age we need to correct a lot of things that are going on in the male community. A great number of our young black men face so many issues and problems; and no one has been there to support them and tell them that they can do it. “Big Mama And Her Prayer Closet” came from a place of hurt and pain. I didn’t really get the full experience of having a grandmother on either side. I had a grandmother on my dad’s side but I didn’t have a relationship with her. So I didn’t get to experience that. Now I do remember my great-grandmother. I didn’t have a big mamma but I do have a mother. What gave me the inspiration behind that is I wrote a poem a few years ago called “On Bending Knees” and it was about praying. Not praying in the bed or the car I mean getting on your knees like there’s nothing else that you can do. In the beginning of the pandemic, I was scared like everyone else and right when it started getting rough a really good friend of mine died from Covid. We were close she was like a grandmother to me. When she passed away, I didn’t know how I was going to make it. After that, I knew that I had to prune up my religion and how I deal with God. I’m a Christian, but I just didn’t put in the effort or the work. So, I felt like I needed a place to talk to God. You can talk to God anywhere, but it is good to have a secluded place to talk to God.
Doctoral Graduates
Continued on Page 18 Dr. King Solomon Dawson and his daughter Dr. Kema Danielle Dawson-Robinson have completed the Doctoral Program with distinction at the Andersonville Theological Seminary receiving their Doctorate of Ministry in Biblical Exposition. They both finished with GPA of over 3.8 Pastor Dawson always wanted to have a well-rounded education in his profession and decided to pursue it a little further and with a little encouragement, his daughter joined him. Dr. King Solomon Dawson is a long-time member of the New Light Baptist Church in Monroe, LA and pastors New Macedonia BC in Gilbert, LA as well as Augusta BC in Winnsboro, LA. Dr. Kema Dawson-Robinson is the Executive Director of the Ouachita Multi-Purpose Community Action program, a member of the Monroe City Council, District 5 and a member of the First Missionary Baptist Church in Monroe, LA.
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