ARRESTED POTENTIAL
through the eyes of a soldier
by
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The stories of black women, more than likely who are single, raising their young black sons are compelling and, more often than not, heart wrenching. The statistics reveal that attempting to raise them alone, without a father or a strong male’s presence is unconscionable. Furthermore, the impact of the black mother’s inability to feign off her sons downward spiral into the drug underworld and criminal activity is absolutely devastating and the emotions are painfully unbearable. What is happening to these mothers’ sons is killing and destroying family units as we once knew them and black communities in which they live that were once vibrant. The community residents find themselves living in fear. So, what is missing? Is it the lack of community dialogue? Is it the failure of our ministers to address the social issues in their sermons? Or is it our educators who are missing solutions in academia to engage black mothers with solutions as to how to motivate and encourage their young black sons to do well in school? And of course, it goes without saying, that when there are non-existent community solutions and obviously no comprehensive family planning paradigms, then the source of almost every negative social ill that befalls black mothers’ sons today is couched in the term “Yo Baby Mama Drama.” While the very mention of the term might repel the brightest of minds and the most liberal and conservative of hearts, it speaks volumes as to the magnitude of the problems that our young black mothers face as they try to raise their “Fatherless” black sons.
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About the Book
A must read book for the 21st Century. The journey of an ordinary black man, who fights an unpopular war as a young man and confronted with death becomes disillusioned with society until he is almost a statistic. Subsequently, he manages to come to a better understanding of life experiences and their impact upon his future through the "school of hard knocks." Realizing that he is his own worst enemy and a change must be made, shaped by his parents and a community, embarks on a path that takes him half way around the world and home again.
About the Author
Gene Jones (g.m.jones) was raised in southeastern North Carolina, graduated in 1968 from Lumberton High School and was an army war veteran. A draftee, he entered the United States Army in 1969 and six months later was forced to fight in an unpopular war. After being discharged in 1973, he reenlisted into the Army in 1975. He retired from the Army in 1992. His military career took him " to " Vietnam, Germany, Panama, and various stateside assignments. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in 1994, at the ripe age of 43. Not being able to find work in his community, employment took him to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq. As a child growing up in the rural South he experienced the White and Colored water fountains, bathrooms, and not being able to dine with the majority race. While living in public housing, he had seen the procession of the KKK shouting obscenities and blowing their horns as they navigated the streets of his neighborhood. He witnessed his father working at menial jobs and his mother riding in the back seat of her White employer's car going to and from work. After his Army career ended and being away from community, he found not much had changed for the betterment of Blacks. Disillusioned at the plight of the young Black males in the United States and his community, he shares his life experiences to encourage and motivate them to live up to their potential. Through life experiences he learned that a Black male must realize that he and only he control their faith and destiny. This is a book about his journey.