I am a father, son, Husband, Nephew, Brother ,Uncle and a strong Black man.

People assume I have it all together and I make it seem that way.

Theme 2: First Experience With Race Activity 

My first experience with race started when I was 11. Upon playing in my front yard, I was approached by a group of boys who were a different ethnicity than I, and they asked why I was playing in their area they marked as their street. I explained that my parents live here and I have no authority over choosing where I lived. They proceeded to explain to me that my ethnicity isn't allowed to dwell within this area and I found out right away. Every time I was sent to the store i had to defend my right to walk down those streets. Sometimes it was fights, other times it was just walking with pride and not showing fear when going past them. Through the years I learned the history of the city I resided in and it has dealt with racism since the origin of the city.

Theme 3: Positive Sense of Self Brainstorm

In my opinion, going through those experiences daily throughout my youth helped me and had a negative effect on me. At such an age it's hard to understand what's going on in the moment, but after realizing that I couldn't control my environment and understanding what responses bring out different outcomes, I learned that most of the time you have to carry yourself confidently and know what you bring to the playing field. You can't second guess yourself through life because there's minimal people in your life that really cares for you( those being family) everyone else is playing for self. Whether it's self worth or self pride when I came across those interactions I would identify who's in the crowd for self gratification and I would attack that person first. After 3-4 times of this, the heckling eventually started to subside when they noticed that I will walk with pride knowing that they were all talk because they were always numbered but when you single out one, it exposes them. That lasted for 7 years until I turned 18 and relocated myself out of that environment.

I believe the spirit of ubuntu is beginning to become present within modern day society as we start to bcome more culturally knowledgeable about our ancestorial lineage. There is genuine respect for our culture but the level of caring isn't present. We are all playing for self, no one is really adopting our ancestorial values and utilizing it within modern day society. Yes, I am starting to see veneration for our ancestors with the application of libation becoming more present, but the lack of fellowship in our culture is ultimately the greatest pitfall because there's no lifting up it's only tearing down eachother that seems more prevalent.

THEME 2: 7 Concepts of Afrocentric Psychology

The concept that is most present in the african american culture today is Sankofa. It is a starting point if our culture is interested in going back to do the research. dont just depend on what other's tell you, go back and find out for yourself. The concept that is least used is human authenticity because of the stronghold that social media places our community I because of the need for everyone wanting to be a part of something, it hinders the growth of a community when some are under the influence of the gravitational pull society has to make you change something about yourself or come up with different personas in order to please an audience.

THEME 3: 7 Principles of Nguzo Saba

Umoja is the principle that is surfacing in the world today. With everything thats going on in the world today with police brutality, racism being ultimately displayed with little regards, and protestors of all kinds out as one showing unity for the cause. I believe this principle is growing in a time of need, where as a community we've been speaking up, but as a country we have excersied our voice of reasonimh to say we are tired of it!

3.1. MULTIDIMENSIONS OF ETHNIC SELF IDENTIFICATION

1. Within the category of Natal Measures, I identify with my birthplace defining me. I love where I was bon and it has molded into the person I have become today. Also, due to lack of family structure, I was pushed in a direction of advancement quickly and fund a brotherhood that has bestowed alot of knowledge in regards to ancestral lineage and understanding and appreciating your origins. I regret that I have yet to find my origins but it does weigh heavy on my mind.

2. Within the category of Behavioral Measures, I correlate music, clothing, food, cultural activites , joining clubs and societies with my upbringing. I am drawn to our ancestors culture and how they perceived themselves among others, and how they dealt with the challenges of their days in an even greater suppression than we are fighting today!

3. Within the category of Subjective Measures, of course in the US, identity can mostly be identified by the color of the skin. People eventually grow to self identify that they cannot be compared to a color, so they take on other adjectives. I identify as black on applications because like I said, I am unaware of my origins to specify anything else and that will change.

4. Withnin the category of Situation-Contextual Measures I would identify with the home- family, education, work factors. I am interested in spirituality but have yet to receive answers to my questions. So I just work and take care of family. I would love to be more recreational with having a sense of fellowship and intentionally going out to network amongst others.

3.2. MULTI-GROUP ETHNIC IDENTITY MEASURE

1. My multigroup ethnic identity measure score is 34

2. This score was high due to my appreciation of being born within my ethnic group and being able to have more barriers to succeed through than other ethnic groups. Because of that, My ethnic group tends to stick to each other when it comes to fellowship or education.

3. I value the importance of what it means to endure this walk with pride and confidence knowing your defying odds that were stacked against us from the beginning. Knowing your breaking through barriers whenever you get the opportunity to enter a room as compared to someone who was bornm within that room. It feels so much more worth it in the long run to know you've endured all they've meant for your failure and turned into a prolific success. So yes, I am very revered of my ethnic group!

4. This analysis allowed me to recognize my extreme gratification for the village I was able to have throughout my journey. The people that have played numerous parts to mold me into the man I am today.

3.3. ROSENBERG'S SELF-ESTEEM SCALE

1. My score after taking the assessment is 30.

2. I am very proud of myself and what I was able to endure and accomplish up til this day. Through childhood traumas and adult self suppresion, not having a sustainable outlet for cycling and understanding my emotions, it was rough. But to be here today is why I am grateful.

3. My score reflects truly how I view myself. I hold myself to high standards given my barriers before me, I will succeed no matter what in life and I don't accept anything less.

3.4. RACIAL IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT

1. The stage of racial identity I am in today is the immersion/emersion stage.

2. I have past through the stages of understanding who I am and why I am the way I am. I embrace the journey ahead of me while looking forward to great success, those that have come before me, and those I will influence after me.

3. Alot of my growth through the stages happened throughout my trials in life. As a young adult entering the prison system, the challenge before me was how do I find a steady path to navigate through this time? Through the universe, I found a great group of men who educated me throughout those years and turned my decision making skills into positive choices. Prison system is a great example of racism at its greatest. Everyone is seperated by skin color or ethnic background and you experience it first hand from the handlers of the inmates, but those were very informal years for me. Really gave me a clear path of how I want to live my life.

4. Identifying more of myself through the lens of these assessments have been a deep self reflection of understanding why I wear my african pieces or why I pay homage to my known ancestorial lineage and participate in libation.

3.5. FIND YOUR RACIAL IDENTITY RESOURCE

video posted above.