Last weekend I participated in Dr. Rosie Milligan’s Black Writers On Tour. The event brings together Black writers to expose their writing and provide seminars on a variety of subjects including how to write novels, how to market your book, and how to promote your book through the print and radio media. The event is exciting, educational and inspiring to see Black folks there to promote positive writing. I congratulate Dr. Milligan for her foresight in helping to get Black writers and their Books out front. In keeping with her activist nature, I also congratulate her for all of her activities in promoting Black businesses in various ways such as her Black Business tours called Get on the Bus.

While at the Black writers on Tour, I was impressed by the number of single mothers attending with their young sons. It struck me in talking with these mothers that there is a continuing need to expose their sons to positive role models on a regular basis to help them to develop positive goals for their lives.

Thinking of what I see on a daily basis, I think that one thing that needs to be done is to set up a tour for young African American students to the offices and shops of Black professionals and trades-people as a way to expose Black children to trades and professions. Every year there are a number of career days at various local schools and events where professionals are invited to come out and speak to the youth about their occupations, which is a positive thing. However, I believe that seeing Black people in their work environment is a missing piece for young Blacks who need inspiration in their lives.

I believe in the saying, "What they see is what they will be" and so a group of African American young people going to a Doctor’s office, a Lawyer’s office, a Dentist’s office, a Real Estate office, a building Contractor’s office, a Barber shop, Architect’s office, a Beauty salon, and a retail store may inspire students like no meeting at a school can. And I believe it is important that they see people in those roles that look like them. April is a perfect time to start a "Black Sons On Tour" and a "Black Daughters On Tour", because April is Recycling Black Dollars Month. It’s a wonderful example to highlight and imprint the importance of doing business with Blacks.

As I write this article I am listening to a radio show where the guest is a well known local cancer specialist - Oncologist, Dr. Oscar Streeter. How inspiring it would be for young people to meet this giant, and others like him, in their offices. A certificate that the child attended the tour can act as a regular reminder that they are expected to do great things.

I also believe that the tours should be limited to youth under twelve to guarantee that the majority of them are still open to doing great things. They should have decent grades that indicate they want to do well in life and are willing to put in the sacrifice to accomplish something.

While at the Black Writers On Tour, I saw a lady with two young men walking in my direction. One of the boys had on a Philadelphia Seventy Sixers basketball shirt. I said to the man I was talking to at the time that I would bet that the name in the back of the shirt was Allen Iverson. Allen Iverson was the poster boy for the thug image of the NBA. Sure enough, I was right.

How confusing it must be for a young man. Here he was at a positive event, Black Writers On Tour, and his well intentioned mother was allowing him to wear the shirt of a thug role model.

A few years ago we all discussed how disgusting basketball player Dennis Rodman looked with his rainbow colored hair, body piercings and tatoos. Now other players immulate Rodman, and we let our young men immulate him too, along with gangsta Rap and thug images, hoping that they will turn out OK. I invite you to expose them to positive role models because what they see is what they will be.