clear thinking people. That's one helluva contributing to humankind's own understanding of itself, and much more than the majority of people in this country will ever commit to paper. But as has been said, "Where much is given, much is expected." And even if it's not expected you do it anyway because you have an obligation to raise people's consciousness. The power of the pen was recognized long ago by the teachers I had early in life. From elementary school through my doctoral studies I continually heard the litany: "you are a great writer." My writing led me into a number of scholarship programs, got me into the beset colleges, enabled me to acquire jobs directing a number of agencies, serving as the editor of a major African-American newspaper, and launching my own nationally recognized newsletter as a member of Neighborhoods USA. Along the way I've created nonprofits, wrote term papers for students, wrote grant proposals and authored more than twenty (20) books. In her book, Powerful Beyond Measure: 3 Steps to Claim Your Power Within for a Happy and Healthy Life, Cynthia E. Mazzeferro wrote, "I believe we each walk our paths so we can learn and share those lessons with others. I feel so blessed, recognizing that my life is only a mere extension of my life's purpose." And so those of us who can think clearly not only do so, but also put pen to paper. The essays within this tome range from views on morality and skin color to guidelines for the black church as well as my concerns about the Atlanta child murders, neglect of African-American artists, and the impact of for-profit colleges on the fate and future of students of color. I tend to confront and address issues that most people just sit around babbling about. In this book I've covered a number of issues, from Johnny Manziel, Paula Deen, and the NBA to Trayvon Martin, and lead-based paint and the impact on minority communities. Longer essays include my views on what I see as a "marriage scam," love and sexual assault and the relevance of role models. The pen is truly a power, and if you have a sense of purpose and direction, you can literally move mountains. Most Americans are poorly educated and even the ones who have graduated from high school have received an education in their own oppression: force fed myths about this country's history, taught lies about the cultures of other people, programmed to believe that women are second class citizens and brainwashed into believing that America is "the land of the free and the home of the brave" while knowing full well that nothing could be further from the truth.
About the Author: Matthew C. Stelly is a doctoral student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee working on a degree in Urban Education and Community Policy. He holds three Master's degrees: Urban Studies (1982), Urban Education (1983) and Political Science (2000). He is the former editor of the Milwaukee Courier newspaper, former director of the Great Plains Black Museum and the Plano (TX) African American Museum, and lead archivist for The Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL) in Dallas, Texas. Stelly has more than 2,500 articles in print and has won two national essay competitions. He is the founding director of the largest African-American neighborhood group in Nebraska, the Triple One Neighborhood Association and Parents Union. He is the father of five children - Mandla, Malik, Clariece, Charisse and Shannon -- and remains actively involved in community organizing and neighborhood development in several cities, including Milwaukee and Omaha.