Activism

Giving Back, While Giving Thanks

Formerly Incarcerated Giving Back (FIGB) wants everyone to truly embrace the concept of giving back year-round to those in need, which could help to alleviate homelessness, joblessness, poverty, hunger, healthcare and many of the ills that have befallen our community in every conceivable way.

Published

2 years ago

November 20, 2022

Oakland Post

Caption: FIGB co-founder and Post columnist Richard Johnson with Stanley Cox, aka, Mistah FAB.

Mistah FAB Collaborates With FIGB, AASEG and Post to Help Needy

By Richard Johnson

Every year the season of giving is highlighted by the acts of those who desire to give to those who are less fortunate.

We should salute and embrace those givers!

One such person is Stanley Cox, better known as Mistah FAB, who has been giving to the community for more than 18 years. He has demonstrated a remarkable spirit of thanks, gratitude, and humility in all of his various forms of giving back to his community.

This year, the Formerly Incarcerated Giving Back (FIGB) organization, in partnership with the African American Sports Entertainment Group (AASEG) and the Post News Group, will volunteer in collaboration with Mistah FAB by distributing a variety of items — from turkeys and other food items to coats, gloves, blankets, boots, umbrellas, hats and more to the needy.

The upcoming event is Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. at 4506 Market Street, Oakland, CA. All items are Free! As stated by Mr. Fab, a hot meal will be prepared on the spot for homeless individuals. We look forward to your attendance.

FIGB considers this opportunity to serve, especially needy families with children, both a pleasure and an honor.

The gifts we give are confirmation of what’s in our hearts.

FIGB wants everyone to truly embrace the concept of giving back year-round to those in need, which could help to alleviate homelessness, joblessness, poverty, hunger, healthcare and many of the ills that have befallen our community in every conceivable way.

Giving back is our way of saying that we are truly our brother’s keepers. When each one of us reaches others through selfless actions we will set a positive example for others to emulate.

At times, as a society, we fail to realize that life always has its ups and down, yet through the graciousness of God we overcome a lot.

In recent years, however, it appears that society has allowed the failures to overtake the successes, causing too many to lose hope and faith and replace it with selfishness, greed and disregard for their fellow human beings.

Look around you and see what I see; the pain, hurt and despair is what we have allowed ourselves to become and to exist in. People of wealth and means can be at the forefront of giving if they truly desired.

It should never be a question of “should I,” or “shouldn’t I?” It should always be “how can I help?” It should always be how can I help change suffering and poverty into stability, joy, and appreciation for life?

Whether we accept it or not, we are an extension of one another.

We need more people like Mistah FAB who truly understands what it takes for us to believe, trust and have faith that through a sense of giving we can change the trajectory of defeat.

One does not have to be wealthy to give. The only criteria are that you give wherever you can to help others. Everything will fall in place and take shape for the betterment of all.

Oakland Post

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Activism

The Best Advice for Raising Children: Discipline That Makes Sense

In his book Developing Positive Self Images and Discipline in Black Children, Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu suggests that primary aims for socializing Black children should be: establishing goals related to God and the church; familiarizing children with religious texts like the Bible or Quran; educating them of Black culture like Khemetic (Egyptian) Civilization; enlightening them about Black leaders like Malcolm X and Sojourner Truth; and teaching them to strive to be employers, not employees.

Published

1 day ago

May 13, 2025

Oakland Post

Headshot of Dr. William A. Thomas. Photo courtesy of Dr. William A. Thomas.

By William A. Thomas, Ph.D.

In many African societies, the primary aim of socialization is to raise children to be socially responsible and eventually provide economic support to their parents and extended families. Ghanaian philosopher Kwame Gyekye taught that children are raised to be respectful of the wishes of their parents and extended adult family members.

In his book Developing Positive Self Images and Discipline in Black Children, Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu suggests that primary aims for socializing Black children should be: establishing goals related to God and the church; familiarizing children with religious texts like the Bible or Quran; educating them of Black culture like Khemetic (Egyptian) Civilization; enlightening them about Black leaders like Malcolm X and Sojourner Truth; and teaching them to strive to be employers, not employees.

Effective disciplinary strategies appropriate to a child’s age and development teach them to regulate their behavior; keep them from harm; enhance their cognitive, social, and emotional executive functioning skills; and reinforce the behavioral patterns taught by their parents and caregivers.

Below are some specific guidelines for disciplining children.

Listen to what children are talking about with interest and show them you understand their feelings. Remember, children mirror and learn about their emotional selves by hearing their feelings reflected back to them. Staying on target also means avoiding labels. When children fail to do what is expected, discussing it is helpful rather than saying how stubborn, lazy, dumb, or bad they are. By the same token, more positive labels can be helpful.

Dependability is another essential component of the discipline process. When parents are dependable, their children learn what to expect and are helped to feel secure. When parents are consistent, children learn to trust, that is, predict their parents’ behaviors with certainty. A child thinks, “When I spill something, I will always be asked to wipe it up.” A child thinks, “If I use foul language, I will always be corrected.” A child thinks, “If I take something that doesn’t belong to me, I will always have to give it back.” The ability to predict with certainty leads children to rely on their parents and the village/community in which they live. Children feel safe when they know what to expect.

Conclusions

It takes a village/community to raise the divine gift that is the Black child. Parents look to therapists for guidance concerning a variety of parenting issues, including discipline. Keep in mind that evidence suggests that corporal punishment is both ineffective in the long term and associated with cognitive and mental health disorders. When parents want guidance about the use of spanking, a child therapist can explore parental feelings, help them better define the goals of discipline, and offer specific behavior management strategies. In addition to providing appropriate education to families, the Bay Area Association of Black Psychologists (Bay ABPsi) can refer them to community resources, like parenting groups and classes.

About the Author

Dr. Thomas is a licensed clinical psychologist with a private practice in the SF/Oakland Bay Area and Beaumont. He is a member of Bay ABPsi, a healing resource committed to providing the Post Newspaper readership with monthly discussions about critical issues in Black Mental Health. Readers are welcome to join us at our monthly chapter meetings every 3^rd Saturday via Zoom and contact us at bayareaabpsi@gmail.com.