Irwin Brown

From Prayers to Players Irwin Brown

From Prayers to Players was written with the hope that black men would see beyond what is obvious with their physical eyes and into the world where the answers really are-the spiritual realm. It is the realm of the spirit where too many black men are deficient. Spiritual deficiencies lead to mental (thought) deficiencies because right and wrong begin in the spiritual realm. Put another way, what we hold in our hearts lead to what transpires in our lives. Our belief systems are based on negative information perpetuated by our own people. Not only is the negative information perpetuated but it is acted upon as truth. Our "truths" are at odds with the truths of the Lord; this is to our detriment. Our truths have led to and continue to lead to mass incarceration of black men, young and old. Our truths have led to and continue to lead to the mass murders of black men and teenagers at the hands of other black men and teenagers. Our truths have led to and continue to lead to single-parent homes and poverty. Our truths have led to impregnating black women we do not love and bear children we do not take responsibility for. Our truths do not allow us to take responsibility for ourselves, but it does allow us to blame other people for our mistakes and shortcomings. We fight an enemy, physically who is spiritually based; therefore, we cannot see "him," the devil. From Prayers to Players is not a condemnation of black men; it is meant to be a spiritual awakening for black men. It is not a denial of racism, but racism is a flammable liquid that we, black men, provide a match to. Put another way, if someone else provides the flammable liquid, racism could not ignite without us putting a match to it, (we are responsibility too). Most of our racism is aimed at ourselves; our self-perception is in agreement with demonic influences. A lack of self-love leads to a lack of love for others. Men, through God, must be willing to lead and mentor other black men. If we mentor men through God, black people will follow.