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Dedication
“I denounce because though implicated and partially responsible, I have been hurt to the point of abysmal pain, hurt to the point of invisibility. And I defend because in spite of it all, I find that I love.”
- Ralph Waldo Ellison
(Ralph Waldo Ellison: Groundbreaking Author & Literary Genius)
To the memory of the late, great Ralph Waldo Ellison. May your literary brilliance continue to be seen by all;
To my wife Yadira, my children Josiah, Joshua and Eden and my family members and friends. May the joy of the love we have shared together in this life meet us on the other side;
To the generations unborn who will one day dare to seek truth and understanding. May the hope of a better tomorrow become the reality of your today;
To my mother, Essie Dowling, and all of the single mothers doing their best to improve the lives of their children. Please know that your sacrifices are most appreciated and shall never be forgotten;
To the mentors in my life, Alcee L. Hastings, Harry E. Johnson, Sr., William F. Pickard, Lia T. Gaines, Gregory Phillips, the late Maude Ford Lee, and the late William M. Batts, III, who helped shaped me into the man I am today. I attribute many of the vast experiences I have enjoyed as a direct result of having passed your way, and I am grateful;
To my brothers in the struggle simply yearning to be seen. May you always leave a positive impact upon the world that can never be erased;
To my dearest friends Myles B. Caggins III, Ian A. Davis, C. Marc Harper, Reuben Ahmed Munday, Kent M. Stone, who have helped to pick me up when I have been down and continue to encourage me to reach my full potential. Thank you for never allowing me to take myself too seriously;
To my constant supporters and friends, Michael and Lori Armstrong and their children Caleb and Coleman. Thank you for always believing in and encouraging me to step into my greatness.
To my dear friends Richy Gray, C. Ron Allen, the Honorable Wayne Messam of the City of Miramar, Florida, and my cousin, Kay Dowling, for being early financial contributors to the completion of this project; without your support this work would not have been possible;
To the late Gregory Diggs, Tamir Rice, Kalief Browder and Tayvon Martin, subjects in this book , all of whom have "slipped the surly bonds of earth to kiss the face of God." May your memory live through the ages;
To each of you, from the depths of my soul, this book is respectfully dedicated.
Endorsements
"As a former classroom teacher, superintendent of schools, and America's first Black U.S. Secretary of Education, I have witnessed up close the impact that a quality education, or the lack thereof, can have on the lives of Black boys in this country. This book is a must read for anyone who is concerned about the state of young Black men in America and want to do their part to help strengthen and protect their future."
– The Honorable Dr. Roderick R. Paige, 7th Secretary of the United States Department of Education
"History has shown us that when given an equal opportunity, Black men in America can achieve almost anything. Still Invisible? provides America with a blueprint for truly becoming that shining city on a hill."
– The Honorable Marc H. Morial, President & CEO, National Urban League & 48th Mayor of the City of New Orleans, Louisiana
"We all deal with the stresses of being marginalized because we are not part of an “in” group in various life situations. Mr. Dowling has compellingly described the challenges of experiencing that marginalization continuously throughout the life of a Black male. This is an extremely important book to help us empathize and address the pathology of marginalization of Black males and what we need to understand far more deeply than we do today.”
– Michael Critelli, CEO of MovieFlux Corporation and Former Chairman & CEO of Pitney Bowes
"Be prepared to have a tough conversation within yourself before picking up this book! Still Invisible? will challenge many of the pre-conceived notions you may carry about the issues of race and culture in America, regardless of what side of the color line you fall."
– Kelvin Boston, Host - Money Wise with Kelvin Boston on PBS
"Still Invisible? is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding and addressing the issues and challenges facing Black men in America."
– Lawrence C. Ross, Author - Blackballed: The Black & White Politics of Race on America’s Campuses
"As a clinical psychologist, I understand all too well the impact that continued oppression, hopelessness and anxiety have on vulnerable populations. Still Invisible? sheds light on the urgent need to identify and address the social, emotional, and mental health concerns of Black males in America."
– Dr. Jari Santana, President of Aspira Delaware and an Expert on Acculturation Stress
Foreword
"Forward Ever... Backwards Never!"
The white folk tell everybody what to think – except men like me. I tell them; that's my life, telling white folk how to think about the things I know about...”
- Ralph Ellison,"Invisible Man" (Shmoop Editorial Team)
(Pictured above are the first Black Members of Congress [circa 1868], elected after the passage of the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guaranteeing the right to vote to newly freed African-American citizens.)
Never Give Up the Fight!
The late, great newspaper man and founder of the Washington Informer, Dr. Calvin Rolark, so often said, "No one can save us, for us, but us. If it is to be, it’s up to me." Throughout my time here on this earth, I have not only believed those words, I have lived them. In doing so, I would like to think that I have "let my life to do the singing", in service to God and all humanity. In fact, as the longest serving member and dean of the Florida Delegation to the United States House of Representatives, I know what it's like to be "buffeted to and fro" by the vicissitudes of life and winds of time, and yet come out standing. I know, because I am a survivor.
As a grade school student at Crooms Academy in Sanford, Florida, we were taught and expected to recite each day the words to the poem, "It Couldn't Be Done", penned a century ago by journalist Edgar Albert Guest, who wrote:
"Somebody said that it couldn't be done,
But he, with a chuckle replied,
That “maybe it couldn't,” but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so till he tried.
So, he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried, he hid it.
He started to sing, as he tackled the thing,
That couldn’t be done, and he did it!”
For more than