A Tribute to Daddies
"Strong men keep coming ..."
? Robert Hayden
Father's Day. Daddy's Day. A day set
aside to pay tribute to those men whom the
Creator has blessed with the incomparable
pleasure and awesome responsibility of father
hood. And while this day is obviously of
importance to fathers (and children) of all
races and creeds, Father's Day in the African
American community takes on a special signif
icance ? in both the historic and present-day
in southern fields and factories and labored in
northern mills and mines; those men who
picked rice and cotton, cut tobacco and sugar
cane, from 'can't see in the morning to can't
see at night." Yes, those not-so-famous heroes
who defied law and custom, practice and pol
icy in their attempts to make a better day, a
better way for us ? their children.
On a personal note, this writer has truly
been blessed with a supportive father ? my
namesake ? still alive, kicking and "strug
gling" (to use his favorite line), as well as the
context, where,
African- American
males have been
and still are con
stantly and continu
ally victimized and
vilified, stigmatized
and stereotyped in
GUEST COLUMNIST
By CLIFTON E. GRAVES JR
virtually every
of this society.
Indeed, with all the respect and honor due
to our African-American women ? those
mamas, grandmas, aunties and sisters who
raised and reared so many of us, and who, yet
remain the lifeblood of our community ?
Father's Day offers us an opportunity to pay
homage to those daddies, step-daddies, uncles,
grandpas and brothers who dared to be men
when society bid them to be boys.
. Our people's history and present-day
experiences are replete with evidence of the
charactcr and courage of African and African
American fathers. From those countless
African warriors who fought the colonizers on
the coasts of Sierra Leone and Angola to Dou
glass, Dclany, Garvey, Robeson, Martin and
Malcolm, male descendants of Africa have
stood tall and withstood all in their/our
attempts to balance personal achievement,
family accord and community advancement
But, really Father's Day is not about hon
oring those "famous" heroes to whom we owe
so much. Rather, it is about saying "thank
you," "I love you" to those daddies who slaved
yet vivid memories of both my maternal
(Oscar) and paternal (Ed) grandfathers, and
numerous uncles ? men who tangled with
hard times and tussled with hardship; men who
stood tall when society demanded they not
stand at all; men who taught me about man
hood; lessons that I must now teach my son,
Malik (and for that matter, my daughter,
Thema, as well).
So, on this Father's Day, 1993, let us for
one moment cast aside the negative images
and media distoitions of the "sorry," 'jive-ass*
black male. Indeed, let us even forget ? just
for a day ? about the harsh realities of those
males who made babies yet do not have a clue
as to what real fatherhood/manhood means.
Those males who in their arrogance and/or
ignorance abuse and misuse their spouses,
mothers, sister-friends and children.
Instead, leuus remember "daddy," "papa,"
"father" ? or those coaches, teachers, mentors
who took their respective places ? and say
"Happy Father's Day." For daddies ? espe
cially African-American daddies ? need love
and appreciation, too.
Summer Recommendations
When the final word is in regarding stu
dent performance for this school session, you
will realize that our children can perform aca
demically better than that of other school dis
tricts and the state.
My message to the parents is ... prepare
your child during the summer for their return
to school. Remove excuses that a teacher or
school official may have to not challenge your
child by getting them ready academically and
socially NOW!
Get your child involved in sound-free,
structured academically and social programs
that focus on writing, reading, mathematics
and the sciences. Since all schools are not year
round, the educational gains by your child
must be kept intact. If this is not the case,
deficits need to be removed.
Parents need to know that any change in tests
may result in lower student scores. I have
heard firm many schools. They say that chil
dren have performed better this year. Teachers
have done a better job in preparing children for
the assessments. Therefore, overall, this school
system may look good in some places they did
not in the past
It is still true that "idle minds and hands
are the devil's workshop." If we are going to
change the attitudes and performances of all
children, then you as parents must step in and
demand that the best of this school system be
afforded to your child in all areas and pro
grams.
We, as parents, are too quick to point fin
gers at teachers and schools. If children are not
trained in the social realm of respect and
acceptable behavior patterns, then we cannot
Parents, school
personnel are avail
able to answer ques
tions regarding sum
mer programs that
are free to this com
munity. The time is
now for you to be
responsible for your
child's future. DO NOT allow your child to expect them to be at their best while away
have an unstructured summer. If you do, your from home.
child will be further behind when schools open
GENEVA SAYS
By Geneva Brown
in August.
During this summer, rethink what the past
school year was like. Prepare as a parent to
rcfocus your child's attention on programs and
work in which he was not successful. Protect
what is yours and be knowledgeable about
schools by attending School Board meetings
next school year. In this way, you may help us
board members rethink and revisit issues that
are in the best interest of children. Plan to get
involved in the total process as parents and
voters.
The job is hard and some of us are alone
out here as advocates for schools and children.
Together we can fix most of the problems
that exist in our schools. Remember this, you
arc not in the minority, your voice will be
heard when it comes to doing what is right and
fair for all children. The time is now, this sum
mer, for us to put a stop to poor student acade
mic and social performance. Let us all help by
taking back our schools and demanding that all
children arc challangcd at appropriate instruc
tional levels.
This year children were given a new test
Granted, all of our teaching in the schools
does not live up to our expectations. However,
there is enough good teaching taking place in
schools to remind us that positive learning
experiences can occur for all children. Parents
have the responsibility of seeking answers
from teachers and principals about their child's
progress. The approach to getting these
answers should always be positive and not
"fussy."
Educators are not in the business of devel
oping losers. Therefore, parents must help by
insisting that children are challenged and given
fair chances in the process for appropriate aca
demic growth and development
Let me take this opportunity to thank each
member of the Forsyth County Board of Com
missioners for having the foresight to fund our
schools at a high level that can help education.
Their action shows that there are people who
know the needs of education and arc willing
and ready to help.
(Geneva Brown is a member of the Win
ston-Salem/ Forsyth County School Board)
Parent & Child Summer Activity
Sun.
Mon.
Tue.
Wed.
Tbu.
Frt
Sat.
* Help your
child set goals for
the summer How
many books does
she want to read*
What does she
want to learn'
2 Look
through the news
paper Find a free
activity going on
this summer Plan
to attend it.
3 In 1888,
Ernest Thayer s
poem "Casey at
the Bat" was first
published Read it
with your kids
Plan a laie
bedtime so every
one can read in
bed Serve a
healthy snack if
you wish
5 Find objects
tliat Itave distinc
tive odors (onion,
lemon, perfume)
With eyes closed,
ask your child to
identify tltem
O Help your
child start a rock,
leaf flower or
shell collection
Find a place to
put it!
*7 Visit the li
brary. Check out a
book about a
summer sport
P Help your
kids make an "I'm
Bored" list of
things they could
do. when they're
bored, choose an
item from the list
9 This is
Donald Duck's
birthday.' He first
appeared in 1934
Talk about favor
ite cartoon
characters.
10 Start a small
garden with your
child. Let your
child take the re
sponsibility for
weeding and
watering.
11 Plan a r;ad
ing dinner Sliare
one fun dung
you'd like to do
this summer
12 Cut out a
picture of a fa
mous person you
and your child
find in the news
paper Write a let
ter to this person
13 This is Na
lErySI'ESis
or 3 oranges and
give it a try!
i?
Learn more
about historic
flags. Draw a pic
ture of a flag.
15 In 1752.
Benjamin Franklin
performed his fa
mous kite experi
ment. Fly your
own kite today if
it's not stormy.
16
This is Na
tional Fresh Fruit
St Vegetable
Month. Choose a
new fruit and
vegetable to try.
17 Watch die
news with your
child. Talk about a
story that made
you happy and
about one that
made you sad
18 Plan a bte
bedtime so every
one can read in
bed Everyone
tells what they
will be reading
before they begin
19
Take a walk
with your family
Look for signs of
summer
20
Create a
"Home Report
Card" with your
child. List jobs that
he can do and
give points for
each job finished
2 1 Visit the li
brary. Check out a
book about a
hero or heroine.
22 Look at
food ads in the
paper. Choose 3
or 4 foods. Ask
your child how
much money you
need to buy them
23
Have your
child see how
many words she
can make from
SUMMERTIME.
24
Watch the
news with your
child. Is there
someone he
thinks is a hero ot
heroine?
25 Plan a read
ing dinner. Share
a favorite part of
your book
26 This is Na
tional Zoo Month.
Have your child
compare sizes,
legs, feet, ears
and cbws of
various animals.
27 Today is the
birthday of the
song, "Happy
Birthday to You "
Make up your
own birthday
song
28 visit the li
brary. Check out a
book about the
stars and planets
29 Have a "No
TV" day. Play a
game, take a
walk, or work to
gether on a
project
30
Search your
home for every
thing that is
sticky. Make a list
of what you find
June 1993
July 1993
- Make get -
ting dressed If"
ting uressea 1351
and fun. Flay your
child's favorite
record this morn
ing while she get>
dressed.
1 1 Find a place
to co swimming
with your kids Af
terwards, write a
poem about how
it felt
Celebrate
Ice Cream Day "by
enjoying your fa
vorite flavor with
your kids
25
Consider
giving your child
an allowance as a
way to leam to
manage monev
responsibly
J Visit the li
brary Check out a
book about the
weather Read it
together.
12 Visit the li
brary with your
child Check out a
book about in
sects.
19
Visit the li
brary Check out a
how-to book
26
Visit the li
brary Check out
an adventure
book
O What's the
difference be- .
tween an alligator
and a trocoailc'
Read about it
then draw a
picture of each
13 Teach your
child how io use a
clothes washer
and dryer if he's
old enough to do
it safely.
On this dav
20
in 1969. people
first walked on
the moon Would
your kids like to
be astronauts'
Why or why not'
27 Read a
weather report in
your newspaper
List all the weath
er words
/ Have a con
test with math
facts. Have one
person ask a math
question Then
see who can an
swer first
14
Play a trivia
game with your
child. Let her ask
you questions
about the book -
she is reading
21
** Can you
name a food that
starts with each
4etter of the alpha
bet'
28
Visit the
grocery store
What foods could
you lake if you
were going on an
adventure?
* #Help your
child make a mo
bile based on a
favorite book to
hang in his room
8 Read the
newspaper with
your child Look
for a st
the weather
15 Have your
child list the day's
events and put
them in the order
in which they
happened
22 Help your
children eam
money Sell lem
onade, walk dogs
or water plants
when neighbors
are away.
29
Have every
one bring a new
word to the table
Which one has
the most syllables'
** Plan a late
bedtime so every
one can read in
bed. Serve a
healthy snack if
you wish.
9 Plan a read
ing dinner Share
something you've
?xiut live
weather
10 Celebrate
National Picnic
Month by plan
| ning :? picnic with
your fatpily
1^
Flan a late
bedtime so every
one can read in
bed. Everyone
tells what they
will be reading
before they begin
23 Plan a read
ing dinner Share
something you've
learned to do
30
Plan a late
bedtime so every
one can read in
bed Serve a
healthy snack if
you wish
at night and look
at the stars
17 ?0 for a
walk outside. Find
a place wliere you
can study insects
2i~
Work on a
houseliold project
with your cnikl
31
Play "Cha
rades" or another
guessing game
with your child
c.
Sun.
Mon. i Tue.
Wed.
Tbu.
Fri.
Sat
1 Plan a tnn
to a nearby nark
Have your child
make a map of
how to get there
2 Visit the It
bran-. Check out a
book you enjoyed
as a chdd Share it
with vour chdd
D Watch a TV
show that deals
with current
events Then taJk
about it with your
chdd
Put together
jigsaw puzzle
ith your chdd
5 Look in the
sports section of
trie newspaper
On a map. find
where each team
is located.
^ Plan a read
ing dinner. Share
a Favorite passage
from your book
f Take a
walk with your
child Look for
objects that ate
square, triangu
lar or round.
Make a list.
8 This is Na
tional Famdy
Day. Enjoy some
special time with
-your famdy.
J Visit the li
brary Check out a
Ixxik about an
artist.
10 For one
week, watch li
cense plates
Keep track of
where they are I
from
11 Encourage
your chdd to write
a letter to a favor
ite author. Your
ry can help?
you find an
address
12 Talk about
punctuation with
your chdd How
many types of
punctuation can
you find? What
does each mean'
13 Plan a late
bedtime so every
one can read in
bed. Everyone
4elli what they
will be reading
before they begin
14 -Enjby
Game Day with
your family. Ev
eryone gets to
rhnrtu* ? fauof.
ite game to play
15
Visit a
nearby park If
possible, look for
a nature program
to attend with
your children
16 Visit the li
brary Check out a
book about pets
17
Play "Math
Baseball You ask
the questions
Each conect an
swer is a "base
hit "
18 Keep a
graph of your
town's tempera
ture for a week
Compare it with
the graph you
made in January
19 This is Na
tional Aviation
Day, celebrating
Orvdle Wright's
birthday Try to
find a picture of
the first airplane
20 Plan a read
ing dinner Share
an interesting fact
about pets
21
Onomato
poeia" means
words that
sound like what
they mean, biss,
thump Make a
list of others
22 Lie down
and look at the
clouds. Look for
shapes and de
signs Then draw
them
23
Visit the li
brary Check out a
hook of jokes
24 Discuss
something you
think is beautiful
and something
ou think is ugly
vou feel that wav
25
Collect
some interesting
funk Then let
your chdd use it
to create an
2(T
Make a list
of the school sup
plies your chdd
wdl need Have
her read the ads
ut the,
best buvs
27 Plan a late
bedtime so every
one can read in
Iwd Serve a
healthy snack if
28 On this
tiiy in 1963,
Martin Luther
King gave his "I
Have a Dream"
29
Help your
child create his
own joke book
30
Visit the li
brary Check out a
Ixxik about long
ago
31
Make a
scrapbook of ev
erything you've
done this summer
Look at it
together
August 1993
(for new subsciibers only)
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