We Got This! 35 & Older

By Fanya Baruti   

Inspired by Darryl Smith

Courtesy of New Way of Life

Community developed, sense of purpose, maintained and directed, citizens of Long Beach moved to gather together to play softball, Saturday, March 12, 2011, at the noon day hour. Folks came to the legendary Martin Luther King, Jr. Park to make a statement to their family, particularly their children and their children’s children that it was time to “step up to the plate!!!” and play the game right. And, indeed the real deal is not a game, but men and women having the right to take “charge for change” within the African-American community in Long Beach, CA.

Organizing one of the most heartfelt gatherings at MLK Park to play softball came at the precise time. We came to mend and meet people that are our family, friends, homies, and most of all, “they are our neighbors.” We stressed that in order to be neighborly, you must share the love.

Most folk that came had not seen one another for many years. They hugged, laughed, and they networked together to stay in-touch and vowed to build a movement that would strengthen their entire family, as well as the extended. Brothers and sisters played ball on one side of the park while the Hispanics played soccer on the other side. Peacefully, we celebrated a sense of pride and respect. From the start of our day, into the dim lights of the evening night, a radiant magnificent atmosphere never lost its flavor.

Our very own City Councilman Dee Andrews sat and enjoyed the event with much glee in his eyes and his warm spirit flowed into everyone that he had an opportunity to speak with, and with those that gave a glance, smiles generated a harmony that money cannot buy. Also at the plate was entrepreneur Willie McGinest, who has supported Long Beach functions since day one.

Keith Lilly, Director of the Boys and Girls Club gave the community the type of love and regard that made the games begun without interruption. The field had the plates and the diamond was shining. When asked, what would you call the day’s event?, Darryl Smith, the spearhead of the gathering replied, “we got this.” And thus, the 35 and over softball league was born.

There came a few organizations from the Long Beach community that supported the event. Particular individuals that have aspirations in bringing Long Beach to another level, especially in the African-American community was deep in the field. It is time for the community to begin to support all of the efforts of these organizations that will help you find any and all of the resources in our city that you may not beware of that is there to assist you. This notation should bring the light back on in our minds that we can do more than what we have been doing. We should do more and we must do more. Our very own Focusing and Mentoring Inner-City Long Beach Youth (family.foundation.com), who is also members of Long Beach Weed & Seed and LB GRIP. ”Uplift Fallen Humanity” represented, and the Black Awareness Community Development Organization (BACDO). “Project Cry No More” straight out of Compton was in the house. “2nd Call” out of Los Angeles held their spot on the green. And most of all, professional interventionist and current students from PCITI and other interventionist trainings were all over MLK. This is part of the reason why the joy, love, peace and happiness gave meaning to the community.

All of Us or None presented “Ban the Box” to the community and had a few hats and tee-shirts with their logo to share with the people. Each organization is holing or is pending to hold non-profit status and have vowed to work together, bringing back the traditional elements of family unity. The talks have begun and the people are ready to bring a new hope to their children. As parents, we expect to demonstrate a better sense of being responsible for our own. Many of us have been the cause of our city’s demise and the breakdown of family structure, yet now today, we have a heart to help clean it up.

Church members from The Rock, Antioch Church of Long Beach and New Hope Church of Christ Holiness attended, amongst other church goers that I have failed to mention. The point is this, we need our spiritual leaders to help support what is taking place. Together we can build back the esteem of a generation plus that is needed, necessary and longed for. “We got this.”