Back Talk: How Are the Children? It’s Our Responsibility

This is a powerful question, and I do not know if we are really ready to hear the answer. Teaching in Asheville, I see that we are willing to continue to ask question, but really hard answers are not coming. Each day I see students coming to class without pencils, paper… or their homework. However, each day they can talk about videos, go on appointments to get their hair done, and have electronics that I as a teacher cannot afford.



I
believe that the children will be well once we decide to take back OUR
children. The responsibility of raising my two sons fell on me as a
parent. That responsibility meant that when my 17 year old decided not
to reduce his minutes on his phone, I took it. That responsibility
meant that I made my sons turn off the television. That responsibility
meant that I showed up at school and questioned. That responsibility
meant that I remembered that I had to be a FATHER!


How we answer
the question of “How Are the Children” will have an impact on how the
future for children in Asheville will play out. As Johnchel put it
being a youth, whether African-American or not is not easy.

Although I
am 44, I grew up in Lee Walker Heights and knew that it was going to be
hard to not get caught up in the drama. My safety net was… Mom, NaNa,
Aunt Mae, Mr. Garrison, Mrs. Garrison, Ms. Mosell Bailey, and a host of
others that may have never heard of the African proverb, but believed
in the village concept.


Johnchel, keep you head up, and always look forward.


Cedric Nash, Asheville