NEWS
DMC Answers YOUR Questions!!
posted Wednesday, May 12, 2010

 

See what people were asking DMC…...

DMC answered questions from our readers.

From Gary Townsend - “Strive to be the Best”
How are you Mr. McDaniels? My name is Gary Townsend and I actually watched your documentary and I thought it was a very unique piece. I just wanted to say that I have been a social worker and have been around kids like yourself when you were young , for 13 years. I have seen kids get lost in the cracks of the foster care system or not get the proper ready skills needed to succeed in life for a long time. but I realized that these kids need special attention in order to succeed in life. You have done an excellent job of demonstrating that its not where you are, its where you want to go in life and I commend you for that. Do you have any additional advice for a group of 12 teenage boys who are in a group home in Yonkers who think that they no longer have hope to be successful in life?

DMC - To Gary Townsend:
I would like them to know that their current situation does not define who they are. They can’t even comprehend the great things that they were put here to do and that they have everything necessary to achieve their purpose and destiny. It’s not going to be easy but it’s not really hard. They need to understand that you have to “go through, to get to!” Talent, skill and ability have nothing on determination, focus and commitment. Also, I would like these young folks to understand that they are not alone, Me, Alonzo Mourning, Dante Culpepper, Victoria Rowell, Rosie Perez and a host of other successful people, not just athletes and entertainers, but businessmen, scientists and scholors alike, are and will always be just like them. Here me out young folks….there are people on this earth assigned to get you where you are supposed to go! 100 negative people keeping you from safety and an education have no power on the 1, yes I said 1 positive person in your life. Get with that 1 positive mentor, teacher, counselor and watch your world expand! What I did is nothing compared to what they are capable of. Most importantly, get that education, that can get you out of your situation!

From Ripton
Hi,
It looks like all the greats have the same birthday.  Myself and you.  Once you found that you were adopted out of curiosity did you try contacting your birth mother and get to the reason why she gave you up?  If it was for financial hardships what do you think is the responsibility of “big government” to ensure that this is prevented?  I think we all agree social welfare is not the answer.

Thx
Ripton

DMC - To Ripton:
I had to do the search because I needed to know where the Darryl McDaniels story began. You never start a book from chapter two and little did I know, there was a chapter one to the DMC story. I found my birth mother and she said she wasn’t able to raise me and take care of me and my brother who was born 3 years earlier. But to answer your question, the government is supposed to protect and provide for these children and unfortunately there is abuse(sexual, emotional, and finacial) happening within the fostercare system. The hope is to take care of these kids and get them back to their families but if that is impossible we have to make sure they are given everything necessary to become productive, positive and successful individuals. That’s why I am at the front line of making it a federal offense to abuse a foster child physically, sexually, emotionally and financially! Then peeps would think twice! You abuse these kids in any way and you’re doing Fed Time! No if ands or buts! You know what, my birth mom did give me a better chance and fortunately I wound up in the hands of some very loving people, my mom and dad, but woe unto those who touch these kids. I want to make sure every child in the system finds a fam like mine, that’s my mission!


From Prof. D. Middleton
I want to thank Darryl for taking time to share with the world his story. The quest to find out where you came from is the journey of every young person in foster care. It’s the core of every human being to know where you came so you can begin to plant the seeds that you were given. I can see that Darryl had the juice running through is veins for a long time to teach and reach the souls of the many young people who enter the foster care system everyday without knowing anything about the soil they came from. The impact of what Darryl is doing is very much a need and a bright star in a dark world for those youngsters of POTENTIAL. THANK YOU!!

DMC - Prof. D:
Thank you for the inspiration and speaking of potential. The first thing I need people to do is change their dialogue when speaking on these children.  Lets not label them “underpriviledge” lets label them “children of potential”. I am an example of what happens when every child regardless of their situation is given everything possible to get them where they are supposed to go and to be doing what it is they are put here to do. These are children of awesome purpose and destiny and us helping them has nothing to do with blood relationships….these are all of our children! Thank you again for your motivational words.


From Ajene Christian
Darryl McDaniels I applaud you and your efforts to bring forth change for our youth. I love the term “children of potential”...I will definitely repeat that. Our children are our most important resource and we must nurture them. Thank you for taking a step forward.

DMC - To Ajene
Thanks Ajene. These children are more valuable than diamonds and gold. They are able to change our world for the better if we go all out for them. Most of the kids I meet and hang and talk to don’t believe that someone could care for them. Just a little love, encouragement, direction and discipline can make these kids, doctors, lawyers, entertainers and even presidents! LOL!

From Dwayne Stewart
I must say that this was a very inspiring and heartfelt story. Our children are continually given little or no options because us adults settle for less. It is imperative that we change our mindset to a more positive outlook for the benefit of our future. Thank you DMC for being real with the people and letting them know the real story behind Darryl the “KING”.

Thank you sincerely,
Dwayne Stewart

DMC - To Dwayne
I feel ya! You are soooo right! Some of these kids have way more sense, vision and desire than a lot of the adults that make the rules and regulations of the system. I just say this, sometimes you got to close the books and look a kid in his or hers eyes and say tell me what’s on your mind, what’s your opinion?, how could we be more of help?, would you like to assist me in assisting you? Some of the kids I meet have amazing vision and potential. We have to realize even though some are young, they had to become like grown ups way too early to survive. And with their unfortunate situations there is a lot of experience, good and bad and we need to see that.

From Ursula Harvey
Hello -
Thank you… you have been an inspiration to others!  I have two questions:
(1) Are you going to come out with another CD?
(2) How is your relationship now with your birth mother going?


DMC - To Ursula:
Hey Ursula, I will be putting out new music this summer, new single in about 3 weeks, album in August maybe? I have to say that I am one of the fortunate ones whose reunion went great. 99 percent go good but some are even harder than that first rejection at birth. I have a great relationship with my birth mom, adopted mom, and siblings. People need to understand regardless of what the particulars of the fostercare or adoption situation are, it’s something that happens for a greater reason than even we can understand. With that being said, I think I put my situation out there because I want to do something that the government with some of the laws and legal issues don’t get…...I’m gonna remove the guilt and the shame (from the birthmom, adoptive parent and the adoptee and or foster child) because if you remove all the guilt and the shame…..you remove the pain!

 

We personally Thank DMC for being “Guest Professor” and for supporting Determined To Educate, Inc.