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>> WELCOME TO A SPECIAL EDITION
OF "BLACK NOUVEAU."
I'M JOANNE WILLIAMS.
THEY ARE MEN ON A MISSION,
DOCTORS RAMEL SMITH, BILL
SEYMOUR AND HECTOR TORRES WENT
TO HELP MEN GROW INTO THEIR
POTENTIAL BY HELPING THEM
REALIZE THEY HAVE CHOICES.
THE CHOICES THEY MAKE WILL
DETERMINE THEIR FUTURES.
EVERETT MARSHBURN HAS MORE ON
THE "BUILDING BETTER MEN"
PROJECT.
♪♪
>> BEING A PSYCHOLOGIST, THAT'S
WHERE I WORK SPECIFICALLY AT
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN THE
TRAUMA DEPARTMENT, IT'S VERY
CHALLENGING SOMETIMES, BECAUSE
YOU GET TO SEE SOME OF THE WORST
THINGS HAPPEN TO CHILDREN.
AND WHEN YOU SEE A LOT OF THE
BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO CHILDREN,
YOU SEE THE TRAJECTORY IN THEIR
LIFE, IDENTITIES CHANGE, HOPES
CHANGE, THEIR WHOLE THOUGHT
PROCESS CHANGES, SO REALLY WHAT
WE WANTED TO DO WITH THIS WHOLE
PROJECT IS TO GET EVERYBODY
INVOLVED, GET THE YOUNG PEOPLE
ALL THE WAY UP TO THE OLDEST
PEOPLE TO SEE HOW WE CAN REALLY
MAKE THIS THING WORK FOR
EVERYBODY, SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
BUILDING A BETTER MAN, WE DON'T
COME IN TRYING TO BE THE QUOTE
UNQUOTE EXPERTS TO TELL YOU WHAT
YOU HAVE TO DO, BECAUSE WE'RE
STILL TRYING TO LEARN HOW TO BE
BETTER MEN OURSELVES AND WHAT
WE'VE LEARNED IS THIS IS A
CONTINUAL PROCESS AND WHAT YOU
DO.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE
THINK WE'VE DONE THAT HAVE
PROVEN TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
OFTENTIMES WE LAUGH, BECAUSE AS
YOU CAN SEE FROM LOOKING AT US,
WE'RE VERY DIFFERENT.
VERY DIFFERENT IN A WHOLE LOT OF
WAYS.
>> THEY MAY BE DIFFERENT, BUT
THEY HAVE A SINGLE MINDSET WHEN
IT COMES TO THIS PROJECT AND
THEY'VE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER ON
IT FOR FIVE YEARS.
>> IN SOCIETY, WE SEE
SELF-DESTRUCTIVE SOCIETY, WE SEE
DYSFUNCTIONAL HOMES, WE SEE A
LARGE INCARCERATION RATE, WE
*** BEING ACTIVE AND
AGGRESSIVE AND NOT IT A POSITIVE
FASHION, SO WHEN WE START TO
LOOK AT THE LEADERS OF THAT HOME
FROM THAT STANDPOINT, WHEN THE
LEADERS ARE NOT GOOD, THAT
TRICKLES DOWN EVERYWHERE.
SO IF WE CAN BUILD BETTER MEN
STARTING WITH BETTER BOYS,.
>> FIRST WE NEED TO STOP RUINING
THE MAN, SO THE FIRST STEP IS TO
STOP PRACTICES THAT WE COMMONLY
HAVE OF ADVOCATING WITH
MISPERCEPTION, PREJUDICE AND
MISUSE OF POWER, AND THEN WE
NEED TO REPAIR WHAT WE -- THE
HARM WE HAVE DONE BY
DEMONSTRATING AND HELPING
DEVELOP SKILLS ON HOW TO
COMMUNICATE BETTER, EXPRESS
EMOTIONS BETTER, MAKE DECISIONS
BETTER, AND BE FAIR SO THAT WE
CAN USE OUR STRENGTH IN A
POSITIVE WAY.
>> THAT'S A TAUGHT -- TALL
ORDER, ISN'T IT, BUT WHAT WE
HOPE TO DO IS PREVENT A LOT OF
THAT BY THE WORK WE DO WITH
YOUNG BOYS, AND THEIR VIEW OF
MASCULINEITY, WHAT IT IS TO
BECOME A MAN, RITES MUCH
PASSAGE, THINGS YOU SHOULD AND
SHOULD NOT DO THAT PRESSURE
YOUNG BOYS AND YOUNG MEN FEEL.
WE WANT TO GET AT THEM BEFORE
ANY OF THESE OTHER THINGS START
TO HAPPEN TO CHANGE THEIR
TRAJECTORY TO A POINT WHERE IT'S
MORE POSITIVE.
>> WE TAPED SESSIONS AT
MILWAUKEE'S DETENTION CENTER
FACILITY, CASIMIR HIGH SCHOOL
AND THE ALEXANDER MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SESSION BEGAN
WITH AN ICEBREAKER.
>> WE'RE GOING TO BOUNCE THIS
BALL TOGETHER AND HERE'S WHAT
YOU'VE GOT TO DO WHEN YOU CATCH
THE BALL.
YOU'VE GOT TO SAY SOMETHING
ABOUT BEING A MAN.
YOU'VE GOT TO GIVE US ONE WORD
OR A COUPLE OF WORDS ABOUT WHAT
IT IS TO BE A MAN.
THAT'S IT.
ONCE YOU DO THAT, YOU PASS IT TO
SOMEBODY ELSE.
LET'S BOUNCE IT TO EACH OTHER.
OK?
LET'S SEE HOW IT GOES.
>> MEN ARE STRONG.
>> THEY DO A GREAT JOB.
>> THEY DO A GREAT JOB?
>> YEAH.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THEY'RE SMART.
>> SMART.
MEN HAVE TO DO WORK.
>> THEY HAVE DO DO WORK.
ALL RIGHT.
>> RESPONSIBILITY.
>> I'M GOING TO PUT TWO BY THAT.
>> THEY HAVE TO BE MATURE.
>> MATURE.
ROLE MODIFICATION EM.
IT SHALL
>> ROLE MODEL.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE FOR THE
FAMILY.
>> STUDENTS DISCUSS THE TRAITS
THEY HAD LISTED.
>> MOST OF THE TIME WHEN YOU
THINK ABOUT MEN, DO YOU THINK OF
MEN OR DO YOU THINK SOCIETY
THINKS OF MEN AS BEING POSITIVE
OR NEGATIVE?
>> EXPLAIN THAT.
>> LIKE A COUPLE MEN, LIKE
PEOPLE THAT DOES WRONG STUFF,
THEY'RE GOING TO FALL IN TO THE
NEGATIVE AND PEOPLE LIKE DO GOOD
STUFF, LIKE GO TO COLLEGE, GET A
GOOD JOB, FALL INTO THE POSITIVE
PLACE.
EVERYBODY DOES ONE BAD THING,
ONE GOOD THING IN THEIR LIFE.
>> SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT MEN CAN
BE ALL OF THESE THINGS, BOTH
POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE?
>> YES.
>> WHAT I THINK IS -- SOME
PEOPLE, THEY LIKE TO DO
STEREOTYPICAL THINGS, BECAUSE
LIKE ESPECIALLY ON ETHNICS, LIKE
WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE LEAK ON THE
NORTH SIDE MAKING BAD CHOICES,
THEY THINK IT'S EVERYBODY, LIKE
EVERYBODY AND THAT'S A GREAT
MIXED BAG OF CHOICES, OR YOU
KNOW, LIKE DRINK, USE DRUGS, SO
I THINK IT'S, LIKE, PEOPLE TAKE,
YOU KNOW, STEREOTYPES TOO
SERIOUSLY.
>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT.
>> I THINK EVERYONE HAS A UNIQUE
PERSONALITY AND NOT ALL OF THEM
CAN BE ONE GOOD PERSON.
IT DEPENDS, LIKE LET'S SAY THEIR
PAST, SOMETHING HAPPENS IN THEIR
PAST, THEY TRY TO -- IT'S THEIR
CHOICE.
THEY COULD BE A MODEL FOR THE
KIDS OR THEY COULD NOT SUPPORT
IT, AND JUST DO WHATEVER.
>> VERY INTERESTING, THE
PERSPECTIVE, SO YOU'RE SAYING, A
LOT OF GOOD STUFF OF A MAN, BUT
ALSO YOU'RE SAYING THAT NOT
EVERYBODY WILL DO ALL THESE GOOD
THINGS, THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE
GOOD AND BAD.
>> MOST OF US HAVE GOOD AND BAD
IN US.
YOU ALSO MENTIONED THAT THERE'S
SOME STEREOTYPES THAT AFFECTS
US.
>> SO WHEN I WAS ABOUT YOUR AGE,
I REMEMBER ONE OF THE HARDEST
THINGS FOR ME WAS EVERYBODY
SAYING, OK, YOU'RE GETTING READY
TO BE A MAN, YOU'RE GOING TO BE
A MAN AND I ALWAYS WONDER WHAT
TYPE OF MAN I WOULD BE.
SOMEBODY TOLD ME THERE ARE TWO
TYPES OF MEN, THE INFERIOR AND
SUPERIOR MAN.
THE SUPERIOR MAN WAS NOT A
PERFECT MAN, BUT HE TRIED TO DO
HIS BEST.
IF HE MADE A MISTAKE, HE TRIED
TO LOOK OUT FOR HIS MISTAKE AND
LOOK OUT FOR OTHERS AND THE
INFERIOR MAN, IT WAS ALL ABOUT
HIM AND IN YOUR LIFE, THE
DECISIONS YOU Mac, YOU EITHER
FOLLOW A PATH TO BECOME A
SUPERIOR MAN OR AN INFERIOR MAN.
HOW MANY OF YOU FROM THAT
DEFINITION HEARING THAT WOULD
WANT TO BE THE IN FEAR OFFICER
RICK QUINTERO MAN.
OK -- INFERIOR MAN?
HOW MANY WOULD WANT TO BE THE
SUPERIOR MAN.
I'M GOING TO ASK EACH OF YOU
THEN WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT YOU'RE DOING THAT YOU'RE
LEARNING THAT'S GOING TO HELP
YOU STAY ON THAT PATH TO BEING
THE SUPERIOR MAN, MEANING JUST
TRY TO BE THE BEST HUMAN BEING
THAT YOU CAN BE?
>> FOR EXAMPLE, LAST YEAR, I
WASN'T A PERFECT STUDENT.
I DID MAKE MISTAKES.
THIS YEAR I CHANGED, MY GRADES
WENT UP.
I MATURED.
>> WHAT CAUSED THAT?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
JUST STOP AND THINK AND YOU
KNOW, BE MATURE ABOUT IT.
>> THEY WERE ASKED TO NAME THEIR
ROLE MODELS.
>> MY FATHER BEEN LIKE, BEEN
THERE FOR ME AND SUPPORTED ME
WHEN I LIKE, DID BAD THINGS, AND
HOW TO CORRECT THEM.
HE TOLD ME HOW TO DO, LIKE,
THINGS LIKE BE A LIEDER AND
STUFF, -- LEADER AND STUFF, SO
THE KIDS, IF THEY DO SOMETHING
WRONG, CORRECT THEM.
YEAH.
>> WELL, MY ROLE MODEL IS MY
PARENTS, BUT MAINLY MY DAD,
BECAUSE MY DAD LIKE SHOWED ME
HOW IT IS, LIKE, HE HASN'T EVEN
SHOWN ME BECAUSE I'M NOT A MAN
YET, BUT HE'S TRYING TO TEACH ME
THE VALUE OF BEING A MAN AND
WHAT IT TAKES, BECAUSER SAYS
THAT IF YOU -- IF YOU'RE NOT
RESPONSIBLE, YOU'RE NOT MATURE,
IF YOU'RE NOT MATURE, THERE'S NO
WAY OF BEING A REAL MAN.
HE GOES TO WORK AND HE TELLS ME
THE SALE THING ALL THE TIME --
SAME THING ALL THE TIME WHEN I
DO BAD AT SCHOOL.
HE SAYS I GO TO WORK FOR YOU SO
YOU CAN HAVE THE THINGS YOU HAVE
NOW.
>> ISSUE OF BULLYING WAS
DISCUSSED.
>> HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
BULLIED BEFORE?
HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN THE
BULLY BEFORE?
SEE, THAT'S GOOD.
SOMETIMES WE'RE THE BULLY AND
SOMETIMES WE ARE THE VICTIM.
IT KIND OF GOES HAND IN HAND.
AND WHAT I LIKE WAS YOUR COMMENT
BEFORE.
YOU HAVE SAID YOU KNOW WHAT, IF
I'M GOING TO BE A POSITIVE
BYSTANDER, I'M GOING TO BE
HELPING THE BULLY TOO, BECAUSE
THE BULLY IS SOMEBODY WHO TRIES
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PEOPLE,
USUALLY THE PEOPLE THEY DON'T
THINK CAN HURT THEM BACK, BUT
WHAT DO BULLIES BECOME AS
ADULTS.
WE SAY WHO YOU ARE NOW HELPS TO
SHAPE WHO YOU BECOME.
IF YOU'RE A BULLY NOW, WHAT DOES
THAT BULLY BECOME LATER.
>> NEGATIVE PERSON.
>> NEGATIVE PERSON.
A BIGGER BULLY.
YOU START THINKING ABOUT -- WE
TALK ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
WHO HERE WANT ANYONE THEY LOVE
TO GET HIT?
NOBODY, RIGHT, BUT THAT'S THAT
KIND OF BULLY MENTALITY, SO WHEN
WE START THINKING ABOUT LITTLE
BULLY AND YOU SAY WHY SHOULD I
STOP, IT'S FUN, I WANT YOU TO
THINK ABOUT WHAT IT GROWS AND IT
EVOLVES INTO AND EVERYTHING LIKE
THAT.
>> ONE STORY THAT IS DIFFICULT
FOR ME, AND I AM OLDER NOW, BUT
DIFFICULT FOR ME, I USED TO BE A
BULLY AS A YOUNG PERSON.
I USED TO BE A BULLY AGAINST GAY
PEOPLE.
AND I WOULD JOIN WITH MY FRIENDS
AND WE WOULD BULLY THEM AND
LAUGH AT THEM AND THE MAIN
REASON IN THIS CASE, IT'S NOT
ALWAYS THE SAME CASE, BUT THE
MAIN REASON WHY, BECAUSE I AM
GAY, AND THEN I FELT HATE
TOWARDS MYSELF, AND I DIDN'T
WANT PEOPLE TO FIND OUT I WAS
GAY.
AND WHAT I DID WAS THE OPPOSITE
THEN, TO HATE PEOPLE.
WHEN I GREW UP, I DIDN'T MEET
ANY GAY INDIVIDUAL OR ANYONE WHO
WAS OPENLY GAY.
ALSO, I REALIZED I WAS GAY
MYSELF, SO I WAS PROBABLY 18
WHEN I MET SOMEONE WHO OPENLY
SAID THAT THEY WERE GAY.
AND THESE LACK OF PEERS OR LACK
OF KNOWLEDGE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO
WERE GAY THEMSELVES, REALLY MADE
IT HARDER FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH ME AND MY
DEVELOPMENT AND MY IDENTITY, SO
I THINK FOR ME, IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT TO BE OPEN ABOUT MY
*** ORIENTATION, TO SHOW THAT
THERE'S DIFFERENT KIND OF GAY
INDIVIDUALS.
I'M JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THEM.
>> THE SESSION CLOSED WITH A
TRADITIONAL MANHOOD RITUAL.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MADE
ME FEEL GOOD WHEN I LEARNED HOW
TO DO WAS TO LEARN HOW TO TIE A
TIE.
WHO KNOWS HOW TO TIE A TIE?
>> I HOPE WHAT WE IMPARTED TO
THEM, THAT PARTICULAR GROUP, AS
A LEARNING PROCESS, YOU LEARNING
BY MAKING MISTAKES.
STAY WITH THOSE POSITIVE WAYS OF
THINKING ABOUT YOURSELF THAT ARE
GOING TO PROPEL YOU DOWN THAT
OTHER PATH.
THAT IS ACCEPTING OF YOURSELF,
AND YOUR LIMITATIONS, BUT
KNOWING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET
BETTER.
♪♪
>> WHEN THE PSYCHOLOGISTS
ARRIVED AT PULASKI HIGH SCHOOL,
THE STUDENTS IN THE SESSION HAD
ALREADY LEARNED TO TIE THEIR
TIES.
THIESMANN PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS
WERE MEMBERS OF A LEADERSHIP
INITIATIVE, STARTED BY
DR. DARRELL WILLIAMS.
AFTER WE TAPED THE SESSION LAST
YEAR, HE WAS HONORED AS
PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR BY THE
NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF BLACK
SCHOOL EDUCATORS.
>> DR. WILLIAMS, WHO WAS THE
PRINCIPAL OVER AT PULASKI, HE
CREATED A NEW CULTURE WITH THEM
AND CREATED GUYS WHO WERE FUTURE
LEADERS, BUT THE THING ABOUT IT,
IF YOU WOULD HAVE WENT INTO THAT
SCHOOL TWO YEARS AGO AND GOT THE
SAME STUDENTS, YOU WOULD NOT
HAVE GOT THAT SAME PRESENCE FROM
THEM AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE
LIKE TO DO IN BUILDING A BETTER
MAN AND LIKE TO SEE PRO LIVE
RATED THROUGHOUT THE --
PROLIFERATED THROUGHOUT THE
NATION, WHEN YOU GET GOOD PEOPLE
INVOLVED WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, YOU
GET GOOD MEN.
IT WAS THE DIAMOND BEFORE THAT
WAS A ROUGH IN THE COAL, PEOPLE
WOULDN'T HAVE SEEN THAT BEFORE.
WE HAD A FINISHED PROJECT WORKED
ON, BUT SHOWS THE POWER OF HOW
QUICKLY SOMETHING CAN TURN INTO
SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL.
>> WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT --
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT RITES
OF PASSAGE FOR MEN.
NOW, WHEN YOU HEAR THAT PHRASE,
WHAT COMES TO MIND FOR YOU GUYS?
RITES OF PASSAGE.
WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN?
WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD?
YOUR FUTURE.
SO YOU'RE GOING FROM ONE STATE
OF BEING TO ANOTHER.
THE FUTURE.
YOU'RE TAKING ON RESPONSIBILITY.
NEW EXPERIENCES.
PUBERTY, PHYSICAL.
CHANCES.
RISK.
OPPORTUNITY.
A CRISIS IS RISK AND
OPPORTUNITY.
NETWORKING.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
>> GOT IT.
GOT IT.
THINK ABOUT MOVIES YOU'VE SEEN.
WITH RITES OF PASSAGE IN THEM
FOR YOUNG MEN.
WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER?
WHAT'S THAT?
>> TAKING ADVANTAGE.
>> TAKING ADVANTAGE OF WHAT YOU
GET.
BUT WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN IN THE
MEDIA OF HOW TO MOVE FROM BOYS
INTO MANHOOD?
>> IT'S REALLY HARD AND IT'S A
HARD THING TO BE INDESTRUCTIVE.
I KNOW, BECOME A MAN, BUT I
DON'T KNOW COMPLETELY WHAT IS IT
THAT I HAVE TO DO TO BECOME A
MAN?
MUCH LESS, TO BECOME THE MAN
THAT I WANT TO BE.
>> SO WE JUST HAD ONE RITE THE
OF PASSAGE FOR ALL OF YOU.
GO HUNT AND KILL A BEAR, IF YOU
DID THAT, TO BECOME A MAN, WOULD
THAT BE EASIER THAN TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT YOURSELF?
>> NO.
>> LIKE YOU DON'T WANT THAT.
THAT'S INTERESTING, SO THAT
WOULD BE TOO EASY.
>> I MEAN, LIKE, IT'S BASICALLY,
LIKE ANYBODY CAN DO THAT, BUT
NOT EVERYBODY CAN, YOU KNOW,
SUCCEED, AND EVERYBODY TRYING TO
DO THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE
SOMETIMES.
>> SO I HEAR SOMETHING ABOUT
BEING A MAN --
>> IT'S LIKE A PUZZLE, IT'S A
PUZZLE OF LIFE.
YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH IT.
AND ADVANCE.
>> EVERYBODY IS DIFFERENT IN
THEIR OWN WAY, SO IT'S A PROCESS
FOR CERTAIN PEOPLE, BUT ONE
PERSON MIGHT BE ABLE TO SUCCEED
BEFORE ANOTHER PERSON DOES.
>> EVERYBODY, LIKE, HAS
DIFFERENT, LIKE DIFFERENT GOALS,
LIKE SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM
GOALS.
LIKE YOU ALL HAVE DIFFERENT
ROLES, BUT YOU'RE ALL MEN.
ALL WOMEN IN THE SAME ROLE
WOULDN'T BE THE SAME.
>> THE DISCUSSION ON ROLE MODELS
PRODUCED THE EXPECTED RESULTS
AND IT LED TO A MAJOR QUESTION.
>> THERE'S A COUPLE OF THEM, BUT
FIRST OF ALL COMES TO MIND, MY
MOM, BECAUSE SHE RAISED US TO BE
A MAN, EVEN THOUGH SHE'S A LADY,
SO IT WAS LIKE, SHE WAS LIKE, MY
MOM AND MY DAD.
AND SECOND OF ALL IS TEACHERS.
THAT HELP YOU FIND WHAT YOU
REALLY WANT TO DO, AND THEY TELL
YOU WHAT THE FIRST STEP TO
ACHIEVE WHAT YOU WANT.
>> I LIKE --
>> THE PERSON WHO IS A ROLE
MODEL TO ME IS MY AUNT AND MY
GRANDMOTHER, BECAUSE THEY'RE THE
ONES THAT STEPPED UP AND TOOK
CARE OF ME AND LIKE, SHOWED ME
HOW TO DO THINGS, AND BECAUSE I
REALLY DON'T HAVE -- I REALLY
DIDN'T HAVE A FATHER FIGURE.
>> NOBODY IS TOUGHER THAN A MOM,
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE DON'T GO
THROUGH THEIR PROCESS IN LIFE,
YOU KNOW.
LIKE THEY HAVE THEIR MENSTRUAL
CYCLE EVERY MONTH, SOMETHING WE
CAN NEVER EXPERIENCE.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?
NOBODY IS TOUGHER THAN A MOM,
YOU KNOW.
>> FEMALES ARE LIKE ROLE MODELS,
LIKE THEY STAY UP ON EVERYTHING,
LIKE HYGIENE, ALL THAT --
EVERYTHING.
>> I JUST THANK FEMALES ALL THE
TIME.
>> HOW COME THEN WE DON'T LEARN
HOW TO BE A MAN FROM A WOMAN.
>> WHY WE DON'T LEARN MORE FROM
WOMEN IS BECAUSE WE ARE FEARFUL
THAT OTHERS THINK THAT WE'RE NOT
MASCULINE ENOUGH IF WE HAVE
FEMININE CHARACTERISTICS.
AND THAT WE HAVE THIS PRESSURE
TO BE A MAN AND SOMEONE ELSE
WANTS US TO BE A MAN, THAT WE
HAVE TO ACT IN CERTAIN WAYS AND
WE LOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW.
♪ WHAT IS A MAN ♪
>> I TOLD MUD, MY NAME IS -- YOU
MY NAME IS DR. SMITH BUT IT'S
ALSO 29802 AND PEOPLE LOOK AT
THAT THAT'S A NUMBER RELEGATED
TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED
IN THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF
CORRECTIONS AND WHAT I LIKE TO
TELL THEM IS I'M A PERSON WHO
PROBABLY MADE SOME OF THE SAME
MISTAKES THEY HAVE BUT I'M ALSO
A PERSON WHO TOOK ADVANTAGE OF
SOME SECOND CHANCES, SECOND
OPPORTUNITIES AND I HOPE TO BE
THAT ROLE MODEL, THAT LIGHT, SO
BY SHARING THAT TO THEM, I NEVER
WANT TO HIDE WHAT I DID, I'M NOT
EMBARRASSED OF MY PAST, NOT
PROUD OF IT, BUT LIKE TO SHOW
THE REDEMPTIVE STORY OF IT.
>> THE INMATES WERE ASKED TO
WRITE A LETTER TO A YOUNG
STUDENT EXPLAINING THE NATURE OF
THEIR CRIMES.
TWO VOLUNTEERED TO READ THEIR
LETTERS PUBLICLY.
>> I WAS THERE AT THE HOUSE, IT
WAS JUST ME, MY BROTHER, MY
BROTHER'S GIRLFRIEND AND MY TWO
NEEDLESS TO
TWO -- TWO NIECES AND ONE
NEPHEW.
I WAS SITTING THERE WATCHING THE
VIDEOS ON THE TV THINKING ABOUT
SMOKING DRUGS AND DRINKING
ALCOHOL AND THE DEVIL HAD WON
AND I DID THE UNTHINKABLE.
WENT IN TO MY BROTHER'S
GIRLFRIEND'S ROOM, PUT A KNIFE
TO HER THROAT, AND TOLD HER TO
GIVE ME ALL HER MONEY.
SHE DID, YOU THREW THE KNIFE
DOWN AND RAN OUT THE HOUSE
ACROSS THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN.
TO USE DRUGS AND DRINK SOME
ALCOHOL, NOT THINKING ABOUT WHAT
I WILL JUST DID.
I DID THIS IN FRONT OF MY NIECES
AND NEPHEWS.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY WERE
SLEEPING OR WATCHING WHAT I WAS
DOING TO THEIR MOTHER.
I HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE BEHIND
WHAT I DID.
I PRAYED TO GOD TO ASK FOR
FORGIVENESS.
>> LOOK AT YOUR LIFE.
ADDICTION HAS LED TO MANY OF
YOUR PROBLEMS.
YOU NEVER FINISHED SCHOOL
BECAUSE OF DRUGS, YOU COMMITTED
MANY BURGLARIES BECAUSE OF
YOUR -- BECAUSE YOU WERE HIGH.
YOU'RE IN AND OUT OF JAIL UNTIL
YOU HURT SOMEONE, THEN YOU END
UP IN PRISON.
AT THAT POINT, YOU TAKE A LOT
OUT OF LIFE, AND DO GOOD FOR
YEARS.
SOMEWHERE, YOU RELAX AND THE
NEXT THING YOU KNOW, YOU'RE
SELLING DRUGS TO SUPPORT YOUR
HABIT.
THE INTERSECTION THING, I'M --
NEXT THING, I'M WRITING THIS
LETTER.
YOUR GRANDPAPASSED AWAY BEFORE
YOU WERE 32.
YOUR BROTHER LOSES A LEG, AND
YOU DON'T FOUND OUT FOR TWO
YEARS.
AFTER IT HAPPENED.
ALL THE TIME --
[INAUDIBLE]
NOW YOU GET OLDER, AND YOU MAKE
A PROMISE TO YOURSELF THAT IF
YOU HAVE CHILDREN, THEY WILL NOT
GROW UP LIKE YOU.
BUT RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE TWO
BEAUTIFUL KIDS AT HOME, THAT'S
THINKING THEIR DADDY IS GOING TO
COME HOME.
CHILDREN DON'T DESERVE THAT.
>> MOST OF THE INMATES WERE
CLOSE TO THE END OF THEIR
SENTENCES AND ARE PREPARING TO
RETURN TO SOCIETY.
>> WHY DON'T WE PUT IN TO ACTION
WHAT WE KNOW THROUGH OUR
EXPERIENCE OR OTHERS SHOULD BE
THE BEST DECISION OR THE BEST
FOR US.
>> A LOT OF IT IS THIS PAIN.
PAIN, I HAVE TO BE BY MYSELF
SOMETIMES, GETTING CAUGHT UP IN
THE OLD PAIN, AND OLD MAIN IS
TRIGGERED BY NEW DECISIONS.
I THINK I HAVE WANT TO DO
SOMETHING OR I ATTEMPT TO DO
SOMETHING AND SOMETHING HAPPENS.
SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS, SOMETHING
DETRIMENTAL OR SOMETHING, A
SETBACK AND IT BRINGS UP OLD
PAIN AND WITH OLD PAIN COMES
THOSE MEMORIES OF HOW, WOW, IT
SHOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE THIS, BUT
THIS HAPPENED, AND LOOK AT ALL
THE OLD PAIN COMING.
AND I KNOW IT DID IT FOR ME AND
STOPPED ME FROM DOING A WHOLE
LOT OF THINGS THAT I SAID I WAS
GOING TO DO.
AND I SPENT A LOT OF MONEY
TRYING TO DO.
BUT THE PAIN REMINDED ME OF WOW,
I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THAT
AGAIN.
I WOULD RATHER STAY HERE.
>> FORMER, IT'S FEAR.
-- FOR ME, IT'S FEAR, MY OWN
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE I'M
SCARED TO CHANGE WHO I KNOW I
AM, WHO I AM.
BECAUSE I'M SCARED OF CHANGE.
I'M SCARED OF BEING SOMEBODY
DIFFERENT, SOMEBODY I DON'T KNOW
WHO I AM OR HOW I ADAPT.
SO THAT'S ME IS FEAR.
>> FOR ANYBODY, WE KNOW AS A
PSYCHOLOGIST, CHANGE, WHETHER
IT'S GOOD OR BAD, IS STRESSFUL.
IT'S MORE COMFORTABLE TO BE HOW
YOU WERE.
IT'S MORE CHALLENGING TO TRY TO
DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
EVEN IF IT'S SUCCESSFUL, IT'S
STRESSFUL GOING THROUGH THAT
PROCESS.
>> MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS THIS.
IT'S ABOUT THESE RELATIONSHIPS
THAT WE HAVE, BECAUSE THAT'S
WHAT'S BEING POURED IN TO YOU.
WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST FEARS,
WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES
THAT APPROACH YOU FROM THE
COMPANY THAT YOU WANT TO BE
KEEPING WHEN YOU GET BACK ON THE
OUTSIDE.
>> MINE IS I WAS JUST THINKING
ABOUT THIS THE OTHER DAY, YOU
KNOW, I WANT TO GO HOME, BUT I'M
SCARED.
AND SOCIETY, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE
PERFECT AT HOME.
IT ISN'T GOING TO BE PERFECT.
>> LOCKED UP.
I'LL BE SCARED.
I'M SCARED.
>> WHEN YOU START TO THINK OF
PEOPLE, IRWANT YOU -- I WANT YOU
TO EQUATE THEM TO A MATHEMATICAL
SIGN.
PEOPLE WHO HAD -- TO YOUR LIFE,
PEOPLE WHO DIVIDE, PEOPLE WHO
QUANTIFY.
THE PEOPLE WHO MULTIPLY RAISE
YOUR STOCK UP.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO GOT
YOUR BACK RIGHT NOW.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WRITE
YOU LETTERS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
HAND PEOPLE WHO KNOW YOU
MEMBERED OVER, BUT EVEN THOUGH
THEY MIGHT NOT TALK WITH YOU,
THEY'RE STILL PRAYING FOR YOU,
SENDING OUT POSITIVE VIBES FOR
YOU.
THE PERSON WITH THE PLUS IS THE
PERSON WHO HELPS YOU OUT.
THAT MIGHT BE A PERSON UP HERE,
SOMEBODY WHO YOU SAY, HE CAN'T
REALLY DO NOTHING FORMER, BUT
MAYBE WE CAN HOLD EACH OTHER
DOWN, SO IT'S JUST THE ADDED TO.
NOW THE SUBTRACTION IS THE
PERSON WHO DON'T MEAN YOU NO
HARM, THEY LOVE YOU, BUT MAN,
COME ON, LET'S GO GET THIS
DRINK.
THE FIRST ROUND ON ME.
THIS ON ME TONIGHT.
DON'T MEAN NO HARM, BUT JUST
INTERACTION IS NEGATIVE.
NOW, THIS DIVISION RIGHT HERE,
YOU WENT FROM 100 DOWN TO 20.
YOU DON'T WANT TO MESS WITH THAT
PERSON.
THE HARD PART IS, IF YOU KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT MATHEMATICAL
EQUATIONS, DIVISION CAN FOOL YOU
BECAUSE IT'S RECIPROCAL.
THIS PERSON SAYS COME ON, WE CAN
HURRY UP AND DO THIS AND
MULTIPLY, BUT THEN WHEN IT DON'T
WORK OUT, EVERYTHING IS TAKEN
NEGATIVE.
>> THE RESULT I WANTED TO GET
FROM THE INMATE GROUP IS THAT
THERE IS HOPE.
OFTENTIMES, WHEN INMATES COME
OUT, THEY ALREADY FEEL LIKE IT'S
A MATTER OF WHEN, NOT IF THEY'RE
COMING BACK AND WHAT I WANTED
THEM TO KNOW, THAT THERE IS A
POSSIBILITY THAT WHEN THEY GET
OUT, NOT ONLY CAN THEY STAY OUT,
BUT THEY CAN BECOME PRODUCTIVE
TO THEMSELVES, TO THE FAMILY AND
TO THEIR COMMUNITY.
>> LAST FALL, THE MILWAUKEE AREA
PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
RECOGNIZED THE DOCTORS WITH AN
AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING
CONTRIBUTION IN THE FIELD OF
PSYCHOLOGY.
IT WAS FOR THE BUILDING A BETTER
MAN PROJECT.
THEIR BOOK, BUILDING A BETTER
MAN, A BLUEPRINT FOR DECREASING
VIOLENCE AND INCREASING
PRO-SOCIAL BEHAVIOR IN MEN WILL
BE AVAILABLE THIS SUMMER.
AND THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR THIS
WEEK.
FOR "BLACK NOUVEAU," I'M JOANNE
WILLIAMS.
GOOD NIGHT.