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"When all other means of communication fail, try words" - Author Unknown
"When all other means of communication fail, try words" - Author UnknownMore Head Coaches, Less Spectators
Last night while watching my younger son practice with his pee wee football team, a group of teenage boys came and sat on the opposite end of the bleachers that my husband and I were sitting on. Within...The "N" Word
“Nigga ain’t the same as Nigger”. How you figure? Many have tried to explain the NONsense, but I guess I’M dense, ‘cause it don’t make No sense, to me. Probably not to the slave that hung...Review By RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net
Written by by Dawn R. Reeves of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers Friday, 18 June 2010 18:56
LEARNING TO DREAM WITH YOUR EYES OPEN by Melanie D. Geddes is a usable blueprint on how to dream and remove oneself from the dire straits inner city youth may find themselves in. The book is structured in an easy to read manner and each chapter ends with "Lesson Learned" activities to begin the journey. It begins with "Why Dream?" and ends with "Quiet Confidence." In between, the chapters deal with issues such as "Beating the Odds", "Changing Lanes" and "From Impossible To Possible", just to name a few. What I found interesting is that the chapters are no-nonsense, straightforward and if taken seriously, could actually alter a young person's life, no matter the situation.
As I read I realized this book is not only for inner city youth, but youth and adults from all walks of life. Techniques are given on how to set attainable goals, improve academic performance and take ownership for one's actions.
The author herself was raised in an inner city and she shares some aspects of her story, which fosters believability with the reader.
My favorite chapters are "Changing Lanes" and "Decisions, Decisions, Decisions." "Changing Lanes" highlights the necessity of altering your goals when the realization hits that your stated goal is not what you really want. The author also discusses how our lives can lead to nowhere and how fear and the need to feel safe allow us to accept our current situations. Chapter 8, titled "Decisions, Decisions, Decisions," deals with responsible behavior and how to change a situation, correct mistakes and learn from the mistakes of others. The author cites some real life examples of bad decision-making and the consequences of those decisions. Other reading materials are cited, which are excellent and motivating reads as well. This is a wonderful tool for all to use, whether you are a child, parent, educator, human service worker or volunteer; all will find something useful to help our youth succeed in life. My favorite quote - "circumstances can impact your starting point, but they don't have to necessarily determine your ending point."
Reviewed by Dawn R. Reeves
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
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