Welcome to the month of March, set aside for the recognition of women, our struggles and accomplishments, our ongoing challenges, hopes and dreams for our children, our families and our community.

First, I feel compelled to strike a resounding note of praise, commendation and appreciation for the work of Ms. Jean Nash Wells, editor-in-chief of The Positive Community magazine. We applaud you, Ms. Wells for your diligence, tenacity, constancy and daring to guard the dream of this publication from its infancy to the classic production that it is today. We appreciate the availability of the magazine to thousands of readers young and old, and I have been privileged to personally and prayerfully observe the up-hill climber that you with the staff of The Positive Community publication have endured over the years. Today, we are proud of this award-winning magazine. My prayer now is for your continued enthusiasm and success in this calling on your live, for staff and all who contribute in any way to the production, sale and distribution of this quality product. Like our Sister in the Bible, Queen Esther, who stopped and Old Testament Holocaust by her cunning and tenacity, (Esther 4:113,d) your God-endowed talent as editor-in-chief made room for you and “who knows that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Congratulations, Sister, Ms. Jean Nash Wells!

Women need to take courage, hold on to their dreams and raise the banner high. There is still much work to be done in “the village” to correct, uplift, improve, reclaim and rebuild what has been damaged or torn down. There is serious work to be done and we need to continue to support each other. Our very survival hinges on our determination, our working cooperatively with each other and our having faith to believe that each one can make a difference. Each one can help change the condition and plight of the African American community, our homes, families, schools, other institutions of learning, our workplaces our places of recreation, worship and social gatherings. We must not become overwhelmed with the magnitude of the task that looms large before us, but remain constant, available, actively alert and sensitive to the presence of destroying forces that attack us in the “village.” As we bind up and heal, listen, council and advise and as we bear the infirmities f the weak and guard the back of the strong, keep in mind that we are upheld, guided and protected by the omnipotent hand of God, who will not leave us nor forsake us!

There is a clarion call to the “sisterhood” but not just to women, but also to all African Americans everywhere to help save our children, our youth, young women, young men, our homes, families and our heritage! It is a wake up call. It’s an urgent appeal! We Need Help! The shrieking sound in my ear is so piercing that it goes straight to my heart, deep, deep, deep. But! I hear another voice responding…not quite as painful, thank the Lord, speaking in no uncertain terms. “This is wake-up call. Get up; get busy, now! Garner the women, mothers, young and old and do the work of “ministry,” together. Each one, help one, dialogue, strategize and move together. You are strong. Do not be afraid; be encouraged. It will happen.”

Hear with me the voice of hope! We still have hope if every one of us, African American women, men, and children, will each do what we can do! We still have hope if we will face squarely and deal harshly with problems that adversely affect the quality of our lives such as: materialism, individualism (operating in isolation with the “plugs” in our ears and our minds, conformity to mediocrity and immorality, indifference to the education and socialization processes of our children instead of becoming equal partners in the teaching and learning process. We still have hope if we will resolve to help eradicate the sheer ignorance that exists among us concerning our own awe-inspiring history and heritage. We need to write it, speak it and keep our African heritage, our own brilliant history ever before us! We have hope if we will strive for excellence.

Let us resolve now and dare to start today, afresh and anew to hone our own God-given skills and talents. Let us put them to work for us to bring about the fundamental positive change we need now, for life, for protection, to save our children, our community, and ourselves. Let us have solidarity of heart and community. Garner soul energy and spiritual maturity that will compel us to participate fully in this preparation and launching of our children to prepared adulthood. We pave the way and we can make it possible for our children with their families to lead productive, socially, spiritually and economically stable and rewarding lives.

God help us in the African American tradition. Please don’t take us back to the “old days,” but please do help us to use the strong foundation of our heritage to continue to build. Help us to remember the blood, sweat, prayers, and tears shed for our security. My heroines in the faith already lay pillars strong and upright. To name several I point to Sojourner Truth, Mary Margaret Seabrook, Patsy Pender, my own mother Matilda Elizabeth Seabrook, the late Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King, each a woman of honor and distinction who lived a life and left a legacy truly worthy of emulation and perpetuation long after we have gone from the scene. Hold to the assurance that if we teach our children right from wrong, by precept and example, when they are grown they will still do right (Proverbs 22:6)