Recently, Drew native Kenwuan Meeks said he recognized a need to gather more men up to do positive things.
That’s why he started Men in Mississippi, a movement whereby he calls upon men from across the state and from diverse backgrounds and career paths to come and speak to high-school-aged boys about the pitfalls of life and encourage them to overcome any obstacles to achieve success.
“You live or die by the choices you make” was the overall theme of the most recent session and was echoed by Principal Eric Lakes and several of the day’s speakers that gathered in the gym at Ruleville Central High School.
Meeks said his typical roster of speakers includes judges, state representatives, actors, mayors, journalists and educators.
“We’ve got everybody in this group,” he said.
Thursday’s lineup featured former military veteran John Henry Johnson Jr, who spoke to them about gun violence.
Noting that he was a former troublemaker, he denounced gangs and the violence associated with them. He encouraged the students to get an education and make a difference in society and concluded with an admonition.
“Young men, stop making boyish decisions and start preparing yourselves to be men.”
Other speakers included Sunflower County Justice Court Judge Stafford Shurden, who acknowledged Johnson as a brother although they are from different racial backgrounds.
Drew Mayor Harvey Burchfield also spoke, as did Michael Johansson who talked about the educational opportunities including grants and scholarships that are available to minorities. He shared his personal phone number and invited them to contact him if they had any questions.
Pastor William Ray Blackmon delivered the final address by way of a summarization of the preceding speakers. He told the students that they were not yet men because they are not responsible enough to take care of themselves.
“If you are living in the house with your mother or your father, you’re not a man and never will be. I don’t care how old you are, a man has his own,” he said. He encouraged the teenagers to also work on developing their “spiritual man.”
Meeks, a military veteran and author of two books began his efforts back in July 2017 and also established the Southern Gun-violence Awareness walk, which was also deemed a success.
The Thursday event in Ruleville was the second such event, with the first one being held in Cleveland and plans for the third are tentatively set for Greenwood.
“It’s getting better and better, more and more people are coming on board,” Meeks said.
