Men Cry Too
Synopsis: MEN CRY TOO
I cannot remember the first time I saw a man crying, but I do know I was an adult when it happened. From my experience, in the African American community, men are taught that it is unacceptable and inappropriate for them to cry openly. It is perceived as a sign of weakness. They are told to, “suck it up,” and “hold the tears inside.” But, is that a reasonable request? No, it is not. Men have feelings and emotions—just like women. It is discriminating, unnatural and unreasonable to request that a man suppress his emotions. Does that make them less than a man? Of course not—it makes them human. Real men will admit that they cry. It is my hope that men who are taught that crying makes them less than a man read these testimonies and realize that those who contributed to this book are definitely REAL MEN! To the men listed below, I thank you. I salute and applaud you for your testimonies and your honesty.
Lionel Hills, Rev. Lenny Morris, Anthony Broomfield, Troy Briggs, Julius Henry, Damon Gilkes, Dwight Brown, Dr. Navon Lindo Jr., Michael Hunter, Luther Chambers, Robert Thornhill, Thomas Turner III, Anonymous, Rev. Dwight Shawrod Riddick, Rev. Eric Battle, Dr. Alonzo Campbell, Jermaine Ellis, Rev. Johnathan Waldon, Dr. Mohammed Sillah, Dr. Gerard Ruff, Norman Wilkerson, Rev. Edward Wright, Roger Ricks, Dr. Zachary D. McKiwernan, Kirk D. Young, Wilsantis Johnson, Robert Watson, Jeffrey Winston, Lt. Jeffrey Davis, Bill Sharps, Dr. Michael Robinson, Rev. Frank Coleman, Dr. Stephen Magu, Michael Eley, Harrison Smith, Michael Scott, Rev. James Brown, Myron Griffin, Dr. Herbert Townsend, Anonymous, David Bonner, Larry Gibson
I cannot remember the first time I saw a man crying, but I do know I was an adult when it happened. From my experience, in the African American community, men are taught that it is unacceptable and inappropriate for them to cry openly. It is perceived as a sign of weakness. They are told to, “suck it up,” and “hold the tears inside.” But, is that a reasonable request? No, it is not. Men have feelings and emotions—just like women. It is discriminating, unnatural and unreasonable to request that a man suppress his emotions. Does that make them less than a man? Of course not—it makes them human. Real men will admit that they cry. It is my hope that men who are taught that crying makes them less than a man read these testimonies and realize that those who contributed to this book are definitely REAL MEN! To the men listed below, I thank you. I salute and applaud you for your testimonies and your honesty.
Lionel Hills, Rev. Lenny Morris, Anthony Broomfield, Troy Briggs, Julius Henry, Damon Gilkes, Dwight Brown, Dr. Navon Lindo Jr., Michael Hunter, Luther Chambers, Robert Thornhill, Thomas Turner III, Anonymous, Rev. Dwight Shawrod Riddick, Rev. Eric Battle, Dr. Alonzo Campbell, Jermaine Ellis, Rev. Johnathan Waldon, Dr. Mohammed Sillah, Dr. Gerard Ruff, Norman Wilkerson, Rev. Edward Wright, Roger Ricks, Dr. Zachary D. McKiwernan, Kirk D. Young, Wilsantis Johnson, Robert Watson, Jeffrey Winston, Lt. Jeffrey Davis, Bill Sharps, Dr. Michael Robinson, Rev. Frank Coleman, Dr. Stephen Magu, Michael Eley, Harrison Smith, Michael Scott, Rev. James Brown, Myron Griffin, Dr. Herbert Townsend, Anonymous, David Bonner, Larry Gibson
My Thoughts and Prayers
A Synopsis for My Thoughts and Prayers:
As I journey through life, I have been on numerous journeys and I have had the privilege of meeting people who have touched my heart. Some of the people I have met have enriched my life and inspired me to soar, while others have literally broken my heart. My Thoughts and Prayers is a compilation of my two poetry books, The Skin I Am In and Transformation of The Mind, Body & Soul. This is poetry that comes from my heart and soul.
Peace and Blessings,
Alfreada Brown-Kelly
As I journey through life, I have been on numerous journeys and I have had the privilege of meeting people who have touched my heart. Some of the people I have met have enriched my life and inspired me to soar, while others have literally broken my heart. My Thoughts and Prayers is a compilation of my two poetry books, The Skin I Am In and Transformation of The Mind, Body & Soul. This is poetry that comes from my heart and soul.
Peace and Blessings,
Alfreada Brown-Kelly
Why Women Weep
Synopsis: Why Women Weep
Let’s be real. Even Jesus wept. If I have learned anything in life, I have learned that we all have to cry sometimes. Some of us will cry more and some of us will cry less. Some of us will learn our lesson the first time, and some of us will have to repeat a chaotic episode four or five times. As females, we carry a heavy load. The weight of the world is on our shoulders. We are mothers, grandmothers, aunts, wives, doctors, lawyers, teachers, authors, business owners, administrative assistants, and we work in many other professions. We are expected to do and to keep doing. We cannot fall by the wayside because so many people are depending on us. We must not fail ourselves or others, but we are human.
As a result, sometimes life is going to make us sad and we will cry. But as women, who are expected to be everything to everybody, we must prevail. Even victory will not stop us from crying. Sometimes we will fall, but it is imperative that we get up again and again and again. We must teach our children, especially our girls, what is acceptable and appropriate behavior. We must insist that our girls treat other females the way they themselves want to be treated. We must consistently and constantly tell our girls that they will reap what they sow. If you sow bad seeds, you will reap a bad harvest. If you don’t believe me, believe GOD. It is written in His Word.
All of the poetry in this book was created by me, except one poem, which was written by Patsy Bickerstaff. Some of the poems come from my other two books, Transformation of The Mind, Body & Soul and The Skin I Am In. Many of the poems came to me as I began my journey writing this book.
Peace and blessings,
Alfreada Brown-Kelly
Let’s be real. Even Jesus wept. If I have learned anything in life, I have learned that we all have to cry sometimes. Some of us will cry more and some of us will cry less. Some of us will learn our lesson the first time, and some of us will have to repeat a chaotic episode four or five times. As females, we carry a heavy load. The weight of the world is on our shoulders. We are mothers, grandmothers, aunts, wives, doctors, lawyers, teachers, authors, business owners, administrative assistants, and we work in many other professions. We are expected to do and to keep doing. We cannot fall by the wayside because so many people are depending on us. We must not fail ourselves or others, but we are human.
As a result, sometimes life is going to make us sad and we will cry. But as women, who are expected to be everything to everybody, we must prevail. Even victory will not stop us from crying. Sometimes we will fall, but it is imperative that we get up again and again and again. We must teach our children, especially our girls, what is acceptable and appropriate behavior. We must insist that our girls treat other females the way they themselves want to be treated. We must consistently and constantly tell our girls that they will reap what they sow. If you sow bad seeds, you will reap a bad harvest. If you don’t believe me, believe GOD. It is written in His Word.
All of the poetry in this book was created by me, except one poem, which was written by Patsy Bickerstaff. Some of the poems come from my other two books, Transformation of The Mind, Body & Soul and The Skin I Am In. Many of the poems came to me as I began my journey writing this book.
Peace and blessings,
Alfreada Brown-Kelly
Decrees & Declarations of Authenticity
Synopsis of Decrees and Declarations of Authenticity
My mother, my elders and the Bible have taught me many things. This book is only a minute sample of the things I have been taught and the things that have impacted my life. It is a possibility you may have heard some of these sayings and they may mean something else to you. The title of this book, Decrees and Declarations of Authenticity, simply means I am decreeing and declaring my opinions of the following statements. Again, these opinions are mine.
Alfreada Brown-Kelly
Alfreada Brown-Kelly is an author of poetry and professor at Hampton University. Alfreada is a graduate of Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, LA. and Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. She received her M.A. in Sociology with a concentration in Criminal Justice from Old Dominion University. Transformation of The Mind, Body & Soul (2008) is her first book. Her second book of poetry is The Skin I Am In (2010). Her third book Why Women Weep is an anthology, was released in April of 2011. Her fourth book, Decrees & Declarations of Authenticity was released in October 2014.
My mother, my elders and the Bible have taught me many things. This book is only a minute sample of the things I have been taught and the things that have impacted my life. It is a possibility you may have heard some of these sayings and they may mean something else to you. The title of this book, Decrees and Declarations of Authenticity, simply means I am decreeing and declaring my opinions of the following statements. Again, these opinions are mine.
Alfreada Brown-Kelly
Alfreada Brown-Kelly is an author of poetry and professor at Hampton University. Alfreada is a graduate of Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, LA. and Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. She received her M.A. in Sociology with a concentration in Criminal Justice from Old Dominion University. Transformation of The Mind, Body & Soul (2008) is her first book. Her second book of poetry is The Skin I Am In (2010). Her third book Why Women Weep is an anthology, was released in April of 2011. Her fourth book, Decrees & Declarations of Authenticity was released in October 2014.
Transformation of the Mind, Body & Soul
By Eureka F. Collins
Author, “Strong Winds Change Live” and “Love Matters Most”
______________________
This book is a poetic phenomenon! It is divided into three parts: The Mind, Body and Soul. Brown-Kelly’s artistic writing prowess paints a picture of love with the most beautiful words to describe the relationship between a man and woman. It decorates the soul with heartfelt visuals of passion.
In part one, The Mind, each poem brings to remembrance the Scripture…“As a man thinks, so is he!” The poems allows one to feel as though the Author was narrating her personal life through poetry by expressing her thoughts on what she saw in a man and how he should treat a woman. She gives encouraging words to little boys and girls on who they are as human beings. She further encourages them to have faith while attempting to reach their goals and empowers family members to have a closer relationship with one another.
In part two, The Body, you will observe that each poem builds upon each other, allowing your mind’s eye to see a man and woman sharing their thoughts, love and compassion. Although committed to their marriages, the relationship between them becomes more serious than they had planned. In an effort to do the right thing, the woman releases her lover to embrace her soul mate.
And finally, in part three, The Soul, Brown-Kelley poetically continues, but with a focus on God. She inherently reveals the True Man who will love the woman unconditionally and will surely make her paths straight. Having faith in God to free her from her sins, the woman trusts Him in all areas of her life and becomes transformed in the mind, body and soul. You will enjoy this tantalizing read. I highly recommend this poetic masterpiece.
Author, “Strong Winds Change Live” and “Love Matters Most”
______________________
This book is a poetic phenomenon! It is divided into three parts: The Mind, Body and Soul. Brown-Kelly’s artistic writing prowess paints a picture of love with the most beautiful words to describe the relationship between a man and woman. It decorates the soul with heartfelt visuals of passion.
In part one, The Mind, each poem brings to remembrance the Scripture…“As a man thinks, so is he!” The poems allows one to feel as though the Author was narrating her personal life through poetry by expressing her thoughts on what she saw in a man and how he should treat a woman. She gives encouraging words to little boys and girls on who they are as human beings. She further encourages them to have faith while attempting to reach their goals and empowers family members to have a closer relationship with one another.
In part two, The Body, you will observe that each poem builds upon each other, allowing your mind’s eye to see a man and woman sharing their thoughts, love and compassion. Although committed to their marriages, the relationship between them becomes more serious than they had planned. In an effort to do the right thing, the woman releases her lover to embrace her soul mate.
And finally, in part three, The Soul, Brown-Kelley poetically continues, but with a focus on God. She inherently reveals the True Man who will love the woman unconditionally and will surely make her paths straight. Having faith in God to free her from her sins, the woman trusts Him in all areas of her life and becomes transformed in the mind, body and soul. You will enjoy this tantalizing read. I highly recommend this poetic masterpiece.
The Skin I Am In
By Bertha L. Davis
The Skin I Am In
______________________
What poetic justice is contained throughout the leaves of history captured in this book! The author chronicles what at first glance seems like the vestiges of a particular journey. The book then takes a turn and proves to be quite instructive as it deals with no one’s particular journey; yet, the book is about everyone’s journey and maybe even the reader’s. The Skin I Am In is about the use of time, contentment, survival, living and love, and ends with a retreat to days past. There is a pattern in the book that engenders winnowing through troubled places as one strives to the keeping of covenant promises in the scripture.
The first theme is a treatise on time, which is reminiscent of the pilgrimage of the early Christians to Mecca, captured in the Psalms and identified as the “Songs of Ascent.” The recounting of life experiences is told by those on the pilgrimage where the quest was not necessarily for a single truth but truth in the eyes of the beholder. Yet, this book, The Skin I Am In, is also on the edge of being prophetic by using metaphors for the seasons of hope throughout one’s life.
The windows to the soul described in the book were likened to gates in the books of Acts in the Bible. There were many gates but the metaphor here is about the man that waits for the healing at the gate called Beautiful. The poetry in The Skin I Am In, like the man at the temple the gate that waits on healing, waits on healing while sharing the seasons of life.
The man at the gate found healing. Alfreada Brown-Kelly uses poetic beauty as she arouses our consciousness. She ends the book by giving the reader hope for a full life and leaves the reader with a deft appreciation of this inspired work, The Skin I Am In.
Bertha L. Davis, PhD, RN. ANEF, FAAN
The Skin I Am In
______________________
What poetic justice is contained throughout the leaves of history captured in this book! The author chronicles what at first glance seems like the vestiges of a particular journey. The book then takes a turn and proves to be quite instructive as it deals with no one’s particular journey; yet, the book is about everyone’s journey and maybe even the reader’s. The Skin I Am In is about the use of time, contentment, survival, living and love, and ends with a retreat to days past. There is a pattern in the book that engenders winnowing through troubled places as one strives to the keeping of covenant promises in the scripture.
The first theme is a treatise on time, which is reminiscent of the pilgrimage of the early Christians to Mecca, captured in the Psalms and identified as the “Songs of Ascent.” The recounting of life experiences is told by those on the pilgrimage where the quest was not necessarily for a single truth but truth in the eyes of the beholder. Yet, this book, The Skin I Am In, is also on the edge of being prophetic by using metaphors for the seasons of hope throughout one’s life.
The windows to the soul described in the book were likened to gates in the books of Acts in the Bible. There were many gates but the metaphor here is about the man that waits for the healing at the gate called Beautiful. The poetry in The Skin I Am In, like the man at the temple the gate that waits on healing, waits on healing while sharing the seasons of life.
The man at the gate found healing. Alfreada Brown-Kelly uses poetic beauty as she arouses our consciousness. She ends the book by giving the reader hope for a full life and leaves the reader with a deft appreciation of this inspired work, The Skin I Am In.
Bertha L. Davis, PhD, RN. ANEF, FAAN