there is a stigma

that young men will drop out of school

 

there is a perception

that young men will not mount to anything

 

there is an impression

that young men will be locked up in 6 months

 

thers is an assumption

that young men will me more incline to join gangs

 

there is an insinuation

that young men have already wrote their will and haven't reach the age of 18

 

i ask young men

is there a problem with these stereotypical preconceive notions?

if you don't, then truly, you are detaching yourself

in which some may say you are doing deliberately

from reality

from music

from life

fromt the truth itself

from your own self that still hasn't figure out your own identity 

as far as who you are 

because you are more concern with fitting in 

rather than standing out (facts)

you want to be like everybody else

and not be your own man (also facts)

 

male empowerment is a new initiative

a comprehensive youth development

that articulates extensive vocabulary

that goes beyond yo, yo, yo that society assumes about young men

it's a program that creates a platform

for a young man to rewrite his history by creating his own legacy

i'm that counselor who knows there is potential in every young man

i believe in you and i only sustain your name only

do you believe in you?

there is no such thing is a bad young man

that's a tag people put on you in compensation for fears of not wanting to approach you

they anticipate the unwanted backlash and it didn't even occurred

how sad is that? are you proud of it?

you make bad choices, but you are not a bad person

you all deserve a 2nd chance to make amends 

quieting those that have written you off

if you have the will, you'll find a way

or keep making excuses for your failures

harness the power of a mic to project your voice

so that people are dazzle with not just words, but the meaning of your message

don't ever make that claim to be a man

if you have nothing to show for it

i never had this when i was in my knucklehead days when i was teen

went down that f**ked up road at one time

i got my wake up call

what's yours?

this is an opportunity for me to pave the way

for young men to save this generation that is already in trouble

i ask this question one more time

do you want to feel empower by stepping up

or powerless of stepping down so steep to your grave that is already set to have your name carved in stone

and you know what else

nothing hits harder than lifeitself,  so it goes on, and nobody cares

except those that genuinely love you

but all you are is a distant memory that appears only in dreams