Press Release                           
March 31, 2010

The Black Star Project Calls One Thousand Men into Action in Chicago before Summer Violence Begins

Chicago, Illinois – ONE THOUSAND MEN OF ACTION (1000 MOA) are being called to volunteer as mentors and community revitalizers in Chicago before summer -- the most violent and deadly time of the year, according to year-round crime statistics.  The men will meet at Saint Sabina Church on Friday, April 9, 2010, 7:00 pm, to view the inspirational movie, “Men II Boys,” to join the 1000 MOA movement by registering with one of 50 faith-based and community-based organizations and to become a mentor or provide a critical community-revitalization service.  Women and people of all ethnicities are encouraged to attend this meeting and participate as a volunteer.

 

In 2008, black America placed most of its political capital, spiritual energy and financial resources into electing the first black president of the United States. Black community leaders - political, spiritual and media - led us to believe that electing a first black president was a natural extension of the civil rights movement.

They were wrong. In fact, electing the first black president might well have ended the civil rights movement. Black America mistakenly traded the future of its young black men for a black president.

Young black men in America are beyond living in a "state of emergency." Many of them range from "barely surviving" to "no longer existing." This tragedy can be seen in prisons and jails across America, where black men make up 50% to 80% of prison and jail populations although we are less than 7% of the total U.S. population.