah ... I'm talking 'bout that "We Both Deserve Each Other's Love" love.That "Love Ballad" love - feel me?
Love,
Daddy
Dear Hannah,It is time for Daddy to take it to the stage ... to use the crowd to gauge ... the best ways to engage ... cats of a different age.Love,DaddyDerrick Brown derrick.s.brown@att.netPrincipal Consultant, KnowledgeBasehttp://reachthenteach.com"UCSM | SYG | GRASPP(Live at Liberty ChurchIron Man II Small Group)"1-13-2019
Dear Hannah,
It is time for Daddy to take it to the stage ... to use the crowd to gauge ... the best ways to engage ... cats of a different age.
Love,
Daddy
Derrick Brown derrick.s.brown@att.netPrincipal Consultant, KnowledgeBasehttp://reachthenteach.com"GRASPP (Live at Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center Spoken Word Showcase)"1-12-2019
Dear Hannah,Fail quietly and learn.I know that losing is tiresome - but it sharpens your sword.Keep your friends close, engaged, and aware of your actions.Immerse yourself in a faithful, visionary, supportive, disciplined, hard-working culture ... you are going to need it!Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,today may seem bleakyesterday seemed bleakerbe slow to speakcheck first the speakerpayback sounds chicto forgive is "chic-er"meek ain't weakmight is weakerwrong is stronglove is strongerwar is longpeace lasts longerstay the coursefinish it wellwhat that resemblestime will tellseek small solutionsrinse and repeatdon't think with your eyesdon't vote with your tweetrevolutions aren't televisednor broadcast onlineinstead they occurin both heart and spineof maybe two or threewho touch and agreethen hatch up a planthey can work faithfullywith no fanfare nor buzzjust concrete small stepswell-disguised as workdone in efficient reps ... now, let's run that back ...waitin'waitin' for the world to changehowhow can we rearrangehow it isintohow it's supposed to behopefullysomebodywill notice weneed to seethat nobodycan globallyconfine the freewho pay the feeto organizelocallypowerfullyseems to mewhen two or threetouch and agreeprayerfullyon bended kneetotallyjoyfullyvocallydemons fleevictorynotablyour history'sno mysteryThinkinThinkin of a master planNothin' but a peninside my handso I ...commence this verseto break the curseof bad and worsethoughts perversethat coerceus to disbursemove in reverselet's immersenot dispersethen converseideas diverseschoolworkhomeworkbookworkpatchworklegworkfootworkroadworkfieldworkcaseworkhouseworkclockworknetworkgameworkframeworkteamworkdreamworkI workYou workThey workWe work.This race will be won by those who endure the trenches.So join me in the trenches, aiiight?Selah.Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,this cold, cold world will tell you "no" many times, and in many ways.but you don't need anyone's permission to ...keep tryin'speak your peacebe yourselfand - most of all ...be greatLove,Derrick
Dear Hannah,I hope I have focused on "doing too much" the way I intended.In conclusion, I don't like to hear that phrase.I do keep it in mind, though, to help stay on course.I have not achieved my potential, but I have hit my stride.Because half my story has never been told ...
Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,Writing is organized thought.Speaking is organized noise.They are inextricably linked.Sometimes written words can say what the voice cannot ... depending on who is listening (or not).Sometimes the voice can say what written words cannot ... depending on who is reading (or not).So both are arrows in the quiver that I deliver as truthgiver ...
Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,I have now hit my stride as a content creator.I am in my “renaissance”.This renaissance has been fueled by the creative environment I built and now maintain.In the last 3 years (2016-2018), I have now written, recorded, produced, and published ...
Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,I bought a house in 2009, and started to "grow up" (at the age of 40).No more labs and warehouses in my apartment ... at least no permanent ones.No space to store 60 desktop PCs.Only a small office that I now wanted to look like an office (most of the time).It had a double-door closet, and room for 2 small bookshelves and a big desk.I knew I could make it work, though, if I made my main computer and closet into the new lab and the warehouse ...
Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,The year after I graduated high school (1988), I returned home and went to an auction sponsored by my old school district.They were auctioning old band instruments and instrument cases.I walked in to see my old high school assistant principal asking for bids on a baritone saxophone.No one was bidding.He turned and saw me, knew that I had been on the marching band, and asked me if I would bid $1.I said "yes" ...
Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,I had a dream.I wanted to make movies like Spike Lee ... without appearing in them.I wanted to make music like Quincy Jones ... produce albums with my name on them (but not using my voice).I wanted to take pictures like Gordon Parks - for Web sites and CD / DVD slideshows, not magazines ... because I was not big on printing photos (too much ink).I wanted to make a Black Yahoo! (powered by Black Google) to catalog the African Internet experience.Believe it or not - I did each of these in my home ... powered by computers ...
Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,Let's get this out of the way first.It is correct and proper to say "the data show us".It sounds awkward, though.It is more useful (and less awkward) to say "the data shows".See what I did there?I illustrated the biggest problem I discovered during my introduction to the world of "big data".I saw data used to engage in shallow, silly arguments about who and what is "correct" ... when there are far more useful, simpler pursuits to engage.So, I have stopped using the word "data" ...Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,I have bought and sold my favorite things (textbooks, calculators, athletic apparel, laptops, tablets, and cameras) on eBay since 1998.Several years ago, I created an analytic algorithm to help me identify items that I could buy low and sell high.It works ...
Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,The computer is my ultimate weapon.It facilitates all of my consulting prowess.It allows me to vertically integrate and manage my operation - as a solo artist.It is my employee, warehouse, heavy lifting machinery, and consultant.I am good at repairing and maintaining them, and better than average at using them.This combo of complementary skills is valuable.I have made good money repairing and maintaining computers.I have made even more money providing IT solutions to independent startup schools.It makes a lot of sense to focus my consulting on providing these solutions to other smaller business clients in my neighborhood.It makes even more sense to offer these services to small business people that I know.Here's what I know now ...Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,I have reached life's proverbial "crossroads".I have learned who I am ... what I want to do ... and how to do it.For the record, I will facilitate hope, healing, and change through small-group discipleship and "standup storytelling".This ministry will create and publish learning content that can be sold to generate revenue.Here's what I have not figured out.I need to buy some more time to market and finance this ministry.I believe that I can buy that time by marketing and leveraging "me" and my unique consulting expertise.But I need to be careful about that pursuit.Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,I am Keisha's husband.I am your father.My name means "leader of his people".I am a "standup storyteller".I fuse rap, spoken word (poetry), oration (traditional public speaking), singing, and teaching into messages of hope, healing, and change that I write, direct, and produce to help people who help people.Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,Everything must change - and STAY changED.Change begins with me and the renewing of my mind.It then continues through efforts to effect small-group discipleship (equipping others to equip others).Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,Sometimes the cause masks the agenda.Sometimes our agendas mask our issues.Count all the costs of victory.Conquer conceit, then conquer defeat.Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,Freedom ain't free.Financing my projects required buying lots of time.That meant Daddy had to leave home to hustle while Mommy was at home during the Summer.This helped us learn how to craft our exit plan before we entered.Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,Some of my best ideas (including songs like "Daddy's Gon' Get The Milk") have come to me while taking you for walks.Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,I film and write about hope, healing, and change.The cameras I use (Flip cameras) and the best 3 pieces I have written ("Johney", "U Can't See Me", and "Stand Your Ground") each have stories worth sharing.Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,I believed in the plan I had crafted, but knew that its success depended on time and finance.I had to literally buy enough time to reach the goals via "Working From Home".Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,I believed in the plan I had crafted, but knew that its success depended on time and finance.I had to literally buy enough time to reach the goals via ..."The Wedding Planner""Peacemaker""Selling Lesson Plans?""Music To My Ears""Without A Song""Lights, Camera, Action"Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,I needed to change my approach to handling myself and others - and its hidden impact on my career and interpersonal interactions.My period of self-reflection concluded that my ...1. Discourse skills should generate hope, healing, and change - not despair, vitriol, and strife. I needed to put myself in situations conducive to my virtues, not my vices.2. Mentoring skills could be refined by mentoring more (and being mentored more) - again, in situations that I defined and vetted.3. Mediation skills (in my personal conflicts) were a weakness that I needed to convert into a strength (by resolving that weakness).4. Problem solving skills might always lead me into ambiguous, unstable situations that breed poor adult relationships. I needed to learn how to limit my exposure to those situations.5. I had to learn how to generate revenue by selling products and services that I created - not via employment wages.These lessons helped me set the following goals ...1. I would resolve to write and speak on themes of hope, healing, and change.2. I would design projects that would facilitate mentoring and small-group discipleship.3. I would become a mediator to learn and practice the art of self-control.4. The employment world's safest - and most lucrative - opportunities for me were short-term projects that required strategic solutions. I had to identify sources that helped me discover these opportunities.5. I would convert my writing, creativity, and problem solving into products and services that I could sell.My mind, thought process, computer skills, organization, and efficiency were the "secret weapons" that would facilitate, amplify, and accelerate my efforts.Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,I have written and sold two magazine articles.One was about how I financed my college education.That was published in 1994.The other was about coming home to take care of our newborn daughter (Hannah), and to become "me" on a full-time basis.I learned the same lesson twice with these experiences.You must tell your own story.When you sell stories, the purchaser turns your story into the one they want to tell ... the one that they think will sell.In their version, you may become a much tamer, controllable, sanitized version of yourself.Your voice may morph into their voice.So why put yourself through this?Well, one part of my story they did not edit was my byline ..."Derrick Brown's (derrick.s.brown@att.net) "standup storytelling" about love, change, equality, power, (self-)control, and purpose can be found at http://reachthenteach.com ."This will allow anyone who wants "the rest of the story" to connect with us to learn it.That opportunity is valuable, and may be worth the pain of being edited beyond recognition.Because it is still "my" story.Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,My name is Derrick (Brown).I am Keisha’s husband.I am Hannah’s father.I am a “standup storyteller”.I fuse rap, spoken word (poetry), oration (traditional public speaking), singing, and teaching into messages of hope, healing, and change that I write, direct, and produce to help people who help people.I know that change begins with me - and the renewing of my mind ...... then continues through efforts to effect small-group discipleship (equipping others to equip others) with audiences that respect and embrace mentoring, mediation, and problem solving as tools of change.During the last 2 years, I have produced 2 "standup storytelling" albums, and have created two works for the stage.We now want to host, record, broadcast (via YouTube) and podcast (via Blubrry) live monthly “standup storytelling” productions that present 5-7 short stories spun by several brave tellers that align with the evening’s theme.Season 1’s themes will include “My Friends Don’t Know That I …”, “Commencement”, “LEarning”, and “The Stage Coach”.I also want to perform a quarterly series of one-man “standup storytelling” shows entitled "Daddy's Home", "Dear Hannah", "changED", and "Follow The Leader".These storytelling events will effect small-group discipleship.
This discipleship will create diverse, inclusive, and sensitive environments that promote hope, healing, and change.Love,
Daddy
Dear Hannah, I have often been advised about, admonished for, and accused of using a pedagogical, lecturing tone - especially when I am directly involved in a conflict. Point taken as one to grow on anytime someone gives that feedback - regardless of our conflict and their intentions. I have also often been taken to task about that pedagogical, lecturing tone by people who - for whatever reason - object to my authority. I have learned the hard way that while I may sound like an authority to many, I do not look like an authority to any. Lots of us listen and think with our eyes - and are often easily fooled.
Love, Daddy
Dear Hannah, I have a track record of cutting people off - and then leaving it like that. I do not let anyone or anything get me warm twice. Carrying the burden of offense is a hard way to live, though. This is a little more subtle than unforgiveness - but can be just as burdensome. When I carry offense, sometimes nothing major has happened ... but I often decide that I will not allow anything at all to happen with the person who offended me. That may take it too far. If I am merciless in judgement, then I will be shown no mercy. (James 2:13) So the need for boundaries is clear, but I am learning to stop short of finishing my stories of teaching people how to treat me with "piercing periods". I am learning how to finish them with "kind question marks".
Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah, Our world is still dominated by forces that equate “equality” to “providing opportunities”. These forces often provide opportunities that they control. To the contrary, equality is predicated on both opportunity and circumstance. Equality is achieved when societies provide opportunities and circumstances that create diverse, inclusive, and sensitive environments. Those favored most by the status quo are not likely to help change it. The opportunities and circumstances that create diverse, inclusive, and sensitive environments must be procured and created by the people who desire them most. This requires the development of leaders with "equalizer" mindsets – those capable of being neutralizing authorities who balance power where deficits exist. Power is work done efficiently (with wise and skillful use of resources, interests, communication, and expertise). “Equalizers” who generate power and multiply themselves can create change. I am an “equalizer”. Love, Daddy
Dear Hannah, Once upon a time, the President gave a group of African-American community leaders a seat at the table. The leaders brought their own menu. Love, Daddy
Dear Hannah, Sometimes things happen that upset us. We have to feel what we feel, take the time to heal, remember what is real, and keep moving forward ...
As I lay me down to sleep I kiss my wife and ponder deep I wonder why, and that's OK Answers tomorrow are questions today Then I kneel and start to pray Ask the Lord to have His way Stay focused on a future day Hope to keep all harm at bay So my baby girl can play Jump on me, yell "Daddy, yay!" Master piano, dance ballet Tell her about our wedding day How to wait for her fiance' Relationships begin with "hey" Then take their course - la vie c'est Do her work for more than pay Know when to go, and when to stay Correct her course if she should stray See that this world is still cray cray The brave are scared to disobey But sometimes do it anyway The fools rush in, the wise survey Think twice, act once - avoid the fray Accountable talk never starts with "they" Power is more than being able to sway Then I reach "amen" and rise again Ready to embark, engage and win Eyes wide shut, but with open heart The game ain't fair, so play it smart The road ahead is still paved with LIFE Despite all circumstance and strife She can change the world if I maintain Stay on my grind, and in my lane
Love, Daddy
Original Broadcast: 9-4-2017
Dear Hannah, So how do you deal with the frustration that accompanies feeling like you are not being heard? I have no answers. I do have an approach that I am still LEarning. First step ... remember what frustration is, Derrick. Frustration is an emotional response to a lack of control ... of people, circumstances, outcomes, etc. I am not in control of anything but me. That establishes a clear boundary for giving and taking advice. I am never in a position to tell someone else what to do. Nor do I want to be - because I will not become responsible for someone else's choices. However, I am well-positioned to offer the truth about my perspective. Hear me twice. I do not have THE truth. I do have MY truth. I am remiss to not share my truth - but I need to declare it as such. I have crossed the line, though, when I think my truth is THE truth, and should therefore be your truth. Second step ... I remember the times folks shared their truth with me ... and I still chose to learn the hard way. I have a lot of those memories. I can look back now and admit to emotions, attitudes, pain, frustration, and outright sin that charted a certain course for self-destruction. It is possible that no one else knew, or even had a clue, about any of that. At times, I wore my mask well. Sometimes I still wear it. But I digress. Because of my own past and path, I am aware that I am never really aware of all the parameters that drive anyone's thoughts and actions. So I ask silently ... what is happening here that I cannot see? If I am lucky, I may never "find" what I cannot see ... nevertheless, I will search for it. That helps me to maintain boundaries and balance ... I want to discern, not judge. I want to encourage - not enable. I want to influence - not beseech (I ain't begging). I want to reach - then teach. I want to teach - not preach. This way, I can speak with humility to what I think I see ... then shut up, watch and pray about the rest. Love, Daddy
Dear Hannah,
I am a big fan of Digital Underground.I remember "Same Song" - which featured and introduced us to Tupac Shakur.Tupac was a dancer, "hype man", and background vocalist for the group.I remember the honor Digital Underground showed to Parliament / Funkadelic ... they sampled a lot of that funk, and gave George Clinton co-writer credits on "Kiss You Back".I also remember "Piano Man".Digital Underground would let "Piano Man" play live keys over samples - and it worked.The organ groove and solo in "Same Song" was bananas.I recently learned that Digital Underground was first a militant rap group ... that paid homage to The Black Panthers.Public Enemy came along and blew up with the same schtick ... so Digital Underground reinvented itself as something more lighthearted and entertaining.We all remember Digital Underground most for "The Humpty Dance".Everything about "The Humpty Dance" worked - especially that bass line.I know I am the only one, but someone else had to tell me that "Humpty-Hump" was bandleader "Shock-G's" alter ego."Piano Man" was also "Shock-G".I grew up watching music videos - which facilitated the illusion that they were 3 separate people.I did not know.
I am a quick study sometimes ... but sometimes it takes me a minute.Watch me get quick with this.See, Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall - then things fell apart.Things don't always fall apart, cousin.Sometimes they never come together in the first place.Our relationships can be like that ...
Dear Hannah,
Remember my sharing on Proverbs 12:24 ... when I mentioned that most proverbs describe two distinct pathways that individuals have the opportunity to choose - and bear the fruit, the consequences, or some of both?Well, here we go again.Let's wrestle with Proverbs 12:23 now.For posterity, Proverbs 12:24 says "The diligent person will rule, but the slothful (lazy) will become a slave".If you are wondering why I started this series by sharing about Proverbs 12:24 first - it was because I referenced the verse numbers incorrectly.I thought I was starting with the first one first.Mistakes can happen - especially when you think you know what you are doing ... because you do not check.As it turned out, though, dealing with the verses out of sequence provided some necessary wisdom to deal with Proverbs 12:24 ... wisdom about how easy it is to make mistakes by believing that we are infallible ...
Dear Hannah,
Proverbs is a Bible book full of concrete, simple, indisputable wisdom.The wisdom is offered in small, "bite-size" verses.This makes it a good book to study with a mixed group of older and younger folks.Studying Proverbs can lull you to sleep, though - please let me explain.It is easy to interpret most proverbs as describing what a good person does vs. what a bad person does ... as if we are always comparing two different people.Most proverbs, though, describe two distinct pathways that individuals have the opportunity to choose - and bear the fruit, the consequences, or some of both.These are the proverbs that make me pause, consider, and wrestle - to unpack additional layers of wisdom and insight that challenge my growth.These are the ones that make you say "uhhh ... mmmmm ...".They make you quiet - but in a good way ...
(Rebroadcast: 2-5-2018)
(Original Broadcast: 3-1-2017)
Dear Hannah, my education began when I finished school. reflection led to a lot of unlearning and relearning. i realized that i was presented facts disguised as knowledge, opinions disguised as fact, and a whole lot of memorized processes disguised as problem solving. it's all good, though - 'cause now I know ... that i don't know. so i value divergent thinking ... (seeing many answers to the same question) ... creativity ... (capacity for original thought) ... reading ... writing ... counting ... and thinking ... as the keys to converting facts into information into knowledge into wisdom - and solutions to the problems of our existing state. i have also learned to value biographies. the stories from someone's life - and their wisdom earned through lessons learned - inspire and ground me ...
(Rebroadcast 1: 3-5-2018)
(Original Broadcast: 3-1-2017)
Dear Hannah,
our conversationshave dwindled intoshouting matchesand "people's court" casesposts and reposts of articles thatalign with our mindsto which we assignabsolute truthwith no consequenceswhere we want to provethat our might is rightyour wrong is strongand always have both our say ... and our waybut civil discourse- especially between dissenters -promotes growthit helps both partiessee that they aretwo pointsdiametrically opposedon the same circleand that preservation of the circleis more importantthan our "points"
check it ...
Dear Hannah, Mentors are people who share their experiences. Their wisdom is earned through lessons learned. Then they pay it forward. Love, Daddy
Dear Hannah, Mentors are people who share their experiences. Their wisdom is earned through lessons learned. Then they pay it forward. Love, Daddy
Dear Hannah, it's a new year. there's a lot to discuss. we won't count our words, but we'll make our words count. Love, Daddy
Dear Hannah, we can both reach the finish line by helping each other train and pace to run our own race but to run it right we need to both pack light to push some major freight and pull our own weight so hang in there when it doesn't go your way hang in there when you have to say "bye bye" sometimes to people, places, habits, and ideas that hinder more than they help sometimes you have to see it through ... and sometimes you have to see through it ...
Love, Daddy
(Original Broadcast: 3-1-2017)
Dear Hannah,
our conversationshave dwindled intoshouting matchesand "people's court" casesposts and reposts of articles thatalign with our mindsto which we assignabsolute truthwith no consequenceswhere we want to provethat our might is rightyour wrong is strongand always have both our say ... and our waybut civil discourse- especially between dissenters -promotes growthit helps both partiessee that they aretwo pointsdiametrically opposedon the same circleand that preservation of the circleis more importantthan our "points"
check it ...
(Original Broadcast: 3-1-2017)
Dear Hannah, my education began when I finished school. reflection led to a lot of unlearning and relearning. i realized that i was presented facts disguised as knowledge, opinions disguised as fact, and a whole lot of memorized processes disguised as problem solving. it's all good, though - 'cause now I know ... that i don't know. so i value divergent thinking ... (seeing many answers to the same question) ... creativity ... (capacity for original thought) ... reading ... writing ... counting ... and thinking ... as the keys to converting facts into information into knowledge into wisdom - and solutions to the problems of our existing state. i have also learned to value biographies. the stories from someone's life - and their wisdom earned through lessons learned - inspire and ground me ...
Dear Hannah,
My name is Derrick.I have one purpose today.I want to tell people who I am, and what I do, hope, and dream about ... I am a standup storyteller.I use spoken word (poetry), rapping, teaching, oration, singing, writing, producing, and directing to cast hopeful visions of creative, robust solutions to the problems of our existing state.Let's say that another way.I want to challenge and change long-standing traditions.Tradition begins and ends with change.Everything must change - and STAY changED.Change begins with me and the renewing of my mind.It continues through my efforts to disciple – that is, to equip others to equip others.I renew my mind through conversations - in classrooms, churches, conferences, city council meetings, concert halls, chat rooms, and cyphers.I am on a journey that will lead me to facilitate a kind of conversation that is inspired by my renewal experiences ...... one that puts all these conversation venues on the same menu - feel me?Let me share my journey's progress over the last year ...
Love,
Daddy
Dear Hannah,
We are all messengers for different audiences.
Sometimes your message will not find its audience ...
... until you learn how to speak your peace.
Say what you have to say ...
... but tell your truth with grace.
Love,
Daddy
Dear Hannah,The road to reconciliation starts with ...realization (of both the might and the plight), respect (both spiritual essence and natural function), reassurance (of commitment to the corrective plan and path - don't ask for trust ... EARN IT), and REAL relationship (dealing with each other as EQUALS).We've got a long way to go ...... because we keep trying to start at the finish line ...... and often label voices of reason as voices of treason ...... but 'tis the season ...... to answer folly ...... defeat conceit ...... then rinse and repeat.We are not done yet.Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,I'm a people watcher - a careful observer of human behavior.Watching people has taught me that when I look at them ...... sometimes I am looking through a window.... other times I am looking in a mirror.When I stare through a window in the afternoon, I see outside.Staring through a window at night shows me "me".The mirror always shows me "me" ... but also shows me what is behind me ... and what is to come.Man, I hope all that makes sense.But let me spell it out.What you see is always a personal lesson for you ... if you see it that way.That is a blessing.Don't take the easy road of judgement and opinion.Take the less-travelled road ... be advised and forewarned - especially when you watch someone else struggle or fall.That might have been you - but for the power of healing and redemption.That could still be you - but for God's amazing wisdom, grace and mercy.Selah.Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,I am LEarning to listen and observe more than I talk.I see and hear a lot of stuff that I do not understand.I accept these events as part of my LEarning.The easy road is to dismiss it all with judgement and opinion.The tougher road is LEarning to practice empathy.So if a cat shows or tells me something that sounds crazy, it helps me remember how crazy I have sounded to other people ... even recently.That road reminds me that I don't know what roads led these cats to their positions, mindsets and actions.Then I accept that we all have free will - to think whatever we think, say whatever we say, and do whatever we do.Then I resolve to do better.Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,Our greatest entertainers have "five tools".This variety is what makes their performances dynamic and memorable.Comedian Tracy Morgan considers Eddie Murphy as his hero and role model.Morgan taught me that Eddie is unique because he has five comedic tools: stand-up, impressions, characters, singing, and acting.I remember "Raw" 30 years after its release.I remember his "Elvis" impression.I remember all the characters from "Coming to America" and "The Nutty Professor".I remember "Party All The Time".Eddie could sing, y'all.I remember "Boomerang".Chance The Rapper is a five-tool emcee: rapper, singer, preacher, dancer, and conductor.Conductor?Yes, indeed.Chance knows who he is.He is very comfortable in his own skin.He understands music.He knows what he needs from the band.He knows what everybody is supposed to be doing.He leads them while he is on stage.Like James Brown.Like Kirk Franklin.I read that Kirk is one of his influences, and I can see it on stage.Stone Mountain's own Donald Glover (AKA "Childish Gambino") is a five-tool+ talent - writer, producer, director, singer, rapper, actor.Check out old episodes of "Community".He steals a lot of scenes.I read that the show's writers started scripting him doing something improvisational and hilarious.I aspire to be a five-tool+ "standup storyteller" (AKA "griot") - poet, rapper, singer, teacher, orator, writer, producer, director.I am still learning how to use my tools, but I am getting there.But I digress ...Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,There's this school of thought that measures our leaders' effectiveness by factors like their number of followers, or our unflinching alignment with their opinions.Both are misleading.I measure a leader's effectiveness by that leader's service.Not "what they do" for us or "the least of these", per se.In these times, that service includes thought leadership more than ever.Not telling us what to think, but establishing a standard of thoughtfulness that produces coherent, comprehensive positions AND guidance ... positions and guidance crafted with wisdom, discernment, love, and empathy - not opinions, emotions, myopia and agendas - then challenging us to meet that standard, too ... and possibly reach different conclusions!So it's not about this mindless, sheep-to-shepherd "I will follow thee" mess.It's more like "I hear where you are coming from ... I follow you and will rightly divide which way I go".Follow a leader's train of thought ...Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,My education began when I finished school.After school, I enrolled in a lifelong curriculum that includes the following classes ...ministry (serving people)entrepreneurship (developing solutions that serve people)stewardship (taking care of relationships, possessions, talents, body, mind, and time)literacy (reading & writing skills) numeracy (math skills)language (communication skills)self-expression (sharing "who you are")self-identity (knowing "who you are")analysis & synthesis (solving problems & sharing solutions)
KnowledgeBase is a ministry that has evolved from wisdom earned through lessons learned.Every year, I take stock of "where we are" with our ministry.
Take the time to take stock of "where you are".
Love,Daddy
Dear Hannah,
As the name suggests, The People In My Neighborhood (TPIMN) is a project that helps me learn more about where I live.
It began as an effort to organize the neighbors in our subdivision, then grew into an effort to learn about our adjacent communities - then their adjacent communities, etc.
About one year ago, I was able to formalize the project into a google map with several layers.
These layers include community building blocks like voting wards, subdivisions, apartments, schools, churches, businesses, and crime.
Based on recent direct feedback, nobody cares to be shown how the map was built.
Those are too many details.
Many folks, though, care about what the map reveals.
So, let's use the map to help tell a compelling story - by the numbers.
Let's tackle the numbers first.
I live in a voting ward with 3000 registered voters.
2000 are White - and live North of what I call our "Mason - Dixon Line".
1500 of those White voters live in 5 key "North Side" communities.
The other 1000 voters are Black - and live South of that "Mason - Dixon Line".
I am one of them.
There are two candidates vying to be elected as representatives of our ward.
They both live on the "North Side".
Political campaigns have limited resources.
I would not blame these two candidates if they both focused their resources on targeting the 1500 votes in the 5 "North Side" communities.
So far - neither of them seem to be making themselves visible on the "South Side".
I ain't mad at 'em.
But they are overlooking an opportunity that is hard to see ... unless you have a visual aid.
Roll the demo ...
Love,
Daddy
Dear Hannah,
Nine Men's Morris is an ancient board game combining the speed of checkers, the strategy of chess and the simplicity of tic-tac-toe.
It is easy to play, but difficult to master.
Opponents each start the game with 9 playing pieces.
The object ... is to either trap your opponent so he or she can no longer move or to capture all their playing pieces except for two.
The rules ... first person to play puts a piece over any of the white circles on your game board.
Then the second person does the same.
Your objective is to get three of your pieces in a row (which is called a "mill").
All the pieces in a "mill" must be on circles connected by lines.
In other words, diagonal mills don't count.
When you get a mill, you may remove and keep one of your opponent's pieces from the board.
The only time a piece can be removed from an opponent's mill is when there are no other pieces available except those in a mill.
Once both players have put down all their pieces (this is called the "placement" phase), they take turns moving their pieces along the lines in an effort to form a mill (this is called the "movement" phase).
You can only move one space at a time, and you can't move diagonally.
Also, you may only move to adjacent open circles.
You may not bump or jump an opponent's piece.
Remember, the forming of a mill allows for the removal of an opponent's piece.
If you plan well, it is possible to play a piece that forms two mills. If this occurs, you can remove two of your opponent’s pieces.
Play continues until a player can no longer move or is left with only two playing pieces on the board. Whichever outcome, this person loses the game.
I can show you better than I can tell you.
Let's see how it is done.
Roll the demo ...
Love,
Daddy
Dear Hannah,
The NOW YOU KNOW History Quiz Bowl is a gameshow tells the story of 25 ordinary people who did extraordinary things.
These people have special connections to each other - and to us.
Our connections to their lives, stories and accomplishments help us to relate to them.
This allows them to disciple us - even though we may never meet them face-to-face.
The game is played in the tradition of "Jeopardy" - with a few stylistic departures.
First, I serve as host.
My role is to be the griot.
Each gameboard selection affords me the chance to introduce a person and tell their story - in 15-20 seconds.
Each story ends with a common knowledge "answer" that contestants then "question" for points.
Our second key departure - if contestants do not phrase their question properly, we chew the meat, spit out the bones, and keep LEarning.
Questions, answers, and phrasing are all of secondary importance.
The story and LEarning are our priorities.
Roll the demo ...
Love,
Daddy
Dear Hannah,
"LEarning (Writing Your First Business Plan (WYFBP))" By Derrick Brown 8-10-2017
Many years ago, I developed a six-week class called "Writing Your First Business Plan".
The purpose of the class was to help entrepreneurs with GOoD ideas (good ideas from God) "wrap their minds" around their vision, mission, and steps - in a way that established and built positive momentum.
Vision describes what your efforts will produce / create - it describes your "end".
Mission describes the concrete path to your vision - it descibes your "means".
Steps describe specific projects and tasks required to navigate that path - your "who", "what", "when", "where", "why", and "how".
I developed the class after reviewing the path I had navigated thus far while implementing my own vision.
My path began with a one-page business plan - written in the Summer of 1993 - that outlined my approach to being a computer consultant.
I was 23 when I wrote it, but even by then I understood that using a computer was my strongest skill set.
Educating and empowering people by learning to use computers efficiently was my strongest interest (my passion).
In 1996, I wrote a more formal business plan that helped launch an African-related Internet directory called The Universal Black Pages (UBP).
My current venture, KnowledgeBase, was first UBP's marketing and outreach arm - then we went "solo" in 1998.
All of this was defined and outlined in that formal plan - which received a lot of positive feedback, and allowed us to run our business "on paper".
This helped us avoid a lot of costly mistakes (I mean financial ones).
We still made more than our fair share (especially management & leadership ones), and earned some painful wisdom through lessons learned.
Through it all, though, I remembered that one-page plan, and the confidence, clarity, and calm it brought when I finished it.
I wanted to outline a process that would help others achieve that same confidence, clarity, and calm.
Then I wanted to walk through that process with them.
Let me show it to you ...
Love,
Daddy
Dear Hannah,
I host a six-week class called "Reach - Then Teach".
The class goal is to help parents, mentors and teachers build stronger relationships with students.
Part of my role is to introduce 6 key projects (one per class) that I use to both facilitate and actively participate in relationships.
The larger part of my mission, though, is to create and nurture a small-group, "discipling" fellowship.
A "discipling" fellowship is one where participants equip each other to equip others.
This is a closer walk between me and thee.
This might be a tad bit cozier than a normal classroom setting.
See - once I lead you through these projects, I will also have been transparent about "me" - my life and times.
You will have been introduced to my life's passion, purpose, and mission.
If all goes well, the end of our class will mark the beginning of our fellowship.
Love,
Daddy
Dear Hannah,
So how do you deal with the frustration that accompanies feeling like you are not being heard?
I have no answers.
I do have an approach that I am still LEarning.
First step ... remember what frustration is, Derrick.
Frustration is an emotional response to a lack of control ... of people, circumstances, outcomes, etc.
I am not in control of anything but me.
That establishes a clear boundary for giving and taking advice.
I am never in a position to tell someone else what to do.
Nor do I want to be - because I will not become responsible for someone else's choices.
However, I am well-positioned to offer the truth about my perspective.
Hear me twice.
I do not have THE truth.
I do have MY truth.
I am remiss to not share my truth - but I need to declare it as such.
I have crossed the line, though, when I think my truth is THE truth, and should therefore be your truth.
Second step ... I remember the times folks shared their truth with me ... and I still chose to learn the hard way.
I have a lot of those memories.
I can look back now and admit to emotions, attitudes, pain, frustration, and outright sin that charted a certain course for self-destruction.
It is possible that no one else knew, or even had a clue, about any of that.
At times, I wore my mask well.
Sometimes I still wear it.
But I digress.
Because of my own past and path, I am aware that I am never really aware of all the parameters that drive anyone's thoughts and actions.
So I ask silently ... what is happening here that I cannot see?
If I am lucky, I may never "find" what I cannot see ... nevertheless, I will search for it.
That helps me to maintain boundaries and balance ...
I want to discern, not judge.
I want to encourage - not enable.
I want to influence - not beseech (I ain't begging).
I want to reach - then teach.
I want to teach - not preach.
This way, I can speak with humility to what I think I see ... then shut up, watch and pray about the rest.
Love,
Daddy
Dear Hannah,
The movie "Groundhog Day" starred Bill Murray as a weatherman caught in a time loop, repeating the same day again and again.
His experiences led him to re-examine his life and priorities.
When it was released in 1993, "Groundhog Day" was a modest success.
Since then, it has become more popular, and is now considered one of the best comedy films ever.
It is now ingrained in the public consciousness - the term "Groundhog Day" can represent a situation that seems to occur repeatedly.
I know a little something about "Groundhog Day".
My purpose is to create beauty (art) that helps us LEarn, inspire, and empower.
There are many times, though, when my art inspires people to assign me the task of supporting their purpose.
That is not quite the goal of my work.
My goal is to help us all LEarn how to collaborate and execute in ways that support our respective purposes.
I am your co-laborer ... not your laborer.
Once upon a time, recognition of "Groundhog Day" conditions was an automatic trigger to stand firm and say "no".
For example, 15 years ago I led a project that walked 250 aspiring entrepreneurs through the process of writing their "first" business plan.
This plan was a 5-7-page blueprint that would help them "wrap their minds" around their God-given ideas, and implement them at their life's pace.
That way, their visions would manifest at their appointed times.
The class' last writing assignment included drafting concrete "next steps" that they would execute after the end of the six-week course.
More than one student included "hire Derrick as my first employee" as one of their "next steps".
That was not going to happen.
That was not quite the goal, people.
I digress.
Nowadays, Groundhog Days are trickier to handle.
They are occuring more and more with people with whom I walk closely.
Responding now is not as simple as saying "ain't gonna happ'n, Cap'n".
My response had to be more like, "can't do that ... but here's what I CAN do".
The best lessons are ones that teach you at least twice.
So, experiencing the same situation multiple times can be painful - but still useful.
Just as it happened in the movie, each Groundhog Day may seem the same - but each presents a new opportunity to grow in how I handle myself.
This is key - because at this stage of my life, I recognize the importance of every relationship, conversation, and moment.
They all matter.
I feel an urgent need to redeem the time I spend with everyone on my path.
This urgency leads me to often seek wise counsel when frustration clouds the "big picture".
So why do I have do many Groundhog Days?
I posed this question to my main man ... and he imparted some wisdom I would like to share.
He said ...
Love,
Daddy
Dear Hannah,
LEarn to do math, then learn what math does.
I developed the game Talk To Me to support this LEarning journey.
Love,
Daddy
"LEarning (Talk To Me (A Game That Teaches The Language of ANY Subject))" By Derrick Brown 6-25-2017
Language and discourse are more important than vocabulary.
Vocabulary is knowledge of words.
If you say "Chuck D's stentorian cadence commands his audience's attention" - you probably have a large vocabulary.
Language is the means by which we use words, numbers and sounds to communicate.
If you instead say "Chuck D's loud, booming delivery commands his audience's attention" - you have impressive language skills.
Discourse is extended verbal expression in speech and writing.
If you instead say "Denzel's smooth delivery captivates his audience" - you, my friend, are skilled in discourse.
But I digress ...
Dear Hannah,
Your friends will be the people who accept and affirm you, hold you accountable, and present you with authority that you respect.
You and your friends will exert powerful influence over each other.
Your charisma will give you powerful influence in the world, too.
Everybody you influence will not become your friend - and that is OK.
The most powerful influence, though, is exerted via self-control.
Love,
Daddy
I read books and articles to weigh and consider - even to "wrestle" with - the ideas conveyed by authors.
Sometimes I understand, like, and embrace those ideas - and sometimes I do not.
Sometimes I discern that the author's experiences are different than mine - therefore, their assertions, opinions, and conclusions are different.
Sometimes that is OK, and simply is what it is.
Sometimes I have to "unlearn" the author's assertion, then "relearn" and apply it in the context of my own life.
I often read and wrestle with Dale Carnegie's classic book "How To Win Friends And Influence People".
Its principles have helped me to become a more effective, charismatic leader ...
Dear Hannah,
You have been given relationships, possessions, talents, a mind, a body, and time.
Take care of what you have been given.
Love,
Daddy
For years, I have repaired, recycled, and redistributed broken / obsolete laptop & desktop computers.
It began as a hobby.
When I was young, my Dad fixed large and small electronics to make our living.
I soon noticed that we never bought stereos, radios, TVs, refrigerators, washers & dryers - never.
I liked that.
I did not quite understand why we never bought them - but I liked that we never bought them.
So, I decided that after buying my first computer in 1992 for $1500 - that I would never buy another one.
I got a "broken" surplus computer from school, found out it was not broken at all - and I was captivated ...
Dear Hannah,
Take stock of your life on every birthday.
Assess your progress towards love, maturity, courage, freedom, and your life's mission and vision.
Embrace the people who love and appreciate you, and take the time to tell you that you are important to them.
Then reciprocate and exceed that love and reflection with intention and sincerity.
Love,
Daddy
I celebrated my birthday a couple of weeks ago.
Birthdays are important milestones.
They allow us to reflect on and appreciate life, health, happiness, and stewardship.
And my wife's homemade pizza ...
Dear Hannah,
Truth without grace is mean.
Grace without truth is meaningless.
Love,
Daddy
Equality requires both opportunity and circumstance.
(to learn more, visit http://bit.ly/rtt_thoughtsonissues)
(Buy poster at http://bit.ly/rtt_ucantcme2)
My life is but an instrument Singing songs in many keys Wisdom earned through lessons learned From mistakes of several degrees
Do not mistake activity for achievement Arriving on time means you're late To be on time arrive early Fall seven times - get up eight
One time is an accident Two times is a trend Three times might be a problem But forgiveness is your friend ...
(Buy poster at http://bit.ly/tbp_johnny2)
Why oh why can't Johnny READ? Probably because the brother's name is Khalid Yet the majority of so-called experts agreed On the cultural ideas they would force-feed ...
Why oh why can't Johnny WRITE? 'Cause instead of him creating he just has to recite We offer him a perspective that he finds quite trite Then have the gall to try to label him as "not too bright" ...
"Real" power is work done efficiently ... that is, with wise and skillful use of resources, interests, communication, and expertise ...
We are proud to present a 180-Word commencement speech (buy poster at http://bit.ly/rtt_commencement) ...
- Equality requires both opportunity and circumstance.
- Education begins when you finish school.
- Education requires learning, unlearning, and relearning ...
(Buy poster at http://bit.ly/rtt_standyourgground) ...
Dear Hannah,
Sometimes things happen that upset us. We have to feel what we feel, take the time to heal, remember what is real, and keep moving forward ...
Love,
Daddy
(Buy poster at http://bit.ly/rtt_standyourgground) ...
Dear Hannah,
Sometimes things happen that upset us. We have to feel what we feel, take the time to heal, remember what is real, and keep moving forward ...
Love,
Daddy
Dear Hannah,
Teach students, not subjects.
You will not know them on your first day together.
You will not know them on your last day together.
Never stop LEarning who they are, and you will never stop LEarning who you are.
Love,
Daddy
Dear Hannah,
Teach students, not subjects.
You will not know them on your first day together.
You will not know them on your last day together.
Never stop LEarning who they are, and you will never stop LEarning who you are.
Love,
Daddy
Dear Hannah,
Stick to the Master Plan - even when current events make it feel like the world is out of control.
Love,
Daddy
Dear Hannah,
Stick to the Master Plan - even when current events make it feel like the world is out of control.
Love,
Daddy
Dear Hannah,
education begins when you finish school.
'cause life gives you the test first ...
- then you get the lesson ...
Dear Hannah,
education begins when you finish school.
'cause life gives you the test first ...
- then you get the lesson ...
Dear Hannah,
I know that I do not know.
So, I need to LEarn and teach.
I cannot LEarn while talking.
I LEarn by listening.
I teach by LEarning.
I teach by listening and talking.
I create change through power and influence.
I create power through efficient work.
I do efficient work by LEarning.
I influence by reaching - then teaching.
See, I am quiet - but not silent.
Here's what I am LEarning ...
Dear Hannah,
Life is a series of opportunities.
Here's how I approach life ...
I listen, because I don't listen well.
I am quiet, because I am not quiet.
I observe, because I can't see.
I know, because I know that I don't know.
I speak like no one else is ever going to speak for me.
I do like no one is ever going to do for me ...
Dear Hannah,
Being part of a church has helped me to grow - both in my walk with God, and in my understanding of life and people.
Church helped me to wake up, grow up, speak up, and wise up.
The experience has not always been "pretty" - but has taught me key lessons ...
- Your gifts can become weapons (against you and others) without the BALANCE of healing and accepting, affirming, accountable, authoritative relationships.
- Hurt people hurt people.
- Healed people help people heal.
- People who help people sometimes exploit the people they help - and the people who help them.
- We are all mentors to each other through shared life experiences - good, bad, and ugly.
- Your mentor's good works are beacons of light that show you the path; his missteps are clear warnings to you. Take heed.
Love,
Daddy
Dear Hannah,
When they can't see you, learn to take advantage of being "hidden" and underestimated.
Love,
Daddy
Dear Hannah,
All ideas are great. The ones that are developed, financed, negotiated, produced, packaged, and sold make money.
Love,
Daddy
"LEarning (Games People Play (The Story of Monopoly) - in 90 Seconds)" By Derrick Brown
Charles Darrow lost his job as a heater salesman at the beginning of The Great Depression in 1929.
He then created, patented, copyrighted, and licensed Monopoly between 1933 and 1935 - but Monopoly was based on versions of real estate trading games whose patents date back to 1904.
Why did Darrow's version flourish - making him the first millionaire game designer?
Well, two lessons come to mind ...
Dear Hannah,
Multiply your influence through mentoring.
Love,
Daddy
"LEarning (Honor Role - The Power Of Mentors)" By Derrick Brown
American history has not been kind to Paul Robeson.
Robeson was a complex individual.
Even complex individuals can be erased - one dimension at a time ...
Dear Hannah,
There is sometimes folly in faith ... and there is sometimes faith in folly.
Love,
Daddy
"LEarning (The "Real" Matrix - in 5 minutes)" By Derrick Brown 3-5-2017
A long time ago, a movie called "The Matrix" captured our attention.
The movie conveyed that reality was not "real" - but simulated and imagined.
It made lots of "real" money, though.
A few years after, author Sophia Stewart sued the key players behind "The Matrix" for copyright infringement.
She also sued the key players behind "The Terminator".
She alleged that both movies were based on works she created in the early 1980s.
Court documents show that Stewart did not win her lawsuit.
They also suggest that she did not win because her case was legally difficult to prove - not necessarily because it was false ...
Dear Hannah,
Sometimes detours help you see what you might have otherwise missed.
Love,
Daddy
"LEarning (Crossing Paths (The Story of Tim Reid, New Millennium Studios, and The Spook Who Sat By The Door) - in 11 minutes)" By Derrick Brown
A long time ago (1997) in Petersburg, VA (where my wife Keisha was born and raised), Tim and Daphne Maxwell Reid launched New Millennium Studios - a 15,000-square-foot full-service movie production studio on 60 acres of land ... land with a rich Civil War history.
It was the only full-service movie production studio in the state of Virginia ...
Dear Hannah,
my education began when I finished school.
reflection led to a lot of unlearning and relearning.
i realized that i was presented
facts disguised as knowledge, opinions disguised as fact, and a whole lot of memorized processes disguised as problem solving.
it's all good, though - 'cause now I know ... that i don't know.
so i value divergent thinking ... (seeing many answers to the same question)
... creativity ... (capacity for original thought)
... reading
... writing
... counting
... and thinking
... as the keys to converting facts into information into knowledge into wisdom - and solutions to the problems of our existing state.
i have also learned to value biographies.
the stories from someone's life - and their wisdom earned through lessons learned - inspire and ground me ...
Dear Hannah,
our conversations have dwindled into shouting matches and "people's court" cases
posts and reposts of articles that align with our minds to which we assign
absolute truth with no consequences
where we want to prove that our might is right your wrong is strong and always have both our say ... and our way
but civil discourse - especially between dissenters - promotes growth
it helps both parties see that they are
two points diametrically opposed on the same circle
and that preservation of the circle
is more important than our "points"
check it ...
Dear Hannah,
we need to talk.
we need to have sustained, substantive conversations with friends, fans, and foes that are affirming, accepting, accountable - and sometimes authoritative.
they can be focused, civil, intra-generational, didactic, inspiring, comforting, strategic ...
... and can still be pleasant & fun.
... or thoughtful, probing, and sobering.
... or downright serious.
they can edify and mature the mind, will, and emotions ...
... by speaking life
... and preventing death.
they can build bonds, teams and camaraderie.
they can birth visions.
they can create frameworks for change.
they can help to keep peace, help to make peace, or help to say "peace".
it all starts with a good question that provides food for thought.
check it ...
Dear Hannah,
we need to talk.
we need to have sustained, substantive conversations with friends, fans, and foes that are affirming, accepting, accountable - and sometimes authoritative.
they can be focused, civil, intra-generational, didactic, inspiring, comforting, strategic ...
... and can still be pleasant & fun.
... or thoughtful, probing, and sobering.
... or downright serious.
they can edify and mature the mind, will, and emotions ...
... by speaking life
... and preventing death.
they can build bonds, teams and camaraderie.
they can birth visions.
they can create frameworks for change.
they can help to keep peace, help to make peace, or help to say "peace".
it all starts with a good question that provides food for thought.
check it ...
Dear Hannah,
Read the Bible while you are in church (and when you are not) ...
Love,
Daddy
"LEarning (Bring Your Own Bible (The Story of The Printing Press) - in 3 minutes)" By Derrick Brown
The printing press was invented a long, long time ago by Johannes Gutenburg.
He initially used his invention to print Bible copies.
Gutenberg was nearly bankrupted by his venture - but he persevered (to his own detriment) ...