The NAACP is looking for a few good men ? a thousand, actually.
The rising tide of violence and a dysfunctional educational system in the city demand the attention of the entire community, said Marvin “Doc” Cheatham Sr., president of the organization?s Baltimore chapter.
“The crime situation is not getting better,” he said. “Killing, violence, dropout rates, drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, everything is getting worse rather than better.
“We need to act together,” he said.
That?s why Cheatham is calling for a “meeting of men.” Cheatham said that he, as well as other leaders in the community, are looking to tap into the spirit of the Million Man March, and recruit male residents to work together to solve as many of the city?s problems as they can.
Cheatham said he has already met with members of Professional Black Men, an organization that awards scholarships to inner city youth, as well as several fraternities that have agreed to help. Cheatham said the ultimate goal is to recruit 1,000 men to come up with novel approaches to issues like rising crime and poor education, “one group dealing with school issues, and one dealing with community issues,” he said.
Reverend C.D. Witherspoon, a political activist, said he has joined the effort to be proactive about issues particular to men in the city.
“Far too often meetings pertaining to African-Americans address the symptoms, or aftermath of our condition, and not the core problems facing our community,” he said.
Ted Imes, president of the Professional Black Men, said his organization hopes to break the cycle of failure.
“We are trying to help our young brothers break free from today?s oppression of low self-esteem, poor education and job preparation,” he said.
Cheatham said the one of the group?s first task is formulating a plan for Park Heights, an area he said is particularly troubled. The group hopes to start work in the community in the spring. Meanwhile, Cheatham said, all help is welcome.
“Even though the city is predominantly African-American, we need everybody,” he said.
