The Call

You Matter. You Make a Difference. You are Invited to Answer The Call. Faced with the devastation of racism that is still alive and well in this day and age, and the infected scab that was ripped off of unhealed racial wounds with the election of our nation's first black president, our community is desperately calling out for help. This book, "The C. A. L. L.: Inspiring Stories For Young Men About Character, Accountability, Love, And Leadership," issues a clarion call to our young black men to stand up, step up and recognize their inherent greatness. Dr. Towanna Burrous Freeman, the mother of a young son, was harshly jolted by the tragic death of Trayvon Martin in Florida. She felt compelled to address the unique challenges facing young black men. To inspire hope and send forth a message of encouragement and affirmation, she issued a call-to-action to her network of male mentors, motivational speakers, business professionals, coaches and community leaders to share personal stories capturing the rich tapestry of their life lessons, experiences and wisdom. The stories in "The C. A. L. L." reflect the struggles, challenges, resiliency and triumphs that uniquely make up a part of the black male's journey in this country. This collection of short stories reflect the diverse facets of the life of a black male - rural, suburban and urban; single-parent, two-parent and no-parent households; rich and poor. It contains real life stories of coming into an understanding of identity, integrity, values, manhood, wise decision-making, persistence, reflection, course correction, and learning from consequences. This compelling book is written from the hearts of black men, with the hope that their personal stories will inspire and transform the lives and futures of young black men worldwide.