This video features a speech by Southern Christian Leadership Conference President Joseph E. Lowery to Tri-Cities High School students on April 3, 1991 in East Point, Georgia. At 00:8:30, Lowery addresses the young men of Tri-Cities High School and talks about the responsibilities of young Black men, the definition of manhood, and showing yourself a man. Lowery states that real manhood consists of knowing exactly who you are, knowing where you come from, having dignity, holding yourself accountable, respecting each other, and not committing to violence. He encourages the young Black men to lead with their manhood or else one-fifth to one-quarter of young Black males between the ages of 15 and 24 will either be in prison, on drugs, unemployed, or dead by the year 2000. At 00:35:13, Lowery recites a poem about using knowledge of history, manhood, unity, and solution-driven practices to fight for economic, political, and social justice. At 00:38:00, Lowery speaks to another group of Tri-Cities High School students about resurrecting love and using manhood to make positive changes in the world.
