A great deal has been written about the fact that of all identifiable groups in the country, young African American males have the poorest chance of surviving and thriving. A group called 100 Black Men of America, Inc., is seeking to change this. The organization began in 1963 in New York City; in 1986, it became a national organization with nine chapters. Today there are more than a hundred chapters in the United States, England, and the Caribbean. The “100” has created programs that provide an environment where young people are encouraged and motivated to learn and to achieve. The men represent a myriad of professions, and they include corporate executives, physicians, entrepreneurs, educators, professional athletes, attorneys, elected officials, ministers, union members, entertainers, and retirees. Each member serves as a strong role model for black youth.

There are four major components of the program—Mentoring, Education, Economic Development, and Health and Wellness. The focus is upon improving the quality of life and enhancing educational opportunities for African Americans, particularly for young males.

Realizing that all of God’s people are our brothers and sisters and that everyone has a stake in making positive change, the Missions Committee of Morrow Presbyterian Church decided to act. “We recognized that a situation does exist, that amelioration is critical, and that it is an ‘our problem,’ not a ‘their problem,’ so we decided to take a small step toward a solution,” writes Audrey Sharpe, chair of the Missions Committee. The first step was to use Morrow’s share of the Pentecost Offering (augmented with a special Father’s Day offering) to make a donation, earmarked for the “Mentoring the 100 Way” program, to the Southeast Atlanta Metropolitan Chapter of 100 Black Men of America, Inc.

Audrey H. Sharpe
Morrow Presbyterian Church
Morrow, Georgia
(678) 422-5741
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