Watch Night

I love history as it should be like a clock that tells the story of time traveled. However, history and the truth, is very different than the way HisStory tells it. What we have been told is not, in most cases, true. For example, most people have no idea where or why we celebrate most traditions. This is to include the “great stories ever told” - Christmas and Easter! The construct of religion drives our thinking as it relates to the direction of our lives.

So, regardless of what we are told our faith causes us to believe. Let me just add that faith is believing true that which is unseen. I only need to remind you of the representation of the deity we worship because in our heart of hearts we know that this person could not have come out of that region of the world where Christ was born. Yet, our faith tells us to believe and most do not question what we are told. I know that made you go hmmm!

Here is another example: This year Americans will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation which is another one of those misconceptions of our past. The fact of the matter, Lincoln did not free anyone with this proclamation. It was issued for and to the Negro’s held in bondage in the Confederacy and not the slaves of the northern states under his authority. Coming out of this came what has become known as "Watch Night" on New Year's Eve, following an African American tradition dating back a hundred and fifty years.

The first Watch Night occurred on Dec. 31, 1862, as abolitionists and others waited for word via telegraph, newspaper or word of mouth that the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued. "A lot of it, at least the initial Watch Night, was really many of the free black community… Yet for a people largely held in bondage, freedom is a powerful idea — and that's what the Watch Night tradition embodies” says Lonnie Bunch, director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Most of us don’t know that part of the historical tradition. It has somehow been connect to religion and not its original origin which was the hope of freedom for African Americans held in bondage. So at midnight, many congregations will pray the old year out and the New Year in asking for God’s blessings. The truth is Watch Night is deeply rooted in the history of blacks in America; it is especially relevant at a time when the community is still struggling with sermons that should be designed to address the progressive and regressive moves we have been through as a people.

I remind you that the proclamation did not free anyone. The document that actually freed the slaves was the 13th Amendment. However, Lincoln’s goal was accomplished as the proclamation did change the character of the conflict from a war to preserve the union to a war for human liberation. In reality it was a way to obtain the man power by using black in what to that point was a losing effort. The cultural bandits have rewritten the truth. You are the holders of the light and the light is the truth.

It was recorded that an enslaved person had a wonderful reminiscence of the event by saying, “I was on Master Johnson's plantation and a soldier came and he took out a little piece of paper and suddenly said we were free”. Now I ask whose plantation are you on! So I suggest that know what it is you believe to be true. And that’s my Thought Provoking Perspective as I wish you and yours all the best in the coming year…

Knowledge is the gift that keeps on giving.

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Legacy – A New Season 

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Just a Season

Superfly

There was a time in America, believe it or not, when the only rolls African Americans could get in Hollywood were the second class citizen’s rolls; you know the maids, servants, and the all too common Step-in Fetch-it kind of rolls. Few blacks were on the screen and fewer worked behind the screen. Then something interesting happened during the 1960s that was like a revolution. I don’t want to date anyone but if you did not witness this cinematic transformation I am going to try to capture the essence of the era.

Hollywood has never, from its conception, view or considered black people as a commodity. They expected all people to watch whatever movies they made and like it, as a result of the government mandated policy of segregation. African American’s in particular simply had no choice. It was so extreme that in most cases black people, if they were allowed, had to sit in the balcony and had a separate entrance into the theater where a movie was shown. Hence, all of the hero’s we knew looked like the people they represented.

Now, as a result of the turbulent 1960s the reflection or the realization of the country changed. This was not due to Hollywood’s interpretation, rather as far as cinema was concerned, it actually began with a low budget independent film called “Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song” in 1971, written, produced, scored, directed by, and starring Melvin Van Peebles. It tells the picaresque story of a poor African American man’s flight from the white authority. Van Peebles began to develop the film after being offered a three-picture contract for Columbia Pictures.

No studio would finance the film, so Van Peebles funded the film himself, shooting it independently over a period of 19 days, performing all of his own stunts and appearing in several unsimulated sex scenes. He received a $50,000 loan from Bill Cosby to complete the project. The film's fast-paced montages and jump-cuts were unique features in American cinema at the time. The picture was censored in some markets, and received mixed critical reviews.

Then came “Shaft” produced and directed by the great Gordon Parks staring Richard Roundtree and was critically acclaimed. The film produced both the Grammy Award and Academy Award winning soundtrack recorded by Isaac Hayes. These were two huge steps in the evolution of black representation on the big screen. After the success of these two films Hollywood saw that there was a spending black audience wanting to see people who looked like them on the screen and they began to exploit the new genre even calling it – Blaxploitation.

This brings me to the third movie that I thought never got its just due, although it is a cult classic today. This movie was Super Fly! It was about a cocaine dealer who begins to realize that his life will soon end with either prison or his death. He decides to build an escape from the life by making his biggest deal yet, converting the coke to cash and running off to start a new life. The problem was that the Mob does not have a retirement plan and will give him a choice of staying and selling for them or dying if they find out his intentions.

The star was the late Ron O’Neal a Tall, lean, handsome veteran stage and classically trained actor, whose role as Priest - the long haired, stylishly dressed cocaine dealer in the seminal 1972 crime drama. The co-stars Sheila Frasier, Carl Lee, Julius Harris, and of course we all know Freddie – Charles McGregor; all producing stellar performances. I would be remised if I did not mention the great Curtis Mayfield who wrote the hit score. I did a little research and found a back story that speaks to the tremendous efforts of the producers and all involved.

Most surprising was that the script was only 45 pages long, which explains why there are so many shots of people walking, driving, etc. The reason I wanted to share this story is because I recently rented the movie and got an entirely different impression of the film than I did thirty years ago. It was not unlike people today where people are involved in illegalities which is not because, often time, a result of choice.

The moral of the story was not the cocaine dealer rather, considering the era, people coming together to break new ground when all odds were against them. I have added a few video clips for you to view and judge for yourself. And that’s my Thought Provoking Perspective…

THE ORIGINAL TRAILER

THE BACK STORY

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Legacy – A New Season 

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Tis' The Season

This is the season we rejoice with great celebration for Christmas is the day Christ our savior was born. Rarely do I share much of my personal being but in this post I want to pour my heart out because this is neither my favorite season nor one that I look forward to anymore. It is not due to a lack of faith or my strong conviction and belief in someone greater than I; who I call chose to call God. Rather, it is due to an event that will forever pain my heart.

Every year as the holiday season comes upon us I have to relive a dreadful horror. So I ask that you please forgive any tears that may stain the pages as I write. If you have experienced the greatest love of all and lost it. I know you feel my pain. Therefore, I will use this writing to express my feelings and pay homage to my late son - who I miss very much. I am blessed in that he left me a wonderful grandson who I cherish more than life itself.

It’s been sometime since God called my only son home to be with him and the pain of his absence does not go away. No parent should have to bury a child, let alone the only child they’ve been blessed to have. It just doesn’t seem right for a child to go before a parent but this is not something that is unique to me. I know from scripture that others have endured such pain since time began. Able died before Adam and Eve and John the Baptist died preceding his parents. We also know for certain that Jesus died before Mary because she witnessed his crucifixion, and how painful that must have been.

It was a dreadful dreary cold day about ten years ago, early in the morning, when I lost my Rashad due to a tragic automobile accident. It was without question the worst thing imaginable and most certainly my darkest hour. This pain never seems to subside and I will tell you during each Christmas season it is still painful. Adding to the sadness of this situation his death occurred on New Year’s Eve and on the morning of his son’s first birthday as we were preparing a birthday party for my grandson.

This brings to mind words from scripture. Actually, it is a question I was asked a long time ago. “Why Jesus wept?” As the story goes, Jesus was so moved as he witnessed the pain of Mary and Martha weeping for the loss of his dear friend, Lazarus, that he also wept. Today, I understand that emotion because I have felt such pain. I wrote a few books which might very well explain why I was chosen as the vehicle to share such a powerful story within those pages that will surely live far beyond the season I’ve been given.

From this nightmare I have come to understand that adversity can either destroy or develop you. Unless and until you have suffered enough pain, then and only then, will you reach deep inside and feel the breath that God has breathed into your soul coming eye to eye with your destiny. Now, having said that, my salvation was to take this lemon (for lack of a better word) and make lemonade. What I have learned from this tragedy is that there is a definition of service that is not written in Webster’s Dictionary that says “I can heal by giving of myself to the benefit of others.”

In spite of this never before known pain that resides permanently within my soul I am very grateful God saw fit to bless me with a wonderful grandson whose name is Elijah. So as each year passes and Elijah resembles my son more and more. The pain eases and the season becomes more bearable. With that said, I have a new novel that was recently released dedicated to my son titled “Legacy – A New Season”.

I realize it’s time to move on as generations have come and gone, life is bearable after all, and hope lives in a little boy and in a man who almost lost all hope. I pray that my son is rejoicing in the bosom of our Lord knowing that I am here for his son in his stead. I am looking forward to the day when I see him again so we can walk around haven all day reveling in wonders of God’s kingdom.

The tears are flowing uncontrollably now. So I will close by saying to anyone experiencing adversity whether it is from health, financial issues or the pain of missing a loved one. I offer my deepest sympathy to you, particularly those who have joined this unwelcomed fraternity of losing a child. The Christmas holiday season and welcoming the New Year will never be the same.

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever… believes in me will never die.” John 11:25-26

And that is my Thought Provoking Perspective…

R.I.P.
“RASHAD ALI WILLS”

LISTEN: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/johntwills/2012/12/20/the-book-tree-radio-show

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A Slave’s Christmas

African American, arguably, are the most religious people on this little rock called earth and have always been since arriving in this place the slaves called “merica”. With that said, I am sure many have wondered, in spite of the wretched system of slavery, how was it celebrated by the slave population?

The American slaves experienced the Christmas holidays in many different ways. Joy, hope, and celebration were naturally a part of the season for many. For other slaves, this holiday conjured up visions of freedom and even the opportunity to bring about that freedom. Still others saw it as yet another burden to be endured.

I suppose the enslaved African Americans; if there was ever any joy, it might well have been during the Christmas. At least their capturers, in the spirit of Jesus’ birth allowed them to have a day free from drudgery. The prosperity and relaxed discipline associated with Christmas often enabled slaves to interact in ways that they could not during the rest of the year.

They may well have received material goods from their masters: perhaps the slave’s yearly allotment of clothing, an edible delicacy, or a present above and beyond what he or she needed to survive. For this reason, among others, slaves frequently married during the Christmas season – that is if it was allowed. More than any other time of year, Christmas provided slaves with the latitude and prosperity that made a formal wedding possible.

This ironic annual inversion of power occasionally allowed slaves to acquire real power. Henry, a slave whose tragic life and death is recounted in Martha Griffith Browne’s Autobiography of a Female Slave, saved “Christmas gifts in money” to buy his freedom. Some slaves saw Christmas as an opportunity to escape. They took advantage of a relaxed work schedules and the holiday travels of slaveholders, who were too far away to stop them.

While some slaveholders presumably treated the holiday as any other workday, numerous authors record a variety of holiday traditions, including the suspension of work for celebration and family visits. Because many slaves had spouses, children, and family who were owned by different masters and who lived on other properties to which slaves often requested passes to travel and visit family during this time. Some slaves used the passes to explain their presence on the road and delay the discovery of their escape through their masters’ expectation that they would soon return from their “family visit.”

Jermain Loguen plotted a Christmas escape, stockpiling supplies and waiting for travel passes, knowing the cover of the holidays was essential for success: “Lord speed the day!–freedom begins with the holidays!” These plans turned out to be wise, as Loguen and his companions were almost caught crossing a river into Ohio, but were left alone because the white men thought they were free men “who have been to Kentucky to spend the Holidays with their friends”.

It was during Christmas that Harriet Tubman helped her brothers escape. Their master intended to sell them after Christmas but was delayed by the holiday. The brothers were expected to spend the day with their elderly mother but met Tubman in secret. She helped them travel north, gaining a head start on the master who did not discover their disappearance until the end of the holidays. Likewise, William and Ellen Crafts escaped together at Christmastime. They took advantage of passes that were clearly meant for temporary use.

Christmas could represent not only physical freedom, but spiritual freedom, as well as the hope for better things to come. The main protagonist of Martha Griffin Browne’s Autobiography of a Female Slave, Ann, found little positive value in the slaveholder’s version of Christmas equating it with “all sorts of culinary preparations” and extensive house cleaning rituals but she saw the possibility for a better future in the story of the life of Christ.

“This same Jesus, whom the civilized world now worship as their Lord, was once lowly, outcast, and despised; born of the most hated people of the world . . . laid in the manger of a stable at Bethlehem . . . this Jesus is worshiped now”. For Ann, Christmas symbolized the birth of the very hope she used to survive her captivity. Not all enslaved African Americans viewed the holidays as a time of celebration and hope. Rather, Christmas served only to highlight their lack of freedom.

Frederick Douglass described the period of respite that was granted to slaves every year between Christmas and New Year’s Day as a psychological tool of the oppressor. In his 1845 Narrative, Douglass wrote that slaves celebrated the winter holidays by engaging in activities such as “playing ball, wrestling, running foot-races, fiddling, dancing, and drinking whiskey”. He took particular umbrage at the latter practice, which was often encouraged by slave owners through various tactics.

In My Bondage and My Freedom, Douglass concluded that “the license allowed [during the holidays] appears to have no other object than to disgust the slaves with their temporary freedom, and to make them as glad to return to their work, as they were to leave it”. While there is no doubt that many enjoyed these holidays, Douglass acutely discerned that they were granted not merely in a spirit of charity or conviviality, but also to appease those who yearned for freedom, ultimately serving the ulterior motives of slave owners.

Now we know! And that is my Thought Provoking Perspective!

Make these books the gift that keeps on giving.

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Legacy – A New Season 

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Just a Season

TELL THE NRA ENOUGH!!!

Today insanity raised its head once again. The National Rifle Association (NRA) held a press conference today and demanded more access to guns be protected in the wake of the recent tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. The organization’s vice president said today that “The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. This is as ridiculous as those saying teachers and janitors should carry guns in America’s school. SMH!

When we keep doing what we’ve always done. You keep getting what you always got. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! And that’s my Thought Provoking Perspective…

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Legacy – A New Season 

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Just a Season

If You Missed It!!!

If you did not have an opportunity to listen to Mr. George Fraser’s return appearance on The Book Tree Radio Show’s “In The Spotlight” segment last night. The highly sought after speaker and author graciously came back to deliver an awesome message to “us”. His commentary was so awe-inspiring that I was compelled to share it with you, my vast network, because Mr. Fraser used my platform to speak to the African American community and beyond.

Mr. Fraser spoke to my audience with concerned compassion as he addressed the state of a people. One of his friends noted that George is a “Fountain of Information” adding that he is and OCEAN of knowledge! In order to truly appreciate the wealth of knowledge he has to share just listen to him for any length of time and you will feel infinitely smarter. With that said, I invite you to listen to the gift of his interview and I hope you will realize this as truth.

Dare I say, the African American community has not had anything close to committed leadership since we lost Malcolm and Martin (I say that endearingly because they were ours). I lived during the time of great men. I have met a few presidents, the Mandela’s; sport stars, entertainers, Politians, and a host of great thinkers. Of course, Muhammad Ali, The Greatest of all times, is my all time hero to which I had a top five of list luminaries that I idolized. I say that to say after spending several hours with Mr. Fraser he now holds the number two spot - bar none!

I want to personally thank my friend George Fraser for his commitment, concern, and devotion to a community of people who stand on the shoulders of giants, and George you are one of those giants. So friends, followers, listeners, ladies and gentlemen - please listen to this powerful message and lets change the lives of our children, and by extension our community.  

LISTEN: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/johntwills/2012/12/20/the-book-tree-radio-show

Make these books the gift that keeps on giving.

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Legacy – A New Season 

AMAZON

Just a Season

The Acclaimed Author George Fraser Returns To Be In The Spotlight

The John T. Wills Book Tree Radio Show proudly welcome’s the return of the highly acclaimed Author Mr. George C. Fraser as our very special guest. On Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at 8:30 PM (est), Mr. Fraser will continue the empowering conversation of last week. He has held leadership positions with Procter & Gamble, the United Way, and Ford Motor Company. 

He has written three acclaimed books: Success Runs in Our Race; The Complete Guide to Effective Networking in the African American Community and Race for Success; The Ten Best Business Opportunities for Blacks in America and most recently, Click: Ten Truths to Building Extraordinary Relationships. Mr. Fraser publishes the award-winning SuccessGuide Worldwide: The Networking Guide to Black Resources. He is the founder of the annual PowerNetworking Conference, where thousands of Black professionals, business owners, and community leaders gather to discuss and do business with each other.

Anthony Reeves Esq. said of Mr. Fraser:

"If you could call certain people a "Fountain of Information", then George Fraser would be an OCEAN. In order to truly appreciate the wealth of knowledge he has to share, spend 2 minutes speaking with him and you will feel infinitely smarter."

He has appeared on CNN and in The Wall Street Journal. Over the past decade, the prestigious publication, Vital Speeches of the Day, has selected, reprinted and distributed worldwide, five of his speeches--a first for any professional speaker in America, regardless of color. Upscale magazine named him one of the "Top 50 power brokers in Black America," and Black Enterprise magazine called him "Black America’s #1 Networker" and featured him on a cover issue. Personal growth "guru" Stephen Covey called him a "masterful teacher."

THE POSITIVE PRINCIPLE "IT'S THE THOUGHTS THAT COUNT"

You are invited to join the Amazing Silver Rae Fox and I because you really don’t want to miss this broadcast!!!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/johntwills/2012/12/13/the-book-tree-radio-show

Call in and speak with our guest Call in number: (718) 506-1699

Make these books the gift that keeps on giving.

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Legacy – A New Season 

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Just a Season

Instruments of Death

The gun Adam Lanza allegedly used to do most of his shooting on Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary School was a .223 Bushmaster caliber rifle that happens to be the same type used in the 2002 DC sniper shootings.

Do you think semi-automatic assault rifles like this one need more regulation?Its time to silence the NRA!

Guns are made for one purpose and that is to kill. Maybe just maybe – if they were fewer guns, there just might be fewer killings.  And that’s my Thought Provoking Perspective...

Watch this powerful Video...

It Is Time – Gun Control

I want to first offer my heartfelt prayers and deepest sympathy to the parents and families of those who lost love ones due to the senseless tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School today. Many of you have cried and felt pain mainly because of the twenty children killed by this obviously insane shooter. Most of you have no idea as to the pain felt by the parents; if you have never lost a child. I have, and know that pain, which is the worst thing that can happen in life.

I saw a comment on Twitter today that said, “Guns don’t kill people. People kill people.” This person would not have said such a crazy thing if one of the children was one of his own. Then there is the National Rifle Association (NRA), a leading gun rights advocate, had no comment! Let’s remember that there have been shooting after shooting – death in rising number in all manner of public venues. It’s not safe to go anywhere.

One of the things I also heard was “this is such a great suburban town” and “this does not happen here”. Not surprising, but in urban families in cities and communities throughout the nation have be crying out for someone to do something about guns for as long as I can remember. In urban communities’ children suffer Post Dramatic Stress Syndrome as a result of the combat like environments they suffer and witness daily.

I have experienced war firsthand and know that witnessing the brutality of death inflicted by another human – never leaves the minds consciousness. But my point through this writing is to say, now that we have witnessed the many acts of mass murder committed by these young white killers in communities very different from the daily urban neighborhood deaths. Will the calls for America to begin a serious debate over gun regulation after the slaughter at Sandy Hook Elementary School left 28 (mostly children) dead.

I guarantee the usual argument will ensue; the Second Amendment of the Constitution will be raised and the court rulings, which in my view wrongly rendered, have upheld or at least supported this contention. While the Supreme Court ruled in D.C. v. Heller that bans on handgun ownership was unconstitutional, the ruling gives the state and federal governments a great deal of latitude to regulate gun ownership. This means something can be done.

As the U.S. Second Court of Appeals put it in a recent ruling upholding a New York regulation, “The state’s ability to regulate firearms and, for that matter, conduct, is qualitatively different in public than in the home. Heller reinforces this view. In striking D.C.’s handgun ban, the Court stressed that banning usable handguns in the home is a ‘policy choice’ that is ‘off the table,’ but that a variety of other regulatory options remain available, including categorical bans on firearm possession in certain public locations.”

So, do we have to continue to endure the Gabby Gifford’s, Mr. Brady, shootings at malls, schools, colleges, and movie theaters, and see countless innocent murders before our government takes action? It is a sad state of affairs!  These views are vastly different when color is applied. It is striking that if a black man kills someone – he is a menace to society. When a person from another country kills someone – that person is called a terrorist. But when a white man kills someone – he is mentally ill.

I don’t want to compare this incident to the Stand Your Ground Laws, the two black teenagers in Florida, or any of the countless acts of gun crimes in recent memory. But it is time for the insanity to end. It is our government’s duty to make sense of the senseless and a good start would be to immediately begin a dialog leading to corrective action to protect the citizens of our nation.  

Guns are made for one purpose and that is to kill. Maybe just maybe – if they were fewer guns, there just might be fewer killings. And that’s my Thought Provoking Perspective…

GOD BLESS THE SOULS OF THE VICTIMS!!! 

What if the Tea Party was Black?

We have witnessed during the November election the repudiation of the Republican ideas, who I often refer to as the 21^st century Citizens Counsel or maybe more appropriate James E. Crow, Esq. lest not forget that there remains a vigilant fringe out there like the Klan that may go away for a while but always resurface. It’s the "Tea Party"!

The "Tea Party" is a reference to the Boston Tea Party, a protest by colonists who objected to a British tax on tea in 1773 and demonstrated by dumping British tea taken from docked ships into the harbor. Some commentators have referred to the Tea in "Tea Party" as the backronym “Taxed Enough Already”.

The Tea Party movement is composed of a loose affiliation of national and local groups that determine their own platforms and agendas without central leadership. The Tea Party movement has been cited as an example of grassroots political activity, although it has also been described as an example of astro-turfing. The Tea Party movement is not a national political party; polls show that most Tea Partiers consider themselves to be Republicansand the movement's supporters have tended to endorse Republican candidates. Ergo, Klan like in nature!

The purpose of this post is not to educate or empower you on their platform or extreme right-wing agenda. Rather to ask a poignant question. What if the Tea Party was an organization or a group formed by Black people? Or Latino; Or any ethnic group other than those we see participating? I lived though the 60’s and saw groups protesting for basic human rights destroyed and the leaders killed.

When they say, they want to take back their country – most of us can hear what they are not saying. And that’s my Thought Provoking Perspective…

Watch the video and you will get the point.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wie79pgiEMY]

Saturday Night with Author's James Cannon and Toi Moore

The John T. Wills Book Tree Radio Show welcome’s acclaimed Author James Cannon, father of celebrity entertainer Nick Cannon, and Author Toi Moore “Dubbed the Celebrity Author” as our very special guest on Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 8:00 PM (est).

These amazing authors have written “THE CALLING” that focuses on ways in which readers will be able to truly acknowledge if they have HEARD and APPLIED the CALLING in their life. The CALLING will also center on whether or not one’s life is focused on accepting and living what was meant to be their Purpose. Or, if a person is living their life through what is meant to be their CALLING.

Through the pages of the book The Calling, James will guide readers in how they can apply THREE DAYS and THREE NIGHTS of their life toward discovering their true Calling. His theory will establish that ALL people and ALL things have a Purpose of existence. He will also explain how many people never tap into their true Calling or use it toward their advantage. This book will magnify avenues in which readers will be able to truly acknowledge if they have HEARD and APPLIED the gift of their Calling to make them a better, more inspiring, and powerful individual.

Have you heard and applied your CALLING?

Praise from a Proud Son:“I count myself fortunate and blessed. Blessed to have had and still have a father in my life. And because I was one of the fortunate ones, it was my father who loved and assisted me as I grew from a boy to a man in understanding my “purpose” and “calling” in life.
In this book, my dad will share with you the same life lessons, instructions, and principles he exemplifies still—today. The Calling, is not only a book, it is literally a life manuscript on “how” a person; be it woman or man, boy or girl, can truly discover and understand their Godly divine purpose and calling in this journey called “life.” I hope this book will be as much a blessing to you as it was to me.”
Nick Cannon

You really don’t want to miss this broadcast!!! Call in and speak with our guest Call in number: (718) 506-1699

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“Just a Season”

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In The Spotlight with Acclaimed Author George Fraser

The John T. Wills Book Tree Radio Show welcome’s acclaimed Author George C. Fraser as our very special guest on Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 8:30 PM (est). Mr. Fraser has held leadership positions with Procter & Gamble, the United Way, and Ford Motor Company. He wrote three acclaimed books: Success Runs in Our Race; The Complete Guide to Effective Networking in the African American Community and Race for Success; The Ten Best Business Opportunities for Blacks in America and most recently, Click: Ten Truths to Building Extraordinary Relationships.

Mr. Fraser publishes the award-winning SuccessGuide Worldwide: The Networking Guide to Black Resources. He is the founder of the annual PowerNetworking Conference, where thousands of Black professionals, business owners, and community leaders gather to discuss and do business with each other.

Anthony Reeves Esq. said of Mr. Fraser:

"If you could call certain people a "Fountain of Information", then George Fraser would be an OCEAN. In order to truly appreciate the wealth of knowledge he has to share, spend 2 minutes speaking with him and you will feel infinitely smarter."

He has appeared on CNN and in The Wall Street Journal. Over the past decade, the prestigious publication, Vital Speeches of the Day, has selected, reprinted and distributed worldwide, five of his speeches--a first for any professional speaker in America, regardless of color. Upscale magazine named him one of the "Top 50 power brokers in Black America," and Black Enterprise magazine called him "Black America’s #1 Networker" and featured him on a cover issue. Personal growth "guru" Stephen Covey called him a "masterful teacher." 

You really don’t want to miss this broadcast!!! Call in and speak with our guest Call in number: (718) 506-1699.

THE BOOK TREE RADIO SHOW

“Just a Season”

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Legacy – A New Season

To Whom It May Concern:

Melissa Harris-Perry sends an open letter to America titled “This Country Is No Place for Young Black Men” in Reaction to the shooting death of Jordan Davis (RIP). Like the murders of Trayvon Martin and Emmett Till, as Melissa mentions, are just three prime instances in which they were killed because they "looked" threatening. In good conscience is this a reason to “Stand Your Ground”?

The fact is; they are not threatening at all and I allege racial profiling at its core. This is a powerful message of conscience to be considered. And that’s my Thought Provoking Perspective…

“Just a Season”

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Legacy – A New Season

The Curse Of Willie Lynch

Some have proclaimed that a slave was born. I do not agree with this notion because a slave was made by means of a defined calculated and well thought-out plan devised for the purpose of being a beast of burden. We know the reasons for this atrocity which was to build a nation through and to obtain wealth. But what is not understood, en mass, is how it was designed to be sustainable.  That part has become little more than a footnote to history.

I am reminded of the powerful words of Harriet Tubman who expressed succinctly the effectiveness of this system of mental conditioning. She was asked shortly before her death, if she knew how many slaves she freed while conducting the Underground Railroad. She did not think about it, replying quickly, “I could have freed a lot more, if they had only known they were slaves.”

From that day in 1619, when the first Africans were dragged onto the shores of Jamestown to today where we’ve witnessed the first man of color elected President of these United States (or as Jesse would put it – from the outhouse to the White House), there is no doubt that our story is the greatest story ever told.  As it was said in scripture, “the first shall be last and the last shall be first.” But let’s understand that there was a plan, a sinister master plan, conceived at some point to ensure that people of our hue remain the least of thee.

As the story goes, a British slave owner from the West Indies was invited to Virginia sometime during the year 1712 to teach his methods to slave owners. Willie Lynch was the name of the man credited with a speech delivered on the banks of the James River. It is noteworthy to mention that the James River was named for the diabolical King of England, who was ironically the same guy responsible for the twenty-eighth version of the cherished Holy Bible.

Lynch brought with him, as he put it, a foolproof method for controlling black slaves that will last for a thousand years. Consequently, it is believed the term “lynching” was derived from his last name as a way to pay homage to him for delivering this ingenious approach. The name Willie Lynch is interesting because it may be a simple play on words. For example, Will Lynch or Will he Lynch. Whatever the reason, it no doubt had significant psychological implications that played heavily on a naive race of people.

Lynch began his historic presentation with a warm greeting: “Gentlemen, you know what your problems are; I do not need to elaborate. I am not here to enumerate your problems. I am here to introduce you to a method of solving them. In my bag here, I have a foolproof method for controlling your black slaves. I guarantee every one of you that if installed correctly it will control the slaves for at least three hundred years. My method is simple…The black slave after receiving this indoctrination shall carry on and will become self refueling and self generating for hundreds of years, maybe thousands….” The seeds of devastation were fertilized and the process of destruction was underway for the making of a race into slaves.

In the speech, Lynch outlined a number of differences among the slaves. He stressed to his audience that they should take these differences and make them bigger. These differences included such things as age, color, intelligence, fine hair vs. coarse hair, tall vs. short, male vs. female. These tactics were not new; however they were more than likely put together collectively for this specific purpose for the first time as keys to control.

This short eight paragraph speech was profound in that it was the embodiment of the cruelest demoralizing agenda ever imposed upon a people since the days when the Romans crucified our Lord. As Lynch closed his speech that day, he said, “They must love, respect, and trust only us.” This is the key to producing a successful strategy. Whether this story is true or not is cause for much speculation. However, as history demonstrates, a manufactured plan was developed by someone to achieve these results that continue to this day.

The Willie Lynch letter first appeared in the early 1970’s but gained widespread notice during the nineties, when it began appearing on the Internet. Since then, it has often been promoted as an authentic account of slavery during the 18th century, but its inaccuracies and anachronisms have led historians to conclude that it is a hoax. Let’s be honest, I don’t think any reasonable person would think that those persons present, if there was a meeting, took written notes. However, the same reasonable thinking person can see that there was a designed plan created by someone in order to sustain such division. It may have been something as simple as “divide and conquer.”

So let’s suppose the Willie Lynch story is a modern creation; either the concept was ingenious or the biggest urban myth ever. Then it begs the question, why are we still fighting among ourselves. Further, how can the ruling people, or anyone for that matter, justify a philosophy for building and maintaining a government which sanctioned murder, among other atrocities, to enslave human beings?  This I know, and mind you I was not taught this in school nor did anyone explain that the government, through legislative sessions, passed laws to ensure that our bondage was sustained.

This wicked system was sanctioned by the church in the name of God. Therefore, it is important to understand, when the church endorsed slavery and the vehicle that drove it, this meant in the eyes of the system that God himself authorized this immoral agenda. If this was the mentality of the church, and it is a historical fact that religion sanctioned and justified enslaving people for centuries. It begs the question, does that mentality still exist?

And that is my Thought Provoking Perspective!

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