Jeremy Roberts Shaw

Oriki: Among many of the West African peoples from among whom our ancestors were seized, whenever a child is born, a birth poem or praise song is composed in its honor. Among the Yoruba this birth poem is called Oriki.

- Kwame Ture (Autobiography, Ready for revolution)

My story starts with my father Albert Carl Shaw Jr. in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. My father is the third of sixteen children. A kind hearted, kid loving, family centered fellow. He would never lose these qualities, even to this day.

The year I was to be born my father had a life threatening accident at work. He fell off a two story platform and the two ton platform he was standing on fell with him and landed on his head, crushing his spine. My father, being the tough African he is, resolved not to let this injury best him, even though he had come so close to death and even though doctors projected he would never walk again. My father prevailed. He now walks around with rods in his back to keep him from falling apart. All this to be able to hold me for the first time a few months from then on October 20, 1989.

My mother would leave my father when I was very young. My ole man was a real rarity in those times. A single father who took his ex-wife to court to gain custody of his two boys, and won. Usually doesn't happen. My dad did his absolute best to raise us. He often played the fence between a strong male and a soft and loving mother. To this very day he gets mothers day gifts and fathers day gifts.

My father has taught me so much. Most of his teachings were not direct but tacit. I would watch him pullover the car to help folks stuck on the road. I would watch him hold the door open for women and put family above everything. But most of all just be a sincere happy goof ball. which is my most pronounced trait gleaned from him, im proud to say.

All in all, My ole man survived hard times on disability as a single parent to raise his two boys, and I have become better for it. I graduated from Florida State University, found my calling through the annals of history, and joined the most revolutionary organization on this side of the earth. The Dream Defenders. We fight evil, and we're good at it. We are the ones we have been waiting for! no doubt...

Be it resolved that this recollection and soul pouring be an excerpt of my Oriki. Ase.

Blessings & Power

Jeremy Roberts Shaw