Growing Up Black in the Ghetto and Surviving (Lessons in Leadership, and Leaders I Can

Growing Up Black in the Ghetto and Surviving (Lessons in Leadership, and Leaders I Can’t Forget)

Timothy E. Lamb | 2023

Abstract

We have a disturbing increasing crisis across our nation for many of our inner-city, at-risk youth, which will result in devastating consequences without proper authentic and servant leadership intervention. There is an ever-increasing underserved population and many more at-risk children. Numbers are on the rise for high school dropouts in our communities; our youth are being incarcerated at record numbers and dying in record numbers.

I experienced first-hand what it means to grow up black in the ghetto and urban slum as an at-risk youth during the 1960s-1980s. I also had a chance to survive, learn, and grow immensely from multiple devasting, traumatizing, and earth-shattering experiences early and later in my life as a military and community leader. Succeeding would require the help of many great leaders and good people to beat the odds. Many exceptional leaders provided examples and played a pivotal role as part of the village in saving me from myself. With increased education and more than 30 years of civilian and military leadership experiences, I gained better insight into many of the challenges faced in my past community and an understanding of many of the challenges that exist today for our inner-city, at-risk youth.

In this book, I share some life experiences of growing up in an inner-city urban slum and ghetto and the difference that sound leadership, proper socialization, and spiritual faith made in my survival and life. I also share my personal experiences of growing up in a poverty-stricken, underclass community environment and some of the keys to my success, which I still believe are relevant in helping save our youth today. This book examines and discusses essential factors surrounding schools, peers, delinquency, crime, and the importance of proper leadership in being a difference-maker. As a military and servant leader, I am responsible for sharing my story and experiences to help and inspire others, especially those who will follow. In addition, this book shares significant leadership examples from the family, church, and community that are the difference-makers in the success and failure of many at-risk youths of yesterday and today.

This book will also include scholarly observations and research from other renowned authors on the urgent topic of sound leadership to support today’s at-risk inner-city youth. I hope this book will make a difference in the lives of leaders and inner-city, at-risk youth in this time of urgent need to save our youth and children. We all have a purpose, and God put us here for a reason, yet there is no better purpose than to make a difference in the lives of others; our youth need us more today than ever before.

Keywords: Youth Leadership, Community Leadership, Military Leadership, and Leadership Development