4FATHERS Photo Journal Vol. 01 / Issue 02 by 4FATHERS JOURNAL

www.mprsvdesigns.com

CONTENTS Vol. 01 / ISSUE 02 05. Contributors 08. Editor’s Letter

FIRE 79 - 82. Coming to America | Conrad Yeates 83 - 86. Home Coming | Lonnie Kearse

WATER 25 - 26. 7 Lessons I’ve Learned | Mike Idiokitas

EARTH 29 - 42. Weekend with the Montgomery’s

MINERAL 13 - 22. Choosing Fatherhood | Lewis Kostiner 48. Story Time | Raising Children that Other People Like to Be Around 49 - 57. Design: Artist Without Borders | Freestylee 58. Journal Entry No. 02 61 - 62. Places to Go: Delroy’s | Brooklyn 63 - 64. Education: Little Maroons Childcare Cooperative 65 - 66. Film: Killer of Sheep 67 - 68. Music: Pieces of a Man, Gil Scott-Heron 69 - 71. Style: Coltrane Curtis & Son 73 - 78. Visionary: Charles Searles 87 - 92. Our Fathers

DAGARA ELEMENTS [color key] Fire Passion, Dreams, See Present & Future Water Flow, The Greater Good, Reconciliation Earth Sense of Identity, Nurturing, Abundance Mineral Storytelling, Building, Communication Nature Cycles of Life, Death, Rebirth The Spirit of Intimacy: Ancient African Teachings in the Ways of Relationships, by Sobonfu Some

www.pixod.com

“All fatherhood is very important, because single mothers shouldn’t have to raise sons or daughters; they need that help.” - Nas

AMERICAN RAPPER, SONGWRITER & ACTOR

Vol. 01 / ISSUE 02 EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief Marlon Cole Guest Editors Korby Benoit Sydia Bell Marketing Aidah Z. Muhammad

“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” - Frederick Douglass

ABOLITIONIST & WRITER

PR Natalie Cole Style Editor Christopher Easeyi Catwell Freelance Designer Raheem Rademaker Interns Aleshia Mclean Jadah Christopher Alijah Pompilus

4FATHERS Photo Journal Brooklyn, New York Photo Journal: Bi-Annual info@4fathersjournal.com www.4fathersjournal.com

Front Cover: Photo by Sara Forrest Back Cover: Photo by Michael Martin

Dedicated to the life of my brother, Dustin Yeates + Grandpa Allen Yeates.

CONTRIBUTORS Jaymer Delapena PHOTOGRAPHER “I’m a San Francisco based photographer. ” - www.balanceandcontrast.com Michael Martin PHOTOGRAPHER “I love photography, it allows me to communicate action, emotion and so much more.” Lewis Kostiner PHOTOGRAPHER “My father passed away in Montreal, for most of my life we were not very close, but towards the end of his life, we became good friends.” - www.lewiskostiner.com Sara Forrest PHOTOGRAPHER Known for her consistently vibrant style of imagery and for her ability to connect with her subjects in a spirited and authentic way. - www.saraforrestphoto.com Patrick Spears PHOTOGRAPHER “My father has played a huge role in my life since the day I was born.” - www.thats-pat.com Lester Alan PHOTOGRAPHER “The one with dilated vision.”

BBOX

www.bboxradio.com

Jaymer Delapena

EDITOR’S LETTER wenty-nine years without my father, that left a huge hole in my heart as a child and as an adult. Sometimes I wonder if he needed I as much. I wonder if he’d been out of prison, would a relationship I’ve yearned for even matter to him. I think that the child you once were never really leaves, you just out grow your childish ways, but I still have that one birthday wish of wanting to have my father visible. No visits, but a consistency in when I see him, wanting to see him before I went to sleep and when I woke up. This was not a reality for me as a child, I was alone and I still feel alone sometimes. You see, this goes beyond not having my father in my daily life and even though I had him through letters, collect calls and visits Upstate, that took four, five, six, even seven hours with only a one to two hour time to embrace in the physical to play catch up, it has affected the rest of my life. I’ve had to learn over the past few years to release the ongoing thoughts in my head, not knowing if anyone would understand me, but I didn’t understand myself. Frustration, feeling trapped, as a young man becoming a man is not a good mix, especially when there is little guidance from a father with whom I hear I look, walk and laugh like. This life is something else; I smile regardless. My mommy stood tall and strong through it all and that kept me sane seeing the courage of a woman raising four children on her own. The blood that flows through me is far from the weak type and recognizing the will of my father who continues to stand firm when faced with an injustice, looking for him to confess to a murder he had no involvement with. My family, from Guyana came to America for a better life, a life of growth and change, their will power and vision past down to the next generation, to us. The need of my father only made me wiser. No man, no system can ever weaken my will and I stand to this day aware of the potential and purpose of my life. Like father, like son.

MARLON COLE

Jaymer Delapena

BALANCE+CONTRAST

www.balanceandcontrast.com

www.thestuyvesants.com

CHOOSING FATHERHOOD AMERICA’S SECOND CHANCE Photographs + Stories / LEWIS KOSTINER

Lewis Kostiner amilies come in all sizes, shapes, and traditions, each a unique variation of a universal human theme. Whether one comes from a heterosexual, single-sex, or one-parent home, stability and love are paramount. Unfortunately, in the United States, the absence of fathers from their children’s lives has become a real problem. In fact, the Brookings Institute has identified absentee fathers as among America’s most pressing problems—as important as the economy, education, the environment, health care, infrastructure, you name it. Why? Because nearly every social ill finds its roots in the fatherless home. Choosing Fatherhood: America’s Second Chance is meant to explore this issue as no previous book has. And it does so through the art of photography, in which Lewis Kostiner makes portraits of dads who are involved in their children’s lives. The book is also accompanied by informative essays by Juan Williams, of Fox News; David Travis, who was Curator of Photography at the Art Institute of Chicago from 1975– 2008; Shipra S. Parikh, a licensed clinical social worker who also teaches and conducts research at the University of Chicago and Loyola University in Chicago; Roland C. Warren, the former president of the National Fatherhood Initiative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing fatherhood in America, who also served on President Obama’s task force on responsible fatherhood; and Derrick M. Bryan, a sociologist at the Morehouse College.

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Getting fathers to be more involved in their children’s lives is of paramount importance, if America is to regain ground as an international leader. Right now, the statistics look grim: forty years ago only eleven percent of America’s children lived in homes without fathers, but today more than a third do: more than 24,000,000! This translates into high poverty rates, high drop-out rates in high school, high rates of incarceration, multiple behavioral problems, and the list of social ills goes on. As President Obama has declared, fatherhood does not begin with conception, but with the responsibilities that come with creating and caring for a human life. Although changes in custody rulings and other policy remedies are possible, behavioral patterns are often outside the reach of policy. Choosing Fatherhood offers a hopeful direction that America does have a second chance at correcting a troubling trend, but time is slipping and awareness of the problem is an important start.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lewis Kostiner was born in Montréal, Québec, Canada, in 1950 and was raised in Montréal before his family moved to Westbury, Long Island, in 1962. He earned his B.A. in liberal arts, with an emphasis in photography and creative writing, at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where he also studied at the Rhode Island School of Design with Aaron Siskind, Harry Callahan and Emmit Gowen. He completed his M.S. in photography at the Institute of Design at Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, where he studied with Arthur Siegel, Garry Winogrand, and Geoff Winningham. After he left Brown, he assisted Aaron Siskind for many years and traveled with him worldwide. From 1973 to 1981 he was an adjunct professor of photography at Columbia College Chicago, and he is currently a faculty member in the Department of Photography at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His photographs are in the permanent collections of and have been exhibited at, the Art Institute of Chicago, Center for Creative Photography, Museum of Contemporary Photography and Museum of Modern Art, among many others. Lewis is married to Anne Neri Kostiner and they have two daughters, Rickie and Tess.

My father, Edward Kostiner, passed away in Montreal, on May 20, 2013, at the age of eighty-six. For most of my life we were not very close, but, towards the end of his life, we became good friends. As a young boy growing up in Montreal I would go with him to most of the Saturday night Montreal Canadiens hockey games, in their golden era, during the late 1950s. I would sit atop the old Montreal Forum in the press box, next to Danny Gallivan, the Canadiens’ English language announcer, while my father would film the hockey games, with his old Cine Kodak 16mm cameras, for the team and Imperial Oil of Canada, Esso. In his younger years, after he left McGill University and married my mother, my father started what would be become the largest independent film production company in Canada, Edward Productions, on Western Avenue. I would spend many a weekend day either as an unpaid star in a Kool Aid or Simmons mattress commercial or just wondering around the film stages or recording studios, touching buttons and switches I should not have. Those were the days of quarter-inch magnetic tape and 16mm film cameras. I was amazed when the loud film and sound motors would whirl and wind the tapes onto their oversized reels. As time progressed, things changed and video came into existence. My father was one of the first in Canada to use mobile video to film his commercials and TV productions. He was part and parcel of the success of Editel, one of the first portable, in a trailer, come-to-your-shoot video recording facilities. My father was known worldwide. Most everyone in Montreal knew that Ed was very influential in his field. He also founded one of Montreal’s best-known art galleries in the Place Bonaventure. While selling art was not his forte, he was good at making the frames for the works of art after they were sold. He knew of my interest in photography, so, one day, after I told him that a company in Iowa that made archival photo-print washers had gone bankrupt, his ears perked up. He asked me what the washers looked like, so he could learn how they were made. Once he saw mine, he knew he could design and make one, too. So, in short order, he made a demo prototype of the East Street washer. His air-infusion system was much more sophisticated than the one I was using and I encouraged him to make a few more. Lewis Kostiner Photography / www.lewiskostiner.com

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Lewis Kostiner

GETTING FATHERS TO BE MORE INVOLVED IN THEIR CHILDREN’S LIVES IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE

Lewis Kostiner

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www.together-apart.com

www.artrulesaruba.com

Melanie Hughes

7 LESSONS I’VE LEARNED AS A FATHER: Words / MIKE IDIOKITAS 1. Learn and then apply what you learned It’s important to constantly learn new things, but it’s more important to apply what we’ve learned. During the beginning stages of learning we will fail and not be good, but overtime that will change and we will begin to succeed. About a year ago, I started playing connect 4 with my son. At first he learned the basic rules and concept of the game. I crushed him in every game for the first few months. Then he began noticing some of my strategies and started applying them himself. The games became harder and lasted longer. I told him that he would never beat me. Last week he beat me three games in a row.

3. Everything can and should be made into a fun game As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to take the fun out of most things. If there’s work to get done, I hunker down and get it done. I’ve learned to separate fun from most things. The same can’t be said for my son, he literally views everything as a fun game. I will say “wash your hands it’s time to eat dinner”, in his head he plays musical chairs before selecting which chair to stand on at the kitchen sink. At the sink, he will play with the soap before washing his hands. After his hands are washed, he gets down with his hands still wet and tries to splash his family. There’s so much fun to be had in doing the most mundane things.

2. Take pleasure in and enjoy the simplest things I think we can all agree that we’re in the age of hyper consumerism. We’ve consume so much that we don’t enjoy what we consume anymore, we just do it out of habit or because some expert told us this is the missing piece to our life puzzle. Let’s learn to enjoy the good and simple pleasures of life. We will be rewarded with magical memories. When he was 3 years old, my son and I were brushing our teeth and I noticed that his toothbrush bristles were wearing out. I told him that we would go to the store that weekend to get him an electronic toothbrush (similar to the one I have). His excitement was visceral and uncontained. When we actually bought the toothbrush, he enjoyed it. He enjoyed brushing his teeth and telling me about it.

4. Learn from your mistakes, move on You will make mistakes, accept it and move on, don’t dwell for a second. Whenever I make a mistake, I tend to tell myself that it is a learning moment. The problem is that the learning moment grows into a full exploration of what went right, what lead to the mistake, what can be done differently, what’s the opportunity cost. The list goes on and on. This never happens when my son makes a mistake. He makes the mistake, is sad/trouble for a few moments and poof... it’s gone. It’s like it never happened. He will try to not repeat the mistake, the learning moment is simpler and it doesn’t linger.

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5. It’s important to ask lots of questions I’ve heard the saying before “kids are like sponges, they just absorb everything”. This saying is usually in reference to the fact that kids learn so much from what is going on in their environment. It is true that kids learn a lot by absorbing their surroundings, but they learn a lot more by asking questions. This is a skill we have lost as adults. Most of the questions we ask as adults, we pretty much know or think we know the answers to. It’s like we’re afraid to learn something new, this is not the case with kids. They genuinely don’t know and are not afraid to ask.

My daughter simply does not understand the word “no” when it comes to something she wants. She will ask for a banana and I will say “no, you just had breakfast”. Her initial response is usually “what did you say Daddy?” I’ll repeat myself, saying “no” and she’ll repeat her request. My next move is to distract her by maybe picking her up/kissing her/twirling her. She enjoys it all, but she never loses focus and is constantly finding her way around that “no”. As soon as I put her down, her next statement is “Daddy, can I have a banana?” She’s resolute in what she wants and does not allow herself to take her eye’s off the prize.

I’ve noticed that both my son and daughter loves asking lots of questions in situations where they have a captivated audience. The car and dinner table are two of their favorites. The questions are usually so random that my initial response is to chuckle. After chuckling I have to answer or they will quickly remind me until I answer. After I answer, they digest it and move on with another random question. I’m reminded to keep asking questions...

7. Build strong friendships by making new shared experiences As adults, a lot of us are great at creating friendships, but we’re not so good at maintaining those relationships by creating new-shared experiences. I’m not exactly sure why this happens to so many of us, but we’re pretty bad when it comes to creating new-shared experiences. I know the reasons we give (kids, time, work, tired, busy, sick, etc). These are convenient truths, but the end result is that the relationship also conveniently becomes more about the distant past with very little to look forward to.

6. Know what you want and be a staunch negotiator We all have had the experience of wanting something, but not getting it due to our own lack of focus or the omnipresent “no.” A lot of our dissatisfaction in adulthood comes from us not becoming the person we want to be, be it relationships, careers, physically, etc. Much of this is the result of a combination of us losing focus of the goal and being told “no” by those that could assist us. After a few years of constantly hearing “no”, we adjust our baseline to either expect or accept “no”. Luckily most kids haven’t received the memo yet.

I’ve noticed a mark difference in the friendships of my children. It’s true, my son and his friends are young and so they don’t really have much of a past. What’s also true is the energy and life he exudes when he knows that he is about to go meet his friend at the park, pool, museum, etc. My son gets so excited that I get excited for him. He gets amped that he’s about to meet his friend, he is excited, laughing and talking about how much fun it’s going to be. They meet and they have a blast. The first thing he says on the way back home is “When are we going to do that again?”

Melanie Hughes www.wingtipsandloafers.tumblr.com 26 /

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www.iamthenublack.com

www.movingmountainsnyc.org

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WEEKEND WITH THE MONTGOMERY’S Photography / SARA FORREST

Sara Forrest

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Sara Forrest

KENNETH MONTGOMERY Attorney A natural trial attorney, Montgomery honed his advocacy and courtroom skills while serving as an assistant district attorney in the Gang/Rackets Bureau of the Brooklyn District Attorneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office from 1997-2002. After resigning from the District Attorneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office, Mr. Montgomery started Kenneth J. Montgomery PLLC. He also began his tenure as adjunct professor of law at Fordham University School of Law, where he currently teaches Trial Advocacy. www.kjmontgomerylaw.com SARA FORREST Photographer NYC based lifestyle photographer and director specializing in story-telling through image making. Sara is known for her bold use of color and her ability to capture the more carefree, subtle moments in life. She loves being part of the creative process and her work has helped companies translate their ideas into relatable, authentic campaigns. www.saraforrestphoto.com

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www.thebkcircus.com

The Brooklyn Circus / BKc story begins in 2006 in a quaint neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York with the aim to strengthen consumers’ appreciation for classic aesthetics and antique motifs whilst upholding the pillars of modern design within a hundred year plan. With time-tested values of classic American craftsmanship, a love for urban tradition, vintage sensibilities, and an endless search for the timeless silhouette, the empowerment and authenticity. Founded by graphic designer Ouigi Theodore and developed by an arsenal of visionaries fueled by a common purpose, this bustling junction of style and character is always an experience. Beyond embracing techniques of timeless craftsmanship and sophisticated simplicity, The BKc fosters creative relationships, providing a social sanctuary for open-minded forward-thinkers. Every cuff of trouser, roll of the sleeves, and peaking pocket square is connected to a greater story, as they’ve succeeded at tailoring not only cloth and fabric, but lifestyles. With flagships now in Chicago and San Francisco, The BKc’s inspirational clout has solidified its cult following which has grown exponentially and globally. THE BROOKLYN CIRCUS 150 Nevins St, Brooklyn, NY / www.thebkcircus.com

Patrick Spears

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www.morethanxy.com

STORY TIME

RAISING CHILDREN THAT OTHER PEOPLE LIKE TO BE AROUND Author / RICHARD E. GREENBERG

father of four, author Richard Greenberg knows a thing or two about the challenges of raising kids. After thirty years of family trials and triumphs, he provides an uncompromising, entertaining and sympathetic guide for parents in search of a peaceful home. In his new book, Raising Children that Other People Like to Be Around: Five Common Sense Musts from a Father’s Point of View, Greenberg is typically frank: “I don’t like poorly behaved children, and I believe that their behavior is the responsibility of their parents.” His straightforward, logical tips form an easy-to-follow guide that any parent will learn from. In the unpredictable world of kids and parenting, Greenberg’s advice is comforting, results-oriented and funny. The relatable book outlines Greenberg’s handy mnemonic called S.M.A.R.T.: Set an example, Make the rules, Apply the rules, Respect yourself, and Teach in all things.

guage and rationale necessary to navigate with their wives or partners toward a common destination – well-behaved and well-loved children. Raising Children that Other People Like to Be Around pulls from Greenberg’s own upbringing and family. While loving, his parents valued academic achievement over personal development and were insensitive to his own interests and talents. Greenberg encourages parents to analyze and discuss their own upbringing, and then apply the revelations – both pro and con – to their own parenting styles. He hopes these insights will contribute to greater communication and better attitudes.

Greenberg believes that mothers and fathers can discipline their children, while also helping them thrive as calm, respectful and independent young citizens. “Rules are the arms in which your children can embrace themselves,” he says. “When children are young, I don’t care how they ‘feel,’ I care how they behave. This doesn’t mean I am not sensitive to their feelings – it just means that I don’t care if they feel like going to bed or not.” Greenberg provides wives and mothers with an increased understanding of their distracted husband’s parenting habits. For husbands and fathers, he offers the lan-

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DESIGN

FREESTYLEE: ARTIST WITHOUT BORDERS Jamaican / Graphic Designer / Artist / Father Michael Thompson is a father, artist and creative activist on a mission. He is also known as Freestylee: Artist Without Borders. Michael is a Jamaican artist based in Pennsylvania in the United States. He has crafted a vision that could change the city of Kingston, Jamaica and reggae in a global aspect. Michael’s catalyst vision is an effort toward realizing the establishment of a Frank Gehry contemporary style Reggae Hall of Fame Museum on the island of Jamaica where he was born. Through his Freestylee reggae project and the International Reggae Poster Contest (IRPC) which he co-founded two years ago with Greek designer partner Maria Papaefstathiou, he is building an International platform to present this positive message. The contest now in its second year has collected over 2,000 poster submissions from more than 90 countries. The objective of Michael’s Freestylee reggae poster collection is to promote awareness for reggae and to celebrate Jamaica’s positive cultural impact on the world. His Freestylee posters emphasize “Social Design” as a powerful tool to achieve his goals - embracing positive ideas, messages, and outside the box solutions. His poster art are a constant reminder that art can help spark change. Michael uses his art effectively with social media to stimulate awareness globally; to engage conversation about the pressing / 49

issues affecting mankind; clean water crisis, war, poverty, migration, inequality, the environment and many more. His posters also capture the rich narratives and the legacy of heroic Jamaican black figures; Paul Bogle, Nanny, Marcus Garvey and reggae pioneers. He also uses his creative energy to spread awareness for the heritage of Alpha Boys’ School. Alpha is a vocation school in Kingston, Jamaica for at-risk boys, founded in 1890, by Sisters of Mercy nuns. The institution played a significant role in the development of Ska music because of the school’s very successful music program. As a result of Michael’s support for Alpha Boys School, the school now regularly offers access to visual arts education and arts workshops for boys in its care. The school has also established a new vocational training in screen printing, which was sparked when Michael and Maria Papaefstathiou visited the school and suggested the idea to the director. Michael’s work has been the subject of solo exhibitions internationally. Including the YAAM Cultural Center, Berlin, Germany (2011), Drum Arts Center, Birmingham, England (2012), Rototom Reggae University, (2012), recently at Keene Arts Gallery, Keene, New York (2013), he has also participated in exhibitions in Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, South Korea and this summer at the Allentown art Museum (2013) Allentown, Pennsylvania. At this time Michael’s posters on Haiti is traveling with the

Graphic Advocacy: International Posters for the Digital Age 2001-2012 project curated by Elizabeth Resnick. www.freestylee.net

Michael Thompsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s son, Dane Thompson, is also a graphic designer and urban artist, who now works at Mishka in New York City, dst87.bigcartel.com

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JOURNALENTRY 02 My old dad important to the family structure / A provider A God / My moms a queen, that universal team civalized us / My pops maybe was late but always came home / My moms would put us to bed and she would wait on / Soon as he walk in the door she barking / I turned down the Johnny Carson / Jumped out the bed / We grabbed both his legs / Me and my brother / Not knowing the pain he gave my mother / Night after night, fighting yelling at each other / My papa played the street all day / Mama was either home, at work, while we played inside the hall way / She sacrifices all she got to feed us / When she was alone she cried by the phone peeping out the window heated / But still I didn’t see it / Mama hid it from us / We was kids younger / Till we got bigger, on to / Bigger things that we knew what the time was / That daddy was leaving his crib and mom’s love

So many kids I knew, never knew what / Pop was / That’s why I show my pop love / He was still around when I fucked up / He could have left / My moms pregnant shock to death but stayed / Watch me crawl till I took my first step, to the first grade To my first fist fight / Right behind me he would stand / No matter how big or tall he made me fight you like a man / Throw dirt in your eye, swing my right scoop your ass and slam / He watched me so I wouldn’t get jumped by shorty’s fam / Roaches and weed all over my crib, him and mom’s relaxing / Next thing you know he packing, so then I asked him / What’s this white shit on that plate and your face and / Papa why you butt ass from the waist / And who’s this lady I’m facing / Dark skin you’re not my mommy / He grabbed me up to run some smooth words by me / Promise things that he would buy me / If I kept my mouth closed and don’t tell mommy / He said one day / I’ll understand little me / What’s in you is inside me

Pop’s told me hold my own / Pop’s told me value home / Could I help it papa was a rolling stone / Who loved the pretty brown round / Out of town bound / Trumpet in his jazz band, he touring / At home I play his latest recordings / And it’s strange now how, I do my thing now / I’m in the game now / Inherited his brainpower / To pull strings and gain power / From weed habits are same now / No white lines to trumpets to tight rhymes / And beats that be pumping / Before he left he taught me something / A child’s young years the most important time to be there / That’s why he stayed ‘til we grew up, respect is still here / I’m older now see what having a father’s about / One day they can be in your life, next day they be out / It’s not because of you, you know the deal / Him and your moms feel / If they stay together then someone will get killed / I love you still, always will / Cause that’s my nigga / Although you felt you was wrong / I still feel you kid / Life goes on Artist: Nas Song: Poppa Was a Playa Album: The Lost Tapes

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www.hcz.org

www.jalc.org

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PLACES TO GO

DELROY’S CAFE & WINE BAR

Delroy’s was opened in 2011 in Prospect Lefferts Gardens. Owner Michael Campbell, states that they are an understated and friendly locally owned cafe, with simple, fresh food. He invites you to stop by for a fontina cheese, spinach, and tomato panini paired with a glass of wine from 65 Fen, or pick up something made-to-order and take it to Prospect Park, which is mere minutes away.

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From the decor to their menu, Delroy’s keeps it simple and focused. Michael says, “We are happy to be a new addition to PLG’s expanding cuisine options. So come by for dinner and meet your neighbors, or pick up something on the way home from work. You will be glad you did.”

65 FEN WINE SHOP

65 Fen is the locally owned wine shop. They carry wines from all over the world focusing on small production and family owned wineries, which actually gives a better quality and a greater value.

PLG OUTPOST GOURMET PROVISIONS PLG Outpost is a gourmet provisions store located in Prospect Lefferts Gardens. It is a very cozy neighborhood shop located on the sunny corner of Fenimore street. PLG Outpost features the finest cheeses from the U.S. and around the globe. They also carry a selection of fine culinary products including Johnnie Ryan soda, artisan produced chocolate, specialty condiments, oils, vinegars, salads, and spreads.

Ask for...

WAYNIE’S WAFFLES » Saturday & Sunday / Twitter: @WayniesWaffles IG: waynieswickedwaffles

LOCATION

65A Fenimore St (between Bedford Ave & Flatbush Ave) Brooklyn, NY 11225 / www.delroy-s.com

Photo credit: Lester Alan (Dilated Vision)

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EDUCATION

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COOPERATIVE RESPONSIBILITY

Little Maroons is a cooperative space that functions on the contributions of all of the families that come through our doors. Believing that they all have gifts and resources to share and that a community is enhanced when you are able to do so. Little Maroons expect that each whole family will work on a committee even if every adult in the family cannot complete on-site work shifts. At least one representative from each family must be present at community meetings. Families rotate bringing snack for the children as indicated in the ‘Meals/Snacks’ section of their Family Handbook. Two families will also rotate administrative duties monthly.

LITTLE MAROONS Parent-supported childcare cooperative operating from a child-led, African-centered curriculum rooted in indigenous wisdom. Located in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. MISSION To offer families the quality childcare experience you deserve as well as provide and help build a network of families that are able to be a support system for each other while also directly contributing to the children’s education through work shifts and committee work. PHILOSOPHY In the spirit of the Maroon communities, the children and their families are encouraged to embody the principles of independence, self-determination and cooperation. Maroon communities (also known as Quilombos and Palenques) developed almost everywhere that enslaved Africans were brought in the Americas and the Caribbean. They were independent communities created by runaway Africans that had rebelled and/or escaped from their captors frequently within the first generation of their arrival from Africa.

There, they often preserved their African languages and many of their cultural traditions. Little Maroons encourages and embodies those principles as well as non-gender conformity, self-love, a love for African people and a love for learning. HISTORY Little Maroons was founded by a group of six activist families in 2005 that believed that their input is most important in their children’s lives, especially when attending school. The parents rotated on the school schedule as teachers, created lesson plans, balanced and distributed the finances and participated in a food-buying group. Little Maroons has grown and changed some since then to suit the needs of the families involved, but it remains a home-like environment for education, community and social empowerment for children.

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FILM

KILLER OF SHEEP Filmmaker / CHARLES BURNETT Killer of Sheep examines the black Los Angeles ghetto of Watts in the mid-1970s through the eyes of Stan, a sensitive dreamer who is growing detached and numb from the psychic toll of working at a slaughterhouse. Frustrated by money problems, he finds respite in moments of simple beauty: the warmth of a coffee cup against his cheek, slow dancing with his wife in the living room, holding his daughter. The film offers no solutions; it merely presents life — sometimes hauntingly bleak, sometimes filled with transcendent joy and gentle humor. Killer of Sheep was shot on location in Watts in a series of weekends on a budget of less than $10,000, most of which was grant money. Finished in 1977 and shown sporadically, its reputation grew and grew until it won a prize at the 1981 Berlin International Film Festival. Since then, the Library of Congress has declared it a national treasure as one of the first fifty on the National Film Registry and the National Society of Film Critics selected it as one of the “100 Essential Films” of all time. However, due to the expense of the music rights, the film was never shown theatrically or made available on video. It has only been seen on poor quality 16mm prints at few and far between museum and festival showings. www.killerofsheep.com

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MUSIC

GIL SCOTT-HERON: PIECES OF A MAN / DAVID BECKMAN When Richard Nixon became president in 1968, the country was ripping itself apart culturally, politically, racially and generationally. Every aspect of American society was under transformation; the rules and relationships were being rewritten. So with the nation in chaos, Nixon turned his attention abroad and left domestic issues to his administration. Seeking to disempower and discredit the two most politically active, outspoken groups of Americans – blacks and young people – Nixon’s ambitious aides stepped up the criminalization of drugs, turning the law and its enforcers violently against the winds of change. There was one drug, however, that escaped attack: television, opiate of the masses. As the Sixties became the Seventies, the hippie flower wilted, and poverty, racism, violence, and drug addiction were institutionalized, millions of Americans plugged into the alpha beam of primetime TV and drifted off, high as a lost balloon, untethered from reality.

thoroughly wicked groove of bassist Ron Carter, drummer Pretty Purdie and flutist Hubert Laws, Scott-Heron opens his emotional testament Pieces of a Man by declaring that social change could never come from watching television, that, in essence, “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.” Tough answers to real, neighborhood problems will not be found on unreal TV shows!

While the government may have overlooked this debilitating drug, a New York City writer and street poet named Gil ScottHeron blew the whistle in 1971. Over the urgent,

“Women will not care if Dick finally got down with Jane on ‘Search for Tomorrow’ because black people will be in the street, looking for a brighter day.”

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“The revolution will not show you pictures of Nixon blowing a bugle and leading a charge by John Mitchell, General Abrams and Spiro Agnew to eat hogmoss confiscated from a Harlem sanctuary” Gil explains in his distinctive deep rasp, the voice of a black man, of an inner-city black man with knowledge and history and love in his heart.

This entire recording rises above because it expresses legitimate hope and compassion as well as anger and despair. Gently grooving tunes “Save the Children” and “I Think I’ll Call It Morning” could only be sung with such sincerity and tenderness by a truly political artist fueled by his convictions. Gil is a junkie on “Home Is Where the Hatred Is,” fighting to “kick it, quit it, kick it, quit it” as Burt Jones‘ electric guitar punishes him with pleasure, while on “Lady Day and John Coltrane” he is the doctor, prescribing a double dose of aching soul and ascendant jazz to heal your troubled soul.

Release date: 1971 Artist: Gil Scott-Heron Label: Flying Dutchma

If TV is a drug, then music is the medicine. Hubert Laws spins sweetness with his flute and his saxophone. Bassist Ron Carter takes a break from his brilliant session play at CTI to anchor Gil’s groove. Pieces of a Man is poignant, potent music – tight, propulsive jazz-funk bringing vividly to life the visions and confessions of a poet observing his country destroy and rebuild itself all at once.

Gil Scott-Heron – vocals Johnny Pate – conductor Brian Jackson – piano, electric piano Ron Carter – bass, electric bass Pretty Purdie – drums Burt Jones – electric guitar Hubert Laws – flute, saxophone

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The Revolution Will Not Be Televised Save The Children Lady Day and John Coltrane Home Is Where The Hatred Is When You Are Who You Are I Think I’ll Call It Morning Pieces of a Man A Sign of the Ages Or Down You Fall The Needle’s Eye The Prisoner

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STYLE

COLTRANE CURTIS & SON Photography / DAVID ENGELHARDT The charismatic and distinctive persona of Coltrane Curtis with his immaculately groomed dreadlocks rarely goes unnoticed. Often spotted sporting a bow tie matched with a baseball cap, his personal vintage aesthetic is influenced by iconic Jazz legends. Sharing his name with one of America’s great musicians, he has always had a lot to live up to. Best known for his role as an MTV television personality, this business savvy gentleman’s successes lie however, within the world of future marketing. Head honcho of the marketing empire, Team Epiphany, Coltrane works closely with universal brands such as Moet, WSJ, Heineken and Nike selling intelligently crafted communication ideas that align with contemporary social trends. But it wasn’t always this way. Building the company from the ground up involved hard work and encouragement. Influenced by a range of mentors during his career, he credits his father for almost everything and now takes on this role for another generation of budding new ambitious individuals. This [father] thinks there is nothing more cool than putting family first and hopes that his son Ellington will have the same opportunities he was afforded. RACHAEL WATTS www.teamepiphany.com www.freundevonfreunden.com

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VISIONARY

CHARLES SEARLES / 1937-2005

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Charles Searles was born in Philadelphia to Charles senior and Catherine Searles (formerly Catherine Hall). He was the second of 8 children – Phyllis, (Charles), Barbara, Frances, Rose, Catherine, Elizabeth and only brother, Derrick. Charles Searles was always an artist. He never considered being anything else. He got his first watercolor set at age four and always preferred drawing and painting over other childhood games. His mother was encouraging and supported his creativity, making sure art supplies were abundant. He was popular in grade school: the kid that could draw anything, design and sew clothes, make flip books, build scooters. He went to Salsburger High School, where his counselor tried to steer him away from art and toward shop class. Although he could easily do the work, his interest never swayed, and he looked outside school for more art classes. He attended Saturday classes at the Fleisher Art Memorial. Charles worked with his father doing carpentry, construction and building renovation. He learned quickly and became a skilled craftsman and house painter. He continued to build these skills and renovated several of his own homes and studios throughout his life, taking a space that needed work and turning it into a beautiful living or working space. At a young age, Charles found himself a father to be. He married Mary McDaniels and joined the armed service to provide for his family. He returned home to raise two children, his daughter, Vanessa and his step son, Gregory. He continued to work, raise a family and pursue art. His youngest child, Charmaine, was born in 1958. Around this time, Charles en/ 75

tered the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art. Here his talent truly began to flourish in an atmosphere of serious artistic dedication and among masters, teachers and works of art. His work embraced the tumultuous 60’s and also reflected as his own family life and his surroundings. Searles also attended the University of Pennsylvania for liberal arts. He worked in the lab with noted scientists and engineers and sharpened his drafting skills illustrating their technical information for books still used by students and professors today. By the late 60’s, Charles lost his youngest child to a rare form of cancer. This took a toll on his whole family. Some of his paintings from that time reflect dark; his turmoil. He continued to paint and work through his struggle. His powerful work was gaining recognition. Before graduating the Academy, Charles received the Cresson Memorial traveling Scholarship. He traveled to Europe and met a new friend, David Wright, in Amsterdam. They remained solid friends all his life. The following year, Charles received the Ware memorial Traveling Scholarship and was the first student to use these funds to travel to Africa. He paired up with David, landed in Luxembourg, bought a van and headed first to northern Africa. David recalls” Charles was determined to make it to Nigeria. He said he felt a strong calling and related to it as the “Homeland”. We were told we would never make it across the Sahara in our VW bus. We drove back to Casa Blanca, he flew to Lagos and I remained in Morocco. Nigeria was like a piece of a puzzle that completed his soul.” His travels in Africa marked his life and work forever – the life, the rhythms, the patterns, the energy.

When Searles returned to Philadelphia, he began teaching at the Ile Ife Cultural Center. His African influence was enthusiastically received and was evident in his teaching drawing and painting. He also began to seriously pursue his other talent – percussion. He played all types of percussion instruments and seemed to be able to pick up anything and just know how to make it sound good. His favorite was congas, which he continued to play throughout his life. Music and rhythm were always an integral part of his painting and sculpture. It was during his time at Ile Ife that he began his “Dancer” Series. This series marked a change in his life, celebrating his new sense of renewal and the African experience. The African influence, coupled with percussion and movement were clear in all his paintings and his work was getting more recognition. He was awarded his first mural commission at the William G. Green Federal Building in Philadelphia. The mural, entitled “Celebration” is still on view today. At this time, Charles was also hired as a drawing teacher at (then) Philadelphia College of Art. He remained a professor with PCA for over twenty years. All the while, Searles had his eye on New York. He frequently visited NYC and periodically packed up the family to participate in the Village Art Show, then a serious outdoor exhibition featuring artists from New York and around the country. He made plans to eventually move to New York, meeting many new artists, enjoying the energy of the City. Back home in West Philadelphia, his daughter, Vanessa recalls being surrounded by people from all cultures and all parts of the world. Their house had a constant influx of visitors, artists and musicians, among them Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makebah. Vanessa attributes her MSW degree due, in part, to growing up open to such diversity. In 1978 Charles moved to New York City. He found a large, raw space, an old sewing factory, on Broadway and Bleeker, and made it his own. Once again, his ability to renovate space came into play. He remained there the rest of his life. At the time, the neighborhood was less than desirable, unlike the bustling shopping mecca it is today. His neighborhood grew, his work grew and his connections with other artists grew. He continued to commute to Philadelphia teaching part time. He met Kathleen Spicer, an art student, in 1983. They married in 1985. Together they shared a wonderful, open, artistic, social and creative experience. Their New Years Day party each year was legendary! Charles moved away from painting and into sculpture. His sculptures were like paintings that grew out into space. The new sculptures maintained the vibrant color and patterns from his paintings but seemed to dance in three dimensions. These new works embodied a live sense of rhythm and energy – trademarks that he maintained throughout his career, whether in wood, bronze or aluminum.

Over the years, Charles participated in over 60 group show and 25 solo exhibitions. His work has been shown nationally and internationally. He maintained a connection to Philadelphia and showed with Sande Webster for over 20 years. More than a gallery owner, Sande was a good friend. Says Sande, “Charles Searles was a visionary whose artistic integrity and creative spirit inspired all who knew him. From the minute “Mr. Searles” and I met more than twenty five years ago, his voice informed my actions with regard to racism and the implicit important of the artist in the artist/gallery relationship. It will continue to do so.” Searles’ travels included France, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Denmark, Spain, Morocco, Nigeria, Ghana, Japan, Korea, Mexico and Cuba. His works are included in numerous collections, among them, the Smithsonian Institution, the Dallas, Montclair, Afro-American, Philadelphia and Charlottenborg (Denmark) Museums. He is also included in public and private collections too numerous to detail. Among the Public Art commissions he was awarded, are most recently, five aluminum sculptures for the Delaware River Port Authority, five interior bronze sculptures for the NYC Mass Transit Authority, an exterior bronze for the First District Plaza in Philadelphia, and a painted aluminum relief for Amtrack’s Newark New Jersey Station. Among the many awards Charles received are the Pollock – Krasner Foundation Award, The Adolph and Esther Gottleib Foundation, the Creative Arts Project (CAPS) Fellowship and the National Endowment for the Arts. Despite all his accolades, Charles remained modest and open. He was quick to embrace new people and ideas. He constantly strived to try new concepts and materials. His own statement reflects his genuine graciousness - “My work is abstract, painted wood or aluminum sculptures that have a strong sense of life: faces, figures or animals. My sculptures are very animated and have a feeling of music and dance. It is often said that my work has a strong multicultural feeling and connects especially well with people of color – Caribbean, African, Hispanics, Indian and Asian. All people have a kinship with my work. Each piece is positive, energetic and is an affirmation or celebration of life. The language is clear and universal.” His wife of 23 years, Kathleen Spicer adds “Charles was his work and his work was him. Inseparable. Our lives were all about art. We lived each day as if it was a gift. To me, he was enchanted. His vision was clear – he could envision something and make it come to life as easy as breathing. Genius. He was never negative. Every one that ever met Charles loved him. Even people that never met him loved him through his work. He was always kind, gracious, generous and dignified and never placed himself above other people. I am blessed to have so many wonderful memories. Our life together was a beautiful adventure. Charles made the world a better place.” KATHLEEN SPICER

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Source Âť Kathleen Spicer www.kathleenspicer.com

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Michael Martin

Name: Conrad Yeates Age: 55 From: Guyana, South America Trade: Counselor Children: 1

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When did you come to America? April 19th, 1977 Why did you come to America? I was 17 years old when I moved to America. I came to America, because my family came to America, I came to get an education that was the main purpose. With an education you can go places and make something of yourself, so I focused furthering my education. I received my GED while I enrolled in the U.S. Army in 1978. I was 18 years old. I did basic training in Fortnox, Kentucky and then I did my A.I.P. (Advance Individual Training) at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, stationed to Fort Carson, Colarado, where I spent a year then I was transferred to Germany in 1981. What was your first job in America? I worked at a factory, but not for long, just a couple months, like two months or so. Because I actually went to England before I enrolled into the Army. I stayed in England for six months with my father, but we couldn’t get along and that made it a short stay, what’s funny is that I came with a oneway ticket, I was questioned on why I was coming into England with just a one-way ticket, they asked if I was trying to stay [laughs]. How was Army life for a black man from Guyana? It was interesting, new, getting to know the people and the culture, but I groove in and got accustomed to the way of living, I made myself comfortable. Where were you when you heard you were having a child? I was home and that’s when my son’s mother and I got involved, she became pregnant and then I went back into the service to prepare myself to be a father. “It’s A Boy”? Hearing that was a good feeling, to have your own son was my dream. I felt like my world was about to be a brand new start. I had no fears; the military taught me discipline. How old were you when you had your son? I was twenty-three years old. What was your relationship with your father like? I had no relationship with my father, Allen Richard Yeates. He passed October 27th, 2013. Being without a father, did that affect the relationship with your son? Well not having my father is the reason why I wanted my son to be with me, but it didn’t work out that way.

Why didn’t it work out that way? Well my son’s mother visited me in Germany while pregnant with our son, his mother later went to England and then I got the call that the baby was coming, I came into England from Germany to see the delivery, but shortly after my son’s mother disappeared and never came back. I went back to Germany by myself and that was hard. I was devastated; this situation drove me to Alcohol. How did you get through it? It took a long time, it took years and I didn’t trust women. What life lesson has your son taught you? Well my son and I wouldn’t communicate that much, we weren’t that close, but at the late end we tried to get close. One life lesson would have to be Patience, because to get to know him you had to have patience [laughs]. With the time that we were separated, I couldn’t just rush back into his life, so I had to have patience. When did you see your son again? When I came back to America, he was almost two years old. I use to pick him up for the weekend. What was your son’s dream? His dream was to be a basketball player, to play in the NBA. I noticed this dream when he was twelve/thirteen. When I went to Brooklyn, I seen him playing with big guys and I was like, yea he got it. We also played one on one sometimes, we got close on the court. What were some of your conversations on and off the court? I use to talk to him about getting a career, I use to suggest going to the military, but he didn’t go for that[pause]. We were now getting to know each other. How old was he when you were getting to know each other? He was twenty-four/twenty-five at the time. What’s one thing you would have shared with your son today? I love him. What does this love from a father mean? A father’s love is supporting your child’s dream, wanting to see your child do the best and succeed in life. I wanted my son’s dream to become a reality. Do you think your son loved you? I don’t know, because he never told me that, I think he was more checking, coming slowly, but I think he loved me, because his girlfriend and his friends say that he talked about me, but he never showed me that love[laughs].

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Michael Martin

One Love My Son DUSTIN YEATES January 14th, 1982 – May 27th, 2013

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Name: Lonnie Kearse Age: 47 From: Brooklyn, NY Trade: Professional Barber Years: 10 (# yrs in prison) Children: 10 / 83

Michael Martin

Who did you correspond with the most while you were incarcerated? My Mother and my Brother. While away from your family how did you remain stronger? Just knowing that at the end of my journey, I would be a better person and not come back to prison. What is your desire in this life? To correct all my wrongs, to educate the young and old about making better decisions, it can impact your entire life to become very successful. What things would you adjust in your past life? I would have adjusted my attitude and would have listened more to my mother. What type of man are you; values, ethics, discipline? When I used to sling crack I developed a strong work ethic, the hustle followed me, it’s in my veins. Whatever I do I go all out, now I’m a Professional Barber, I carry it like I’m hustling. For once in my life I’m not destroying the hood, I’m uplifting many people.

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One of the main reasons that I stay so motivated is by being successful without pushing poison and I feel good about that. I’m very discipline in life now more than ever. I don’t commit any crimes at all and I’ve been through so much that being discipline comes naturally. What would be your last words to your children? I would tell my children that I know you have formed your opinion about me and you might not understand me, but one thing I will not do is give up trying to be a good father, I love you all! Levels Barbershop www.levelsbarbershop.com

Michael Martin

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OUR FATHERS

forFATHERS project celebrates the importance of fatherhood through photography, film and all other creative-artistic mediums. This project attracts a demographic of active fathers, young professionals, stay at home dads and all men around the world looking for daily inspiration through images which are used as a visual aid. 4FATHERS Photo Journal is an extension of forFATHERS project, which uses a traditional approach with its usage of photographs and words. Each Issue covers a selection of fathers with amazing stories, whom we think are doing amazing things as parents. With a unique mix of interviews/conversations and photo essays, 4FATHERS ultimate goal is to provide todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father an opportunity to share his experiences on fatherhood.

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Photography Credit: Vincent Lee87-88 / Dahmein McFadden89 / Andy Nanton90 / web4camguy91-92

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CONTRIBUTE / SHARE

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR? Do you have a unique perspective as a father? If you are interested in providing your perspective as a father, we welcome submissions of photography, poetry, and articles that relates to fatherhood. Book reviews are also desired â&#x20AC;&#x201D; short descriptions of particular book. HOW TO SUBMIT MATERIAL? Simply email us the piece you would like published. In addition, please provide us with some background information about yourself. Submit written articles in MS Word format. Copyright Please do not resend materials published elsewhere. However, if you do have an article on a blog that you think is of particular interest to our audience, please do send us a link. Lastly keep in mind that if you do send us material and we publish it, you are granting us a non-exclusive right to maintain your piece. info@4fathersjournal.com www.4fathersjournal.com