| Connect with Will |
| Q&A With Will Saunders |
| What do you consider to be cheating in your Relationship? |
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"I think this varies from one relationship to another, or at least it CAN vary from one to the next. Cheating should be defined by the two people in the relationship. For me, being unfaithful is all about betraying the bond you have with your significant other. It can be physical, financial, emotional, or any possible way one can envision. Putting yourself in a position that gives the appearance that you’re cheating, even if you’re not actually cheating makes you just as guilty --- just as if you had actually done something inappropriate. Both parties in the relationship need to have the same understanding of what constitutes cheating, and this is a dialogue that needs to happen during the early stages of dating. " Interviewed by Craig Coleman 07/27/12 |
| what do we do to improve our conditions? |
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"There are probably a thousand answers to this. To improve our conditions, I think one of the most important things we can do is be mindful of who we keep close to us. It’s very easy for people in our inner circle to influence out attitudes, behaviors, and our direction in life. This is true not just for very wet, impressionable children. Even adults can be influenced by others, both positively and negatively. So consequently, it’s very crucial that we are aware of how people around us are influencing us. Even if people do not actively influence us, reputation can impact us if the people around us draw in a lot of negative energy. I’ve seen this in the workplace. People are passed over for promotion because of their involvement in cliques. It’s good to have interactions with coworkers. But some people forget why they are at work. It’s not to make friends. I’ve seen some good people allow workplace associates destroy their reputations. So, we all need to routinely evaluate who we call friend. If it’s not mutually beneficial, then maybe we need to spend less time with some people. " Interviewed by Amunshepsut Re 02/27/12 |
| What place does Computer Science have in K-12 education? |
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"Computer Science has an integral place in K-12 education. I remember studying a man by the name of John Henry Martin who created a program called “Writing to Read” back in the late 1970s. He established a computer program, partnering with IBM, which used general computer science education to deliver the instruction to children. He believed that educators should be using the computer to teach kids to read by first teaching them to write. I think that these days, we do kids a disservice by not exposing them to technology, computer science, instructional delivery using computer science principles, etc. I think this is essential. " Interviewed by Steve Williams 03/07/11 |
| What things can we do on HBCUConnect to make it a better site? |
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"I think more can be done to let people know this site exists. Not enough is done to market it. That's one thing I believe can be done differently. " Interviewed by Reginald Culpepper 09/25/09 |
| Win or Defeat? |
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"WIN WIN WIN all the way!" Interviewed by Alvin Green 09/11/09 |
| WHAT WILL THEY SAY ABOUT YOU WHEN YOU LEAVE THIS PLACE? "MANY OF US DONT REALIZE THE CHOICES WE MAKE TODAY WILL BE APART OF THE LEGACY WE LEAVE BEHIND |
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I try hard to live my life so that I set good examples. I want people to look at me and see that I live my life with honor and do not make decisions based on what I think people will or will not like. That’s what I think is the biggest mistake people make: worrying about what people think of them. I think it’s better to live with integrity and always do the right thing. That's what I want to leave once I'm gone: the image of always doing what's right and making the right choices regardless of what people think.
" Interviewed by Alonzo Brown 09/11/09 |
| what will you do to keep a friendship |
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"A friendship is important, as meeting good people helps us to grow as individuals. So, I think it is important to keep reaching out to each other and showing love and support and being honest and genuine at all times. That’s what makes the best friendships. " Interviewed by asore oba sopein 09/01/09 |
| When will we as people black, white or other be able to get past our differences and come together? |
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"Man, that’s a deep question. I think people will only get past it when they realize that we all need each other. Regardless of race and ethnicity, and no matter whether I have more money than you do, deep inside we all are the same and have the same needs and passions and we need to learn to embrace our brothers and sisters. Men and women need to learn to reach out to one another and show compassion and learn to say “I love you” without feeling like they are vulnerable. Once we can all see life this way, then we can come together and live in peace and joy around each other." Interviewed by Keenan Guiden 08/24/09 |
| What is the one thing that would most help to create social equality between blacks and whites? |
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"The one thing to promote equality between blacks and whites is the realization that we all are the same, and the only difference between us is the color of our skin. We all have the same emotions and dreams, and are motivated by the same things. We needlessly get caught up in how the color of our skin some how makes us unworthy of joint fellowship. I would love to get blacks and whites to realize that we really are no different from one another and we all could achieve so much more greatness, not just professionally but personally, if we could get beyond the petty differences that hold us back. " Interviewed by Steve Williams 08/18/09 |
| What must black people do to unite? |
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" I have long believed that there are many reasons why black people cannot unite, chief among them is a lack of love and belief in themselves. Many people don’t have enough faith in their own abilities, making it hard to embrace others. People need to take an honest look at themselves and identify their weaknesses so they may get stronger individually, an only then will we as a community be able to connect with a united front. " Interviewed by George Cook 04/10/09 |
| What inspires you |
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"I am most inspired by people who get in the way of my progressa and who tell me I will fail. that motivates me to try twice as hard, and inspires me to dig down deeper and give more and do and be more. " Interviewed by Tee G 03/13/09 |
| Do You Believe We need Bring Prayer back into our Communities ? |
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"I believe that prayer is essential. Not only does prayer give praise to God, but it also helps to instill hope in people who may be feeling destitute. When I am feeling down or had a bad day and I bow down to pray, I feel uplifted. If more people prayed, it would help enrich their lives and as a community, if we all prayed more, we collectively would have better and more productive lives – because when we feel enriched, we are more creative and positive thinking and ultimately more successful. " Interviewed by Min Sammy Jackson 02/24/09 |
| What do you do for fun, when you're bored? |
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"Usually when I"m bored, I spend a lot of time online surfing the web, chatting with friends, playing on Facebook. " Interviewed by Travis Tucker 02/13/09 |
| What songs describes you? |
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"These two songs describe me right now: Amel Larrieux, Try Your Wings; and Here I Stand, Usher; " Interviewed by Menelik Pope 01/30/09 |
| what is god |
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"God is love; God is happiness; God is the answer to all questions. " Interviewed by Jesse L Turner 01/02/09 |
| What is one rule that you live by everyday? |
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"The one rule I live by everyday is that I am no more important than anybody else. Just because I may have a degree or earn more than someone doesn’t give me the right to talk down to them or mistreat them. I follow this credo every day, all the time, and I wish we all would realize that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity. " Interviewed by Andre McCray 12/31/08 |
| What do you want out of life? |
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"Peace, love, and companionship – not necessarily in that order. These three things, I believe, are the source of everyone’s happiness. " Interviewed by Jehan Bunch 12/30/08 |
| What are your likes/dislikes in seeking a new friend? |
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"Likes: Genuine love and acceptance; seeking the innate knowledge of the other person; recognizing that we all have our flaws and not expecting people to be perfect. Dislikes: superficiality; always want something in return for kindness; " Interviewed by Alfonso Davis 12/14/08 |
| DO YOU LOVE YOURSELF? |
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"Oh yes, and I realized that life became so much better once I could embrace me. Like the words of a great song, "... learning to love yourself, is the greatest love of all>" -- 'The Greatest'" Interviewed by SARA JOY EDGEMON 12/11/08 |
| Would you rather be loved like a "brother" or loved like a "friend"? |
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"My preference would be for someone to love me with sincerity and without any special conditions attached to that love. If that love is romantic, then great. If it’s agape type of love, that’s great too. But as long as I can share love with others regardless of what kind of love it is, then that’s all I want. " Interviewed by Arthur R. Franklin 12/11/08 |
| Have you accomplished all of your goals? |
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"I hope this doesn’t sound too philosophical, but I don’t think a forward moving person will ever achieve all of their goals. Each goal is a stepping stone to another often more challenging goal. Therefore, we never should be at a point at which we achieve all of our goals. If there does come such a time, then we should just close our eyes and say, Lord, I’m coming home. " Interviewed by LaShanteau Green 12/10/08 |
| What are your favorite movies? |
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"My favorite movies change, depending on how I feel. But here are some I think are great films: To Kill A Mockingbird, Philadelphia, 12 Angry Men, Dirty Pretty Things." Interviewed by Joseph Fenner 12/10/08 |
| What are you doing personally to make a change in the black community? |
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"I have tried to do several things in the black community, some are more obvious than others. The more obvious things involve volunteering with community programs that help those in need; picking up litter/trash that I pass on the street and throw it away. But the thing that I do that I think can have a huge impact has to do with the positive way in which I live my life. A lot of people will say they do not have time to do anything in the community. But I say being an example with your life does a lot. Many people only see stereotypically negative roles of blacks in the media. Therefore, the best thing we all can do – whether or not we do anything more substantive – is to live a positive life as contributing members of society. " Interviewed by chivonne lawson 12/03/08 |
| Do you see the glass as full or half empty? |
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"Oh, my glass has always been half full. Just between you and me, I see my glass as running over even when it’s really empty. I know that half the battle in making it through life is having the right perspective, and maintaining a positive outlook pivotal. When the day is gloomy and all you do is wallow in your misery, all that does is focus on what’s wrong rather than what’s right – and you can never rise above the state you’re in when you do that. Therefore, at a very early age, I learned the importance of looking for the rainbow in the middle of the storm. Some people call me corny because of this temperament; however, I don’t mind because this positive mantra that I hold onto is what keeps me smiling all the time, inside and out. " Interviewed by Brynda Saunders-Winston 12/03/08 |
| How diversified is your present network of friends? |
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"I am a very diverse person and my friendship pool is quite diverse. I have friends who are both male and female, heterosexual and homosexual, whites and blacks, varied religions, cultural backgrounds, ethnicities, and political viewpoints. When I look at my friends and associates, I see a great big melting pot, a cornucopia backgrounds. I think that this is the reason why I am so accepting of others, because I have had exposure of such a variety of different cultures around me. " Interviewed by john mitchell 11/28/08 |
| Is America really ready for a black President |
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"Yes, we have to realize that our president is for everyone, regardless of race or ethnicity or gender or anything else. America needs to realize just how blind the president is - or should I say - how blind someone in that role is supposed to be. Once we accept that, we see that we ARE ready for a black president." Interviewed by AJ Woodson 11/19/08 |
| What makes you happy? |
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"I realized this past week that the thing that makes me happy is being around good people with positive outlook and pleasant personalities. " Interviewed by Ammons Smith 12/29/08 |
| my city of birth |
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"Atlanta, GA" Interviewed by Bill Cooper 11/13/08 |
| What's the meaning of life? |
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"I do not believe that there is any one single meaning of life. Life is multi-faceted and has carries many meanings. Everyone has to explore, looking within themselves to find the proper meaning that applies to them. We all are on different paths and have to find meaning along the way as our paths moves us throughout life. " Interviewed by Sateesh Rogers 11/13/08 |
| What are your interests and how do they help the community? |
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"I love doing things that benefit those in need. I have volunteered with different organizations and it's a good feeling knowing that I could reach out to people with struggles. " Interviewed by Fayton Washington 11/06/08 |
| What do you really wish people knew about you that isnt obvious? |
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"The one thing I wish people knew about me that isn’t obvious is that I am always nurturing the little child within me. As I look around at my peers who stress out over big as well as little things in life, I’m reminded how the life of children is stress free. When many kids do become stressed, they soon forget, as they take time to play and relax. I think that as adults, we forget how to relax and play and have fun. I schedule those play moments, those fun times. It’s not always about work and being serious. On the surface, many people don’t see that when they look at me. I wish they could see that, and I wish more people would take time to have their own play time. As adults, many people think you aren’t allowed to play anymore. I am a firm believer that it’s that play time that helps us be happier and removes us from the midst of our stressors, and it’s during those play moments is when we often can find solutions to our problems and when many of the best (and biggest) dreams are born. " Interviewed by Greta Rushion 11/05/08 |
| How important is honesty to you |
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"I think honesty is crucial. More importantly, I am also one who frowns upon telling only a part of somethning to avoid telling a direct lie. To me, that's dishonest too. I believe that if you cannot be completely honest about something, then you should opt out by not saying anything. Telling only a half truth is the same as telling a lie. " Interviewed by Ndubuisi Azuogu 10/31/08 |
| What makes the world a beautiful place... |
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"I think the world is beautiful when we share ourselves with each other, and see each other as our brothers and sisters in a loving and unconditional way. In a beautiful world, how can one man be happy when the man sitting next to him is wallowing in a sea of problems. We are definitely our brother's keepers and if we all would reach out to each other, even if all we do is lend an ear to listen, the world would be so much better." Interviewed by John Waller 10/31/08 |
| Got XPOSED? www.xposedyc.com |
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"I just stopped by the site. Looks very motivational, encouraging spot to help keep peple focused. I will check it out some more. " Interviewed by Brandyn McElroy 10/28/08 |
| What do you want GOD to say about you??? |
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I think God says the same thing about all of us. He says, “That is my child” ---- and it is up to us to live up to that or not.
" Interviewed by Stan Carpenter 10/27/08 |
| What is your definition of love? |
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"Love is when you give your all for someone, you feel they are a part of you and are with you even when you are miles apart. Love is a feeling you have inside, often unexplainable, and it makes you laugh, and feel at ease, but it also can make you cry and feel anxious and tense. Love can make you feel like you’re on a roller coaster, with lots of ups and downs, but no matter how you feel, you wouldn’t trade it for anything. " Interviewed by Jeremi Arnold 10/27/08 |
| What would be your plan to help our incarcerated black teens? |
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"I think that not enough is done to teach them life skills. Teens who are incarcerated primarily learn their ABCs so they can graduate with their high school diploma. But to be successful in life, you need much more. Kids don’t learn much about respect for each other and they don’t learn about budgets and how to manage their money. Kids don’t have a clue about credit and the various types of things that can impact their credit score and their buying power. Life skills are severely lacking for these youth. So, I would want to see the jail education programs incorporate more life skills into its treatment regimen. Those who get out with this type of learning will stand a much better chance for success. As it is, jail is only what I like to call an in/out portal. Sadly, more than ¾ of the people who go to jail end up going in and out over and over and over again all throughout their lives. Maybe if they got the right type of treatment while inside, they might not keep going back. The penalty for committing crimes should be rehabilitative, punitive, retributive, and have a deterrent effect. It should do all of these things. If it only serves to warehouse someone, then it is failing that individual. There needs to be a more comprehensive approach. Opponents argue that it costs too much money; however, what costs more: 1) housing someone in jail or prison, over and over and over again providing room and board, or 2) meeting the person’s needs the first time incarcerated, thereby significantly reducing the likelihood that they will go back again? I say number two is the best option. " Interviewed by david sorey 10/21/08 |
| What advice would you give to a discouraged black adolescent? |
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" I would show that youth how successful I have become, even though I had many struggles growing up. As painful as it can be, it’s important for us all to relive out pain to let it serve as a lesson to others that they CAN overpower their problems, they CAN move past any barriers in front of them. I would use my own life to show said youth the things I did, the strategies I employed, to get where I am today, even amidst the dark clouds when there seemed like there was no hope. I would mentor and coach that youth, exposing him or her to friends and colleagues who have achieved greatness. Modeling is the best teacher. Seeing the possibilities as exhibited by the life experiences of others can be one of the greatest sources of encouragment." Interviewed by Joshua Hargrove 10/17/08 |
| What makes a Friend |
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"I think a friend is a lot of things. First, a friend is someone who enjoys you for you. A friend doesn’t care how you look or doesn’t judge you because of your age or how much money you have. A friend embraces you unconditionally and when times are tough, friends help each other out without any thing expected in return and a friend will be there with you to laugh or cry. " Interviewed by Alesseon Reed 10/14/08 |
| Please tell me why being black and conservative is such a stigma in our society today. |
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"In this country, we are brainwashed to think that everyone fits nicely into a little box. Your political views, your religion, your personal ethics and values must all define you based on your ethnicity or race or gender, etc. If you are something other than what people expect, rather than view you as one who is independent in your thought and a creationist of sorts, they view you as a rebel or someone who is confused because you’re not like everyone else who looks like you. They think you’re the weird one for being different rather than think that you’re brave and courageous for having the conviction to stand up and not do what everyone else is doing. The stigma forever will plague you whenever you choose to be different and think for yourself rather than what everyone thinks you should be or think." Interviewed by Mark Carr 10/01/08 |
| Is truth absolute or subjective? |
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"Truth is definitely subjective. It’s all about the individual concerned and his or her vantage point. It’s a lot like the concept of looking at a glass that is only filled to the middle. Some will see it as half full while others see it as half empty. Also, think about taking a personality test that includes ink blots. Several different people can look at the same ink blots and each can see different images. With the glass and with the ink blots, everyone can look at them and see it differently. It’s still reality and truth for the person looking at it. Then there were eye witnesses to a crime that got someone a life prison sentence, only years later DNA exonerated him proving that he really did not do what the so-called witnesses claimed that he did. Presumably, the eye witnesses really may have thought what they saw was correct. To them, it was THEIR truth. Truth is really how things appear and exist to YOU. " Interviewed by Michelle Diane 09/24/08 |
| Iam very interested in writing a book about? |
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"I want to write two books. I wrote a nice novel, fiction, and that was an ordeal. But I want to write two books. One is a book about letting go of the past. I know so many people who spend too much time and energy focused on this person or that person who hurt them and did something to them. I know things can hurt, but really you can never move forward in life and reap the true level of happiness that you deserve until you can let all of that go and get over it. I want to write a book about helping people find ways to grow and find internal happiness. The other book I want to do is a book on health and fitness, specifically focused on men. There are a ton of health and fitness books out there for women, but not so many out there for men. I want to do a book , maybe a series of books that targets men. I have already started it and hopefully by the spring, I’ll be ready to publish the first one (hopefully)." Interviewed by Tray Styles 09/17/08 |
| Are you registered to vote |
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"Oh yes, I am registered to vote. When I was a senior in high school, there was a voter registration drive that come to the high schools and talked to students about voting and how to register. It was a great idea and I strongly support the idea of reaching out to the youth to get them registered. I think it doesn’t matter your political beliefs or who you vote for, it is irresponsible for someone not to be registered and not to vote. " Interviewed by Greta Bridges 09/17/08 |
| If walls could talk would they speak well of you? |
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"Interesting thing is, people speak much more highly than I might expect them too. So often, I am told that this person or that person has said great things about me and spoke highly of me. It isn’t that I expect the opposite, as I do go out of my way to be kind and reach out to uplift others. But sometimes I underestimate just how much of an impact a little kindness can be. I have even heard of people who have praised me that I don’t even know, or rather, that I cannot even remember. But it’s really like I believe – that you have to be a blessing to someone in order to get a blessing of your own. " Interviewed by Antre Drummer 09/15/08 |
| Now we have shown many perspectives on Black in America, what changes do you feel may result from this? |
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"Great question. The changes that will result are those that start with each individual. It is no longer a situation where we much rely on some official or agency to make things better. Each one of us has a part to play in changing our world. If each person would work on just one thing, then over time, we all will be impacted and see the change we want in our hearts. " Interviewed by Ahmad Sims 09/15/08 |
| If you died today, what difference could you say you made in someone's life? |
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"Sometimes, I think about this question and it troubles me. There are so many problems around me and I know I have made a significant contribution in the lives of many of them. But I still wonder when it’s all done, could I have given more, been more, done more? Yes, I do believe I have made a difference in the lives of a few people, not just because I say so but because others have told me so. But, perhaps they are too kind or perhaps they don’t realize how much more there could be. I really think those of us who give don’t give or do enough. I’m not just talking about money…but I’m talking about time and energy, which for many of us, are more precious than money. I think we all can stretch ourselves a little more and then maybe, none of us would ever need to wonder whether we really made a difference. " Interviewed by Aaron Walker 09/15/08 |
| what would you do to make me smile |
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"First of all, you’re a Taurus. I’m a Taurus too, so if you are anything like me, it probably won’t take a lot to make you smile. But secondly, I also know that we each have experienced many blessings that God has given us, and that’s sufficient enough to put a smile on your face and keep it there. " Interviewed by lei-a glenn 09/15/08 |
| Why does the average African-American settle for less? |
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" I believe that people settle for less because it is about as much as they envision for themselves. We can never sustain anything great beyond our own imagination. Some people either do not believe they deserve more or they don’t think that other people will give them more, so they just accept whatever they can get. It’s sort of like those who see the glass as half empty versus seeing it half full. Your perspective and your world’s view will drive your progress in life. " Interviewed by Jesu McCoy 09/15/08 |
| What are three things that truly define you? |
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"Three things that define me are my spirituality, my independence, and my love of fairness and equity. Most of the things about change as I go through various phases of life. But these three things always seem to remain constant and never change. " Interviewed by Jared Brooks 09/15/08 |
| What brought you to this website and what made you join? |
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"There aren’t enough opportunities for us to come together to share and exchange intellectual ideas of interest and importance as it relates to our community. We typically will only come together after some incident takes places and once the pain and hurt has passed, so does our dialogue. But we need to embrace one another all the time on an ongoing basis, and this site is a great way to do that. We are strongest in our large numbers and the more dialogue we have on a casual day-to-day basis, the better we can be if and when we face struggles as our bonds will be stronger. This site is a wonderful catalyst to make that happen. " Interviewed by Ed King 09/15/08 |
| Who paid Jesse Jackson and Jeremiah Wright to try and sabotage Barak Obama? |
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"Honestly, I do not believe anybody paid those brothers to try and sabotage Senator Obama. As you probably know, there are people who have a hard time seeing other black people excel at anything. They will do things to sabotage any progress they see other people making toward their goals. Reverend Jackson and Reverend Wright are two such people. I think in the case of Reverend Jackson, it could also be jealously. Jackson has been in Obama’s shoes before trying to become President, but he didn’t do nearly as well and did not have nearly as many supporters. Both Jackson and Wright most likely were acting out of their own self-hatred in their attacks on Obama. " Interviewed by Kevin Ware 09/12/08 |
| What inspires you to write? |
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"The things that inspire vary. Mostly, I am inspired by events and people in my life – past and present. The events that I face every day are the inspiration that drive me and my thoughts and creativity. " Interviewed by Grace LaJoy 09/12/08 |
| Do you consider yourself entertaining? |
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"Oh yes, I’m very entertaining. I enjoy making people smile, laugh and feel good. We face so many challenging things every day, I like to find the lighter side of life and share it with others. " Interviewed by Jason Jeter 09/12/08 |
| IF A BLACK MAN MARIES OUT OF HIS RACE,BUT HE STILL HAS HAS INTERESTS IN BLACK COULTURE, IS HE STILL ACCEPTED IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY? |
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"The fact that you raised this question tells me that this black man will forever face struggles in being accepted by the black community. We live in a society in which people only want to accept people who are like them. If you are different, you will face struggles. Black men who don’t fall in love with a black woman will be scorned. He often will face criticism. There is much more acceptance now – maybe more tolerance than acceptance – but we still have a long way to go. " Interviewed by fritz WATTERS 09/12/08 |
| How do you feel about the educational disparities in the US between African American communities and predominantly White communities? |
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"I think the inequities in education from one school district to another is simply horrible. But even more horrible than those inequities are the noncommittal attitudes of those in power in addressing the problem. These have existed since the landmark court case of Brown vs. Board of Education. The problem existed then and today, the problem still exists. The case, decided in 1954, held that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal" and nothing is more truer than that. Back then, before going before the Supreme Court, the law allowed for separate educational facilities for students. Today, circumstances and situations allow for separate educational facilities. Whatever the reason blacks and whites attend separate facilities, the end result is the same: the facilities are vastly unequal. And it’s not just a fight between blacks and whites. Some poor black neighborhoods are inferior to more affluent black neighborhoods. It troubles me, not just that the problem exists, but that the people we choose to elect to public office focus more on the economy and global warming and international terrorism than they focus on education. What good are all those other things if our kids are lacking in their basic educational needs? " Interviewed by Kevin Gunnells 09/12/08 |
| What is the most beautiful aspect of your being? |
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"That’s a hard one. But if I had to narrow it down to something, I’d say that the most beautiful aspect of my being is the genuine level of love that I have for everyone. I often see the best in the worst of people and will extend my hand in a warm gesture of acceptance to those who might be dismissed by others. I’m the type of person who offers a kind word or deed to others unconditionally. " Interviewed by jon w. 09/12/08 |
| Why is that young african american men never support each other? |
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"You have hit on something that I think is so very important, and it doesn’t just stop with young men. I believe that men of all ages have a problem showing emotion with each other and expressing genuine love for each other. I think men think there is something wrong with it. It is something that has culturally been perpetuated since the beginning of time. Men can be gentle and caring with women but around other men, they have to be strong and hard. But you know, it is really okay to be helpful and show emotion to one other. It doesn’t show weakness. It really is a sign of a man’s inner strength and is reflective of his level of power and integrity. Maybe if more black men could learn this, then we would not be thought of as a hurtin/dying breed. " Interviewed by Branden Williams 09/12/08 |
| what is god's will |
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"I was thinking about this the other evening. What I came up with is, God’s will has a lot to do with the way we all should be treating each other. We should be loving each other, and helping each other, and not lying or stealing from each other and treating each other with respect and tithing to the church and in our communities. This is the bottom line of the way we should be living our lives. Doing this is how we show our faith to God. " Interviewed by Jesse L Turner 09/12/08 |
| What's your favorite book? |
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"My favorite book is Richard Wright's 'A Native Son' and it has been on the top of my reading list for many years. I think the struggle of it's main character, Bigger Thomas, is reflective of the struggles that we all face today. The extent to which Bigger Thomas was powerless to the problems that plagued his life are comparable to the same feelings of powerlessness that we all face today as we struggle with our lives. The writing is clear, concise, and poignant and it makes me feel as I were right there sitting in the midst of Bigger's life as his story unfolds. It is a great piece of fiction. " Interviewed by Terrence Ingram 09/12/08 |
| What do u do in your spare time |
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"In my spare time, I do a ton of reading and writing. I love that. I also like studying and collecting old coins and currency. I am not into that as much as I would like to, but the hobby is a good way to learn about the history of America. " Interviewed by Roland Jenkins 09/12/08 |
| What is my performance name? |
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"Use part of your own name. How about, "A-Stock" as your name? " Interviewed by Adrian Blackstock 09/10/08 |
| Do you have a relationship with God? |
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"Yes indeed. My relationship with God is the most precious (and most important) relationship that I have – and every day I nurture it and fine tune it. I know that all of the many wonderful things that I have in life are due solely because of the relationship that I have with God, and I am glad we I found God. " Interviewed by Marcus Glover 09/10/08 |
| If you were banned from the United States and you have to leave today, what country would you go to live in - and why? |
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" If I were banned and had to leave today, I’d move to the Dominican Republic. I visited there twice and loved it immensely. I like the variety of the food, and the people are just some of the most beautiful (inside and out) people in the world. " Interviewed by Dante Lee 08/28/08 |
| What do you do to break negative black stereotypes? |
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"I realize that stereotypes are inbred beliefs that people have about others; however one thing I do to break these beliefs is to live my life in a positive and productive manner with integrity. I don’t live up to the stereotypes that others have. I look at people, as I go on about my day, who do nothing with their lives but perpetuate those stereotypes, and sadly those are the only ones that some people see and consequently they form the opinion that we all are the same. So, I work hard to not only to live my life in an upstanding way, but I also do my part to give back through volunteerism and mentoring to help the next generation. " Interviewed by Reginald Hendrix 08/26/08 |
| Can you live a successful life with Bipolar Disorder? |
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"I do not know much about bipolar disorder; however, in terms of being successful in life, I don’t feel that I need to. In order to be successful in life, people need to find and employ all the necessary tools to aid them. We all need different tools, and if we are resourceful, even someone with bipolar disorder, we can find the tools to help us over come any barrier before us. So, yes, someone with bipolar disorder can indeed be productive and successful in life. " Interviewed by agnes levine 08/24/08 |
| When will the racist struggle end??? |
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"I do not believe that the racist struggle will ever end, ever! First, many people overtly teach racial hatred to their kids. Maybe over time, some of that will subside, and we pass from one generation to the next, some of these kids will learn racial tolerance and acceptance. But the biggest problem is the large number of “white supremacist” groups that exist in the world. Just google that phrase and you’ll find many of hits. The members of these groups perpetrate the racial struggle and as long as groups like that exist, then racial hatred will forever exist. " Interviewed by Alicia Philpart 08/22/08 |
| What can you do to enhance your life and others? |
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"The best way that I – we – can enhance life is to at all times be real and genuine. It is never productive to change who we are to please and satisfy the expectations of others. Some people routinely make choices based on what others think or want or need and they deny themselves their own passions. If we live up to our own expectations, then we are being sincere in the truest sense of the word and there is no greater deed for making life better for ourselves and those around us. " Interviewed by Jazzy Williams 08/21/08 |
| How can we change the educational out look for the Black male? |
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"The only way to change it is to realize that the problems do not rest solely with the black male. The problems black men are the same problems facing all people. The bigger issue is a disproportionate focusing on the social ills of the black community. Truthfully, many non-black families have homes without a stable male role model. Many non-black families have a single mom working long hours to provide for her family. Many non-black families have teens who have babies, who in turn have babies, who in turn have babies – and so on and so on. Many non-black families have kids who never met their dad, some don’t even know who their dad is – sometimes the mothers don’t even know. The same is true of our kids’ education. For many non-black kids, the schools are falling apart, some teachers come to school with a very insolent attitude feeling unmoved to go out of their way to inspire the students. The problems facing the educational outlook of black men is much more widespread than that black man, and until more of us learn to embrace that, we’ll forever be behind the eight ball. I would like to see more programs created for kids as early as in kindergarten. That’s when we need to begin having age-appropriate dialogue with kids about respecting themselves and others. That’s when we need to begin having age appropriate dialogue about working and studying hard in school. That is when we should have age appropriate dialogue with kids about saving money and creating a budget. So, I said all of this to say that in order to change the outlook of black men and all people is to start early, long before they begin to exhibit any signs of a problem or potential problem. The earlier we being teaching our kids, the greater likelihood of fewer academic and social problems." Interviewed by charles gaines 08/21/08 |
| Do you have any regrets - if so, what are they? |
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"I used to regret this or that in life. But I realized how much time is wasted on that. Even though there are things I could have done differently, the experiences I faced all had a role in making me who I am today. So, I guess the only thing that I regret is all the time I used to spend on regrets. I cherish things and my world’s view is sharper and more focused now. I don’t have any regrets. " Interviewed by Lex Gaines 08/21/08 |
| As a black man, what bothers you the most about black women? And vice versa for black women... |
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"The thing that bothers me the most is the expectation that people can read their minds when they get upset. Many times, when they get upset, they don’t articulate what’s wrong, then they become more angry if the people they are upset with don’t know why they are angry. Why can’t they have a genuine open dialogue and express what’s wrong rather than give the silent treatment or worse, begin a tirade of screaming and yelling? Having a healthy conversation would be far more effective. " Interviewed by Erica Abel 08/21/08 |
| What are you loving about your life? |
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"What I am loving about my life is that in spite of the perceived problems I have, I am inspired and motivated to work hard to be the best that I can be. " Interviewed by david banks 08/21/08 |
| What are you committed to? |
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"WOW, I am committed to so many things. The greatest thing I am committed to are family, community, peace, and the love of God. " Interviewed by george newton 08/20/08 |
| Do you have the wings of the great EAGLE? |
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"I do have the wings of the great EAGLE. They continue to grow and expand. Sometimes, I encounter those who try to clip my wings; but my wings just grow back bigger and more powerful, taking me places that most people only dream about. " Interviewed by Carlos Perry 08/20/08 |
| Why are whites trying so hard to opress blacks and hide our history? |
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"I think some whites try to oppress and suppress blacks because they see so many blacks oppressing and suppressing each other. Many blacks hold each other back, fail to help each other, don’t share information and we watch each other fall apart and do nothing to try and stop it and we don’t police each other and hold each other accountable. In addition, many blacks who are not oppressed and who make it, sit on the sidelines and do nothing. Many blacks take absolutely no steps to improve the quality of life for their community. They get their piece of the pie and never think of sharing it with someone else who could benefit from a piece of it.
When whites see that type of behavior, what kind of message is that sending? That kind of behavior reinforces in whites the notion of maintaining dominance over others and that strengthens their racially divisive sentiments. Consequently, the most expedient means for blacks to make any sustainable progress is by realizing that whites cannot (and really don’t want to) help. They don’t want to stop the oppression. We need to recognize that, and we need to do a better job of taking care of each other and not rely on whites to give us a helping hand. Whether we like it or not, we ARE our brother’s keeper.
" Interviewed by chivonne lawson 08/20/08 |
| What inspires and motivates you? |
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"I am most inspired by the successes and triumphs of others. That’s particularly true of people who have overcome huge barriers to reach their goals. When I see that I don’t have half the challenges of those who have made it, that inspires and motivates me to never give up. " Interviewed by Janette Norrington 08/19/08 |
| What is your favorite movie? |
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"That changes from one point in life to the next; but one movie on my list of favorites is Philadelphia. I love that movie not only because of the stellar acting abilities of the major performers, but also because of the perspective it presents about discrimination. The specific focus was employment discrimination against a man with AIDS; however, the issue as I see it transcends to all other forms of discrimination. Whether it be age, gender, race and ethnicity, or any other form of judging someone based not on their individual merit, but on their membership in a class with assumed characteristics, all discrimination is poignant for everyone, and the movie Philadelphia did a superb job of bringing that point home. " Interviewed by Kia Milan 08/19/08 |
| Perception or Reality? Which would you focus on to change to your advantage? |
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"I do not think you can have one without the other. From my vantage point, one’s perception is the most important thing to shape reality – or rather – the one thing that helps us strategize so that we can position ourselves for our reality. Perception and reality definitely go hand in hand. " Interviewed by Melvin Wilson 08/06/08 |
| Do you know who your are? |
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"This is a fascinating question. I often ponder this. I would argue that few people really can truthfully answer this question. As we move from one phase of life to the next, we go through transitions and the person that we are shifts. Who we are today is not the same as the person that we were yesterday, nor will the person that we are tomorrow be the same as we are today.
That’s the very essence of life, for we are the sum total of our experiences. When looking at the nature versus nurture controversy, nurture plays the most prominent role. So, while I think I know who I am, remaining intimately acquainted with myself is a challenge because life does bring about change, and it requires a great deal of effort to help me know who I am.
" Interviewed by Dr. Ahmad Glover 08/01/08 |
| What is the #1 thing you like about HBCUConnect.com? |
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"The #1 thing I like about HBCU Connect is actually the primary purpose for which the site was created: to keep students and alumni of HBCUs connected to one another and stay informed with HBCU business and employment opportunies or educational opportunities. The site helps keep people educated about HBCUs. Many of the schools are small. Some people may not have ever heard of some of the schools before- or it could be a school that some people may not have realized was an HBCU. The other day I was chatting with a graduate of Harris-Stowe State University. Never heard of it, and would never have guessed it was an HBCU. HBCU Connect helped me to get educated about that.
I am just sad that more people are unaware of it. I try to let people know as I can, and hopefully others are doing the same.
" Interviewed by Will Moss 07/16/08 |
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Will Saunders
Worker, Employer Joined: May 22nd, 2007 |
| About (request update) | |
| Shizophrenia and the African American Community
Overview of Schizophrenia
Mental health matters are very prevalent in the African American community. But unfortunately many people do not get treated, mainly because their disorders are unknown. T ...more
Posted by Will Saunders on September 26th, 2008 • 552 Views |
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Help for the Ex-Con
What is the purpose of our criminal justice system and is it doing what it is supposed to do? On one end, some people believe that it is supposed to punish those who break the law. On the other end, ...more
Posted by Will Saunders on September 23rd, 2008 • 586 Views |
| My BlackInAmerica.com Profile | ||||||||
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| My Groups | ||
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www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iffDvXTcm8 Tagged by Steve Williams on 08/27/2009 |
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Great song Will, how about LoW Rider Tagged by Steve Williams on 08/27/2009 |
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Hey Bro. Will, Tagged by agnes levine on 04/24/2009 |
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Hi Bro. Will Tagged by agnes levine on 04/24/2009 |
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Thank You For Stopping My Page! Hugs Tagged by Judith A. Birt on 02/17/2009 |
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Will, you should get a "poke" alert from me. I would like for you to review my profile, especially of my experiences while growing up in Montgomery during the Martin Luther King-Rosa Parks era. I did a lot of publicity to urge or facillitate the election of Mr. Barack to the presidency. Many thought I would be THAT ONE, but I am so glad it occurred in my lifetime. I am trying to make it known, even desiring to return to government service by making application to serve in his administration, if my background permits, that his planning team requested. I do want to be in attendance for the inauguration. Any tips or contacts you have to make this become reality would be appreciated. Tagged by Bill Cooper on 11/29/2008 |
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my book SPIRITUAL MINDED: da daily devotion for da hip-hop generation is avaialble online at http://www.lulu.com/content/2830182 Tagged by AJ Woodson on 11/18/2008 |
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not sure if I ever answered yoru question where you could get my book but my book Tagged by AJ Woodson on 11/18/2008 |
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Hey Brother Will, New friends always make life more interesting, which is why I'm very pleased to welcome you to be one of my friends here at BIA!, Tagged by Sam Bateman on 09/26/2008 |
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Appreciate the encouragement bro! Tagged by Antre Drummer on 09/08/2008 |
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<tr><td><b><a href=/cgi-bin/networking/friends.cgi?new_folks=1&hbcu=University%20of%20the%20District%20of%20Columbia&last_year=1991
title='Find other University of the District of Columbia class of 1991 members...'>
University of the District of Columbia class of 1991</a></b></td></tr>
<tr><td style='padding:0 0 7 0'>Undergrad Major: <a href=/cgi-bin/networking/friends.cgi?new_folks=1&major=Criminal%20Justice
title='Find other Criminal Justice members...'>
Criminal Justice</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>Campus Organization:</b></td></tr>
<tr><td style='padding:0 0 7 0'><a href=/cgi-bin/networking/friends.cgi?new_folks=1&organization=Alpha%20Phi%20Alpha
title='Find other Alpha Phi Alpha members...'>Alpha Phi Alpha</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>Claim To Fame:</b></td></tr>
<tr><td style='padding:0 0 7 0'>I've learned that the best way to receive a blessing is to be a blessing to somebody else. </td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>Most Memorable Moment:</b></td></tr>
<tr><td style='padding:0 0 7 0'>When I ran away to Las Vegas for a week.</td></tr>
</table>
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<td valign=top width=5%><a href=/colleges/96/university-of-the-district-of-columbia><img src='/colleges/logos/university-of-the-district-of-columbia.jpg' style='padding:0 5 9 0;width:85px'></a></td>
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<tr><td><b><a href=/cgi-bin/networking/friends.cgi?new_folks=1&hbcu=University%20of%20the%20District%20of%20Columbia&last_year=1991
title='Find other University of the District of Columbia class of 1991 members...'>
GWU class of </a></b></td></tr>
<tr><td style='padding:0 0 7 0'>Grad Major: <a href=/cgi-bin/networking/friends.cgi?new_folks=1&major=Criminal%20Justice title='Find other Criminal Justice members...'>
</a></td></tr>
</table>
</td>
<td valign=top width=5%></td>
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<table width=99% align=center cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0>
<tr><td><b>High School:</b> Springbrook in Silver Spring, MD
class of </b></td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>Activities & Accomplishments:</b></td></tr>
<tr><td style='padding:0 0 7 0'>Various</td></tr>
</table>
<table width=99% align=center cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0>
<tr><td><b>Best Memories:</b></td></tr>
<tr><td style='padding:0 0 7 0'>graduating</td></tr>
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<tr><td class=sub_header>Experience </td></tr>
<tr><td>
I currently work with <a href=# title='Find other members working for Employer'>Employer</a>
as Worker<br>
I have 15 years of experience working in the
<a href=# title='Find other members in this profession...'>Government and Policy</a> industry.
<br>
</td>
</table>
<table width=100% cellspacing=5><tr><td></td></tr></table><table width=100% class=content_box><tr><td class=sub_header>Activity</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding=5 width=100%>
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<td valign=top style='width:130px'>
<a href=/content/92539/shizophrenia-and-the-african-american-community><img alt=){kind=link}