Thedewsperspective

It became the therapy that I didn’t know I needed.  Or if I’m being totally honest, it was therapy I knew I needed.  But probably would not have sought on my own.  Recently, I was thrilled to be cast in a Short Kuts Show. The show is entitled A Love Letter to The Million Man March.  It was a show done in honor of the 30-year anniversary of the Million Man March from October 16, 1995.

The Short Kuts Show is a live short storytelling series. It draws inspiration from the rich traditions of Black American barbershops and beauty salons.  It is the brainchild of a phenomenal educator and community servant, Dr. LaMarr Darnell Shields.  And he has an incredible team to help curate his ideas and help manifest a thought into powerful testimonies.  Testimonies presented by people from all walks of life. 

I had the privilege of being a storyteller in the last Short Kuts production of the year.  The show was Friday October 17, 2025, in the James Weldon Johnson Auditorium on the campus of Coppin State University.  My alma mater, might I add.  It was a wonderful evening of shared stories.  As a collective of story sharers and creatives, we had a prayer. We hoped that in addition to being entertained, people would leave inspired. We also wanted to encourage them. They should continue to do the work the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan charged us to do on October 16, 1995.  Can I share with you the process that led to such a beautiful culminating event?  The therapeutic side.

Six weeks prior, we began to meet at the University of Baltimore library.  On the fourth floor, to be exact.  Our commitment was three days a week, at least two hours per session.  In the beginning, when we couldn’t meet in person, we met virtually.  Initially, there were 5 storytellers, all men.  But early in the stages of development, it was determined that this story could not be told without the spiritually divined experience of a sister.  Not just any sister.  A special sister.

Marc LaVeau, our director extraordinaire, circled us up.  He and Dr. Paula Langford led us in exercises that warmed up our instruments.  Our instruments being our bodies in totality.  We did listening exercises.  We did breathe exercises.  We warmed up both our motor and vocal skills.  We meditated.  We recalled.  We excavated.  We talked.  We laughed.  We cried.  We hugged.  We supported one another.  We prayed with each other and for one another.  We shared.  We received.  We were challenged.  We were pushed, poked and prodded.  We were made to feel comfortable and uncomfortable, at the same time.  We were vulnerable, transparent and trusting.

In one of our early sessions when Marc was leading us in an exercise, I raised my hand to speak.  I said, “the way my mind works, when a person asks me to do something, I need to know why.  Why are we doing this?”  My inquiry wasn’t to be disrespectful or rude.  I was just being honest and transparent.  Marc’s simple response was “trust the process.”  From that day forward I did.  And the process turned into something magnificent. 

Everyone in my cohort of story sharers had different backgrounds, but we all had some form of commonality.  Whether it was our spiritual beliefs, the side of town we represented, our paths crossing earlier in life, or our shared values.  We were one. 

For six weeks, three days a week, I shared my heart with some of the most incredible people I’ve ever met in life. This happened anywhere between 2 to 4 hours a day.   My brother Henry Brim was the youngest of our tribe.  He was actually a high school student of Dr. Shields at The Baltimore City College in the fall of 1995.  As a matter of fact, he along with other fellow students accompanied Dr. Shields to the Million Man March.  A young man who lost his sight at 3, but kept his ability to see.  The way he articulated and painted a profound visual of his story was bar none.  We shared many laughs together.  As a Baltimore Ravens fan, I shared my game tickets with him.  My wife and I were unable to attend this game.  As I was trying to explain how far up our seats are in the stadium, Henry cut me off and said, “it doesn’t make a difference.  Ain’t like I can see the game anyway.”  We laughed.  Then we slapped five.  My man.

There was also my brother Sean Ayers from East Baltimore.  His dad “Boo” was just as instrumental to his story as his story itself.  Sean admittedly didn’t attend the original Million Man March.  However, he did support the men from afar.  It was just imperative that he worked to make money to properly provide for he and his wife.  They were in the process of working towards securing their first home.  Whether Sean was there in person or not, that’s not the story that most resonated with me.  It was the story of he and his dad.  Their relationship.  A relationship that most young men would envy to have.  Just the presence of a father.  Powerful.

Brother Curtis X from Pittsburgh was another pressure cooker in our story sharers cohort.  A militant brother who speaks as eloquently as El Hajj Malik El Shabazz.  One you’d envision standing in his living room peering through his window curtains strapped like Chi Ali and ready to die like Bee Eye Gee.  His story was heavily centered in consciousness and truth seeking.  One with a relatable story that is inspirational and empowering to so many.  I remember speaking to my barber Sundiata, co-owner of Reflection Eternal Barbershop in Baltimore, and I mentioned Curtis X.  Immediately he validated how thorough and righteous of a man he is.  After spending six wonderful weeks with him, I can truly confirm those sentiments. He’s one you definitely want on your team.

Then there was Edwin Avent.  Who doesn’t know my brother Mr. Edwin Avent?  He’s currently the CEO of Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys.  He has founded numerous successful businesses over the past 30 years.  He’s been protecting the blood and setting the perfect example of black entrepreneurialism in Baltimore forever.  He’s a humble leader.  One that’s relatable and approachable.  With a brilliant business mind.  And a humongous heart committed to service.  I met him years ago when he was growing his company Umoja Sasa.  Around the same time as the first Million Man March.  From afar, I always followed his career and was inspired by the things he was able to do.  He opened restaurants, owned a magazine and television station.  He employed hundreds of people who looked like him.  People don’t always get their flowers while they can still smell them.  However, I’m certain that anyone who has the privilege of spending any time with this great man will agree. Brother Edwin Avent deserves all of his flowers right now.

The spirit that settled the space.  The one with a voice we all acknowledge. It pierces through all things irrelevant. It magnifies all things that are.  The wife of Minister Carlos Muhammad, Sister Saleemah.  She told her story in a manner that made us want to meet the people she was speaking about.  To be encouraged and influenced in the manner that she was by these brilliant soldier leaders.  She immortalized her husband, her brother and her son in her beautiful soliloquy.  As the first story sharer she set the tone for the evening for us.  Just as she had done since the beginning of our formation. 

This whole experience was truly the therapy I needed but would not have sought on my own.  I’m so grateful that GOD order my steps and that I can walk blindly by faith.  This whole experience was top notch.  It’s much more than the “finished” product that people saw the day of the actual show.  We built a forever family.  A bond that will connect us forever.  A shared experience that made us better people than when we first met one another. 

Thank you Brother Marc.  Thank you Dr. Shields.  Thank you Dr. P.  Thank you Sister Tuere.  Thank you Sister Kenda.  Thank you Sister Monifah.  Thank you Sister Tatyana.  Thank you Brother Bobby and Brother Olamina.  Thank you DJ Leroy.  And thank you to everyone who worked on the set which aided in bringing our stories into fruition.  I am forever grateful to my Short Kuts family for this experience.  Sincerely, Brother Cornell Dews aka Harford Road Get Your Guns Out Pow (in Marc’s voice – inside joke)    

 To see the show in its entirety please visit the Short Kuts Show Live Storytelling Series Page on YouTube. Also visit The Short Kuts Show website: http://www.theshortkutsshow.com to stay informed of all the upcoming shows.