Adolescent Elephants Running Amok: A True Story

Many years ago, I read about an event that started in Kruger National Park in South Africa. It was so unbelievable I had to verify its validity. Unfortunately, it’s a true event and as I researched further, more specific details became apparent.

Kruger National Park suffered from an overpopulation of elephants starting in the late 1960s. To solve this problem, it was decided that they would cull (put to death) many of the adult elephants, and transport the young ones (since they were smaller and easier to transport) to Pilanesberg Park some 352 miles away. This culling left the young, orphaned elephants in a herd with other young, orphaned elephants. Families were destroyed and the knowledge transfer train was derailed.

What happened next was disappointing, but should have been expected. The young elephants formed small social crews and began attacking villages, tour vehicles, and killing an endangered species, the white rhino. Chaos ensued as

the elephants were powered by large amounts of testosterone some ten years before they should have. Many of the young elephants were, in some cases,

attempting to have sexual relations with mature females who refused them, and with rhinos. The early increase in testosterone resulted in more aggressive behavior, and many of the juvenile elephants were killed due to their aggressive

nature. This went on for years until it was recommended that a group of adult male elephants be introduced into the herd. The adult elephants came in and reestablished a familial hierarchy. In short, the young elephants needed the older adult elephants to mentor them and to teach them how to behave.

You’ve heard the expression: “It takes a village!”

The village saved some of these young elephants, the village saved many of my friends, and the village saved me!

“Each one, Teach one.”

“What they see, is what they will be.”

These are some of the mantras of 100 Black Men, and one of the reasons why I joined the Cleveland chapter. Why we do what we do is so very important and vital to our mentoring efforts. People ask me why I spend so much time

mentoring and helping others. I do it because it was done for me. Oftentimes, I jokingly declare that I’m a country boy raised in the city! I say that because my

parents were both Southerners who moved to Cleveland during the second wave of the Great Migration. They were two out of thousands of folks who left the

South for better opportunities, new jobs and to experience the “American dream”: 2.5 kids and a house with a white picket fence. They found their “village” at church. I remember our church vividly. It was Prayer Temple

Church of God in Christ, located on Giddings Road off Superior in Cleveland, Ohio. (The name has since changed to New Direction Church of God In Christ.)

As a youngster, I remember struggling with some math problems. My parents worked two jobs and did their best to help us with our homework. After a while this “new math” became too perplexing as they hadn’t been exposed to it in school. Well, my parents, Deacon Howse and Missionary Howse activated the village.

They spoke to several friends at church and created several mentoring sessions for me. One of my mentors was Deacon Ward, an electrical engineer. Deacon Ward helped me with my math challenges helping me to earn an A in that class. More importantly, I learned essential math skills, how to use a slide rule, and other strategies used by engineers. Nurse Pam helped me with my writing and reading comprehension skills. Many others were there and assisted our village. I was exposed to so many things. The help was endless because our village was endless. Mentoring changed my life. It allows our young people to gain exposure to knowledge, careers, lifestyles, cultures and so many other things. We all have “Time, Talent and Treasure” that we must share with our young people! That’s why I spend so much time helping others. And, that’s why I joined the 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland.

Now, during the age of everyone being “woke” and realizing that suffering is happening within our race, I challenge you to join our efforts. You can be part of the change that you want to see:

1. Donate at www.100bmogc.org/donate

2. Sponsor our chapter

3. Volunteer at our events

4. Join our organization

5. Subscribe to our newsletter and magazine

6. Follow us on www.Facebook.com

7. Share our posts

8. Email our team

This isn’t a one size fits all solution! It’s going to take a collective effort to move the needle. Remember the village the next time that you see your banker, your doctor, your attorney, your educator, your factory worker, your postal worker, your judge, your law enforcement officer, your media expert, your business owner, your construction worker, your financial expert, your journalist and your technology expert. There are so many organizations doing great work. Please do what you can and what your heart compels you to do. The alternative is a village of adolescent elephants running amok!