Kendrec McDade’s Father Speaks Out at Young Black Men’s Event

Shomari Davis wanted his two sons to start planning for the future and learn from positive role models.

“I want them to see how they fit in the future and how they fit into the future as young black men,” Davis said on Saturday.

Davis and his sons Hasani McLean-Davis, 19, and Justice McLean-Davis, 16, were among 300 people who attended the Seventh Annual Young African American Male’s Conference Saturday at Pasadena City College.

The event explored the theme of “success” through speakers and workshops. The purpose of the conference was to show young men how to prepare for their futures and what choices they need to make in order to meet their goals.

The Metropolitan Community Action Services Corporation and Pasadena City College hosted the conference. The First African Methodist Church was the platinum sponsor.

Keynote speaker Romal Tune talked about how he overcame a troubled childhood to earn two college degrees, start a consulting business, found a non-profit to serve youths, write a book and become a nationally known speaker. Tune said as he grew up, people told him he wasn’t good but he didn’t take their discouraging words to heart. He told audience members that their destiny is in their hands. Don’t be disheartened by stark statistics about African American men but believe in yourself, he said.

“Every person under the sound of my voice can do something great,” Tune said.

After Tune’s speech, young participants attended workshops to learn skills that would prepare them for college, career and adulthood. The McLean-Davis brothers went to a money management workshop that taught them how to budget for higher education and other expenses. The brothers said instructors motivated them and got them to focus on achievement.

“Success is never easy, it’s tough,” Justice McLean-Davis said. “Preparation is key.”

Paul Gibson taught a workshop on maintaining physical, emotional and spiritual health. During his class he had participants give each other positive feedback so they learn how to support each other. Afterwards, Gibson said he joined the conference so he could encourage young men to set goals and follow their dreams.

Two panel discussions in the second half of the conference covered the topic of keeping young men safe. One panel was for parents and the other for young people.

The discussions were organized in light of current events, said William Syms, one of the moderators. Syms briefly referenced Trayvon Martin and Citrus College student Kendrec McDade, who was killed in a police officer-involved shooting last year.

The panel for young men was staffed by retired Pasadena Police Lt. Rodney D. Wallace, Rev. Allen Williams of the First AME Church of Pasadena and Lance Mitchell, project coordinator of the Mentoring Partnership for Youth Development program at John Muir High School.

Williams said life is not fair and people judge others by how they dress and where they are. The speakers said certain clothes such as hoodies and baggy pants are associated with gangs and criminal behavior. Wearing those clothes can make people react negatively.

Wallace said when he was on the police force he tried to keep young people out of the juvenile justice system. He said police are not out to target minority teenagers but their job is to be nosey. If the police spot young males in what they think is gang attire in a high crime area, they will stop and question them, Wallace said.

Mitchell cautioned the audience to be conscious of their appearance, their surroundings and know how to respond if stopped.

Wallace said the issue isn’t just about hoodies and clothes, it’s the attitude of the person wearing them. The retired officer added he even wears hoodies on occasion.

“If you wear a hoodie and stroll like you are the baddest thing on the street then you call attention to yourself,” Wallace said. “If you are in a neighborhood with a whole lot of problems then you are calling attention to yourself.”

Treating a police officer rudely might result in the officer finding a reason to detain someone or give him or her a ticket, he said. Wallace also advised the audience how to act during a traffic stop. He told them to roll their windows down before the officer approaches them, get their driver license out and keep their hands on the steering wheel.

The panelists said attitude affects interactions with anyone. A bad attitude can escalate a tense situation. There will always be people who try to start conflicts and bring others down, Wallace said.

During confrontations there is the temptation to retaliate, but that could end in violence and hurt the people you love, Williams said.

“Keep a cool head,” Williams said. “Think, ‘I can’t afford to go off on people. I can’t control what other people do but I can control what I do.’ Show everybody respect … even if you don’t think that person deserves it.”

Parents can teach children the right way to act but the system needs to be fixed too, said Kenneth McDade, the father of Kendrec McDade, who was shot to death by Pasadena police on March 24, 2012.

Investigators with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office concluded the two officers who shot Kendrec acted lawfully. The Los Angeles County Office of Independent Review and FBI are investigating the case. McDade raised his doubts about police shootings that are found justified.

“Are you saying every last one is justified?” McDade asked the panel. “Are you kidding me?”

McDade said the system is setting young people up for trouble with the justice system or death. Police who are committing crimes are not punished. Those officers need to face the consequences, he said.

The audience reacted to the grieving father’s speech with loud applause. Afterwards Mitchell said the law enforcement needs reform.

“I think the system does have holes,” Mitchell said, but added there is a right way to do everything. “Regardless of whether it’s wrong or not, we need to learn how to deal with police officers.”