12/21/05  African American Hero Redefined

		The recent execution of Stanley ?Tookie? Williams and the response it prompted from segments of the African American community stirred up a whirlwind of questions within me.  Is this man worthy of the hero status that many people want to award him?  Is the African American community so desperate for ?heroes? that we turn to the co-founder of the Crips street gang to fill the void? What is our definition of a hero?
Michael Hubbard

I fully embrace God?s redemptive powers, and I do not question whether or not Mr. Williams ?turned his life around? while on Death Row.  I also don't have an opinion on the  guilt or innocence of Mr. Williams.  I do, however, take issue with Mr. Williams being portrayed as a hero when his legacy will ultimately be a trail of death, drugs and destruction inflicted by the street gang that he co-founded. I doubt seriously that the books written by Mr. Williams while in prison will offset the negative influence the Crips have had, and continue to have, on African American communities across the country. (I haven?t seen very many Crips book clubs so I doubt that many of them are even aware that Mr. Williams has written any books)

We need to take a serious look at our definition of a hero.  Are they only produced on Death Row, athletic fields and stages?    I don't think so. You need look no further than the halls of St. Philip's School and Community Center to find real heroes.  I personally choose to honor the men that I come in contact with on a daily basis.  The men that quietly go about the business of being good fathers, husbands and role models.  These men will probably not write any books or be considered for a Nobel Peace Prize, but they are heroes nonetheless.  The Dad's Club at St. Philip's School and Community Center has chosen to capture what these men mean in the lives of their children through an annual Dad's Club Calendar.

The Dad's Club Calendar honors men like Dr. Terry Flowers who has dedicated  his life to the mission of providing the opportunity for a quality education to youth in the Dallas area. Men like John Thompson and Chris Nixon who had the vision 2 years ago to create a calendar to illustrate the active roles that African American men play in the lives of their children.  That vision has become a reality and the 2nd edition of the St. Philip?s Dad?s Club calendar was produced this year.

The calendar also honors men like Otilio Lanig who is a permanent fixture in the halls of St. Philip?s and even in the classrooms as a substitute teacher, Billy Milton who coaches flag football and finds time to don a Santa outfit for Christmas pictures with the kids, Anthony Andrews who year in and year out coaches the 6 and under basketball team at St. Philip?s and the late Paul Bryson who is the model of dedication, love and commitment for all of the men at St. Philip?s.

I can't name them all, but there are literally hundreds of other men that spend countless number of hours at St. Philip's  walking the halls, patrolling the parking lots, helping with homework, sitting in on dance and
piano recitals as well as soccer, basketball and football practices.  They "Bring their Jobs to School" to expose kids to the many professional opportunities that exist, read to kids during DEAR time (drop everything and read) and refresh mulch on the playground.

These men are heroes to all of the children at St. Philip's.   Most of them can't sing or rap or dunk a basketball.  I doubt if any of them will star in a movie anytime soon or win any awards, but these are the true stars of our community...........true African American heroes.