October 2012

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October, 2012

The Men of The Tenth Inc. Teaching the Truth to the Youth

Know Your Worth By: LaVon Williams

On September 8, 2012, Phil Knight founder and chairman of Nike was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Knight is one of the few individuals to be inducted in the Basketball Hall of Fame without playing the sport. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame for what his shoe company did for the game of basketball and business. However, Knight’s contribution may not have happened if it were not for two people. These two people are Michael Jordan and John Thompson. During Knight’s Hall of Fame induction he recognized that he would not have excelled in the shoe industry without the help of Jordan and Thompson.

Therefore, he asked for both of these men to introduce him into the hall.

What is amazing about these three men collaborating in business is that it resulted in Knight becoming one the richest men in the world. According to Forbes, Knight’s net worth is about 14.4 billion dollars. Currently, his company Nike owns 95% of the market share in basketball shoes. On the other hand, it is unfortunate that the

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The Men of the Tenth Inc.

October 2012

Dr. James Derham James Derham was the first, famous Black doctor in the United States.

He became a doctor by practicing and studying under other doctors. In those days, this was common. These doctors were called practitioners.

On May 1, 1762, James was born a slave in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

His first master is not known, but all of his old masters were doctors.

They taught him the skills needed to care for the sick. The first was Dr. James Kearsley, Jr. He was a Philadelphia doctor who was know for healing sore throats. He taught Derham how to mix medicines and treat patients.

When Dr. Kearsley died, James was bought by an English Army surgeon, Dr. George West. James learned even more from Dr. West.

Next James was bought by Dr. Robert Dove, a Scottish doctor from New Orleans, Louisiana. By this time, James Derham had learned a lot about medicine. Dr. Dove thought that James was such a good doctor that he allowed him to buy his own freedom. He also helped him get set up as a doctor in New Orleans. Derham treated patients of all races.

His yearly income of $3,000 was considered a very large salary at the time.

During this time, Derham got married. Then he and his wife made a trip

The B Network

Brothers bop & pop and be-­‐bop in cities locked up and chained insane by crack and other acts of desperation computerized in pentagon cellars producing boppin brothers boastin of being better, best & beautiful

if the boppin brothers are beautiful where are the sisters who seek brotherman with a drugless head unbossed or beaten by the bodacious West?

in a time of big wind being blown by boastful brothers, will other brothers beat back backwardness to better & best without braggart bosses beatin butts, takin names and digging graves?

(Excerpt from Black Men Obsolete, Single, Dangerous?)

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The Men of the Tenth Inc.

October 2012

Continued from page 1 other two individuals that helped Knight attain such a high net worth could not do the same for themselves. For instance, Michael Jordan who is know to be the best basketball player of all-­‐time, has the most valuable sneaker, over twenty years of experience in professional basketball, and majority ownership of a professional basketball team; is not a billionaire.

In addition, John Thompson one of the best coaches in college basketball history is also not a billionaire. Knight did not only uses these two individuals to attain his wealth; during Knight’s acceptance speech he ran through some of the company’s biggest advertising campaigns: George Gervin sitting on the throne of ice; Spike Lee’s “It’s got to be the shoes” commercials with Michael Jordan; Mr. Robinson’s Neighborhood; Li’l Penny Hardaway and Barkley’s “I am not a role model.” Knight’s acceptance speech was also astonishing because he only refers to using black men to help him achieve his wealth and fame.

Moreover, Knight’s speech and induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame connects to one of the messages William Rhoden wrote in his book Forty Million Dollar Slave. In his book, Rhoden suggests that often times white people and companies “exploit black muscle and talent, thus sucking the life out of black institutions [companies], while at the same time giving themselves credit for being humanitarians.” Rhoden’s message affirms that too often black people’s talents are taken advantage of under the notation of “operating a business for gaining profits.” This type of exploitation is no longer acceptable because history has already proven that black people have compromised too much to gain equality.

Therefore, the solution to the problem is simply; black people must know that there is no number that can identify their true net worth. When in business, we need to make sure we are getting our fair share in every deal. We need to make sure our business deals result in win-­‐win situations. If not, we will continue to make our partners billionaires while we remain millionaires.

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The Men of the Tenth Inc.

October 2012

Continued from page 2 north to Philadelphia to be baptized. There Derham met Dr. Benjamin Rush, a famous American doctor at that time. Rush had the opportunity to watch Derham in practice and to see his skills. He thought that Derham was a very good doctor. Rush also liked Derham’s ability to speak French and Spanish.

The two doctors admired each other. Dr. Rush even wrote a letter to the Pennsylvania Abolitionist Society telling them how good a doctor Derham was. Rush thought he could suggest some new things in medicine to Derham, but Derham suggested even more to him.

When Derham returned to New Orleans, he wrote a paper, An Account of the Putrid Sore Throat at New Orleans. In it, Derham wrote about sore throats in the hot and humid weather of New Orleans. Dr. Rush read the paper before the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Derham then became known as a national medical expert on the connection between disease and weather conditions.

A yellow fever epidemic hit New Orleans in 1796. Dr. Derham was called in to help. He gave his patients his homemade mixture of “garden sorrel and sugar.” More of his patients lived than those who went to other doctors. At first, the New Orleans City Council wanted to prevent Derham from practicing medicine. They wanted all doctors to have a license and a medical degree. But because Derham was so well-­‐know and skilled, they were forced to ignore this ruling and allow him to continue his practice.

Until his death, between 1802 and 1805, Dr. James Derham continued to make meaningful medical contributions. And, until he himself died in 1813, Dr. Rush continued to sing the praises of Derham to other doctors.

Reprinted from A Gift of Heritage Historic Black First, Volume 7.

Hip-­‐Hop Quote of the Month Corners leave souls opened & closed hoping for more With nowhere to go rolling in droves They shoot the wrong way cause they ain't knowing they goal The streets ain't safe cause they ain't knowing he code By the fours I was told either focus or fold Got cousins with flows hope they open some doors So we can cop clothes & roll in a Rolls Now I roll in a "Olds" with windows that don't roll Down the roads where cars get broke in & stole These are the stories told by Stony & Cottage Grove The world is cold the block is hot as a stove On the corners Common from The Corner

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The Men of the Tenth Inc.

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Face Your Difficulties Like Men You black men, you Negro men, you coloured men and women whatsoever may be your surrounding difficulties bow not down before them, but face them, because when you summon your soul to duty, you can rise with the sun, and become one of God’s elected children.

(Excerpt from Marcus Garvey Life and Lessons)

The Men of the Tenth Inc. 750 Faile Ave, Suite 2E Bronx, New York 10474 www.themenofthetenth.org