Holsey Memorial C.M.E. Church has been standing right in the heart of north Minneapolis for almost 66 years, yet most people have no idea of its existence or the powerful history embedded in the name “C.M.E” (Christian Methodist Episcopal Church).  The C.M.E. Church is richly steeped in southern Black tradition and has a legacy of holding firm truths of  faith, knowledge and perseverance.  According to Lynda Baker, a long-time member, “Holsey is the only C.M.E. Church in Minnesota. We want people to know who and where we are.  For years, we have provided wonderful afterschool programs, summer programs, mentoring programs for youth…we have been serving the community not just on Sunday mornings, but throughout the week as well.”

With all the negative stereotype about men that already exist, why would it ever be a good thing to refer to men as dirt? I hear this and other similar comments whenever I am out sharing from my book. Unfortunately, whenever anyone hears that statement, men and women from all cultural ethnicity think of it primarily in its negative connotation. But I use this statement for two different purposes, first to serve as a replacement to the statement “All men are dogs,” and secondly to created dialogue about the true creative purpose of man.