REAL YOU_REAL DEAL

REAL YOU_REAL DEAL

a workbook introduction to a spiritual media network

written and developed by effort mascot

Copyright © 2013 by Effort Mascot

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, except for brief quotations in reviews, without the written permission of the author.

Design and formatting by e3

Published in the United States by GLO_RY stories

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

INTRODUCTION

CHALLENGES

D E D I C A T I O N

This book is dedicated to my beautiful, unique, creative, and exceptional wife “GG.” To the memory of my dearest mother Karen, I cherish your love, style, smile, and character. To my grandmother,

“Queen Mother” Helen; my incredible brothers, Roland Jr., Allen, and Randolph (Daisy)…

To my dear Godparents, Uncle Alan & Aunt Sarah; my aunts, Fahmeeda and Kellie (Joseph); my uncles, Ryan (Vanetta) and Eugene; cousins, nieces, nephews…

To my mother-in-love, Jessie, the loving memory of my father-in-love, James Sr., my “new” siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews…

To my closest friends Nate (Shalonda) and Randy…

…I am who I am and where I am today because of your love, support, counsel, and patience.

A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S

This book is a result of the heart and skills of many different people…

“Nothing is so easy or so wasteful as the work of hating — except hating work.” — Jesse Binga

When I think of my family background, I think about strong work ethics and I say, “Mmmm!” I think that because there is a lot of “good” work in our history. There’s also many “M’s.” There’s

Madagascar, ministry, music and menswear.

My family has a rich journey with ministry. On December 16, 1870, my great-great-grandfather, Doc Woods, along with 40 other former slaves, founded the Colored (presently Christian) Methodist Episcopal Church (C.M.E.). This organization was also the first national black organization established by former slaves. This great history with ministry is very important to me.

My great-grandfather, Jack Watson, was born in the very unique country of Madagascar. How incredible is that?! We’ll talk more about that later. Although he passed away before I was born, I believe that my “uniqueness” comes from him and Madagascar. When he came to the U.S., he eventually ended up in Chicago, where he worked with dedication for the real estate mogul and banker Jesse Binga. The best thing my great-grandfather did was to marry my great-grandmother, Jessie, and I remember her very well.

My great-grandmother, the late Rev. Jessie “Ma” (Watson) Houston, is a significant inspiration. I vividly remember witnessing the dedication of a building in her name in 1980. It was the first for an African-American in downtown Chicago. Then-Congressman Harold Washington and State Senator Richard Newhouse were there for the presentation. It was a testament to the cornerstone of her work in committing more than 35 years of her life to visiting prisons to counsel inmates and speak on their behalf. Ma “stood in the gap” for people of all backgrounds and ethnicities.