Founder- Bro Tee

Thoughts of Black Men Inc (TBM) started in April of 2002. TBM is an online group that began with the vision to create a haven for men to express their thoughts. It is the desire of the founder, Kevin T. Coston- known as “Tee”, to impart positive, leadership inspiring thoughts into the lives of men from all walks of life.

He believes that by exchanging factual information, organizing mentorship to instill the right skill sets and emphasizing personal responsibility men can be the leaders that they were originally created to be. TBM has created an avenue wherein men can vent and share their thoughts, hopes and expectations, frustrations and even the failures in their lives to gain new perspectives that can lead to transformative solutions for a more properly balanced familial and societal alignment. A therapeutic sounding-board for men to share their values, morals, weaknesses, and their experiences. TBM is an avenue where men can come and be transparent not only for their own healing, but also for the healing of their brothers. When men are healed, our families can then begin to heal.

Through the success of the online group which targeted men, The Thoughts of Black Men, responded to constant requests from women to begin a similar group for the whole family. Thus the birth of The Thoughts of Black Men and Family. Between the two groups TBM reaches approximately 4000 members. Approximately 4000 people gathering to transform their lives and the lives of their families.

In addition to communicating online, TBM members have the opportunity as of 2007 to join in on Thursday evenings to TBM Conference. TBM Conference made The Thoughts of Black Men and Family even accessible to all people. It created another avenue where the members could express their thoughts, experiences and values. TBM Conference features leaders from all parts of the country. This enables the members of TBM to interact live with the people who are making positive contributions in communities for the betterment of people everywhere.

This is an avenue where many lives can be reached and transformed. In a time where HIV AIDS and Cancer are running rampant in our communities empowering people is crucial. In a time when poverty, crime and unemployment are destroying families… it is economically astute and morally imperative that people are enlightened as to the choices that can be made to positively transform their communities and their personal lives.

Dr. Cornel West

Dr. Cornel West, Professor at Princeton University. Author of “Hope on a Tightrope.” One of America’s most provocative public intellectuals, Cornel West has been a champion for racial justice since childhood. His writings, speaking, and teaching weave together the traditions of the black Baptist Church, progressive politics, and jazz.

The New York Times has praised his “ferocious moral vision.” Currently the Class of 1943 Professor at Princeton University, West burst onto the national scene in 1993 with his best selling book, Race Matters, a searing analysis of racism in American democracy. Race Matters has become a contemporary classic, selling more than a half a million copies to date. In addition, West has published 18 other books and has edited 13 texts and has received more than 20 honorary degrees. West earned two bachelor’s degrees from Harvard in three years, magna cum laude. Martin Kilson, one of his professors there, describes West as “the most intellectually aggressive and highly cerebral student I have taught.”

After earning his Ph.D. at Princeton, he became a professor of religion and director of the Afro-American Studies program there. West has also taught at Union Theological Seminary, Yale, Harvard, and the University of Paris. In his book, “Democracy Matters,” West analyzes the arrested development of democracy both in America and in the crisis-ridden Middle East. In his latest book, Hope on a Tightrope, he offers courageous commentary on issues that affect the lives of all Americans. Themes include Race, Leadership, Faith, Family, Philosophy, and Love and Service.

Dr. Cornel West also has produced 3 albums… his latest CD, Never Forget: A Journey of Revelations is a collection of socially conscience music featuring collaborations with Prince, Outkast, Jill Scott, Talib Kweli and KRS-ONE. West also offers commentary weekly on The Tavis Smiley Show from PRI. West was an influential force in developing the storyline for the popular Matrix movie trilogy and has served as its official spokesperson, as well as playing a recurring role in the final two films.

Dr. West was a special guest speaker recently for the- The Thoughts of Black Men Organization (TBM) Thursday Night Conference Call on Thursday, March 2, 2009 at 9:00 PM, Eastern Time Zone. The conference call, a free weekly event, is a worldwide telephonic program developed by Tee Coston, founder of the TBM, for the purpose of helping the crisis-ridden Black Community cope with today’s crises.

On the night of the conference Dr. West was pleased to know that “TBM” is accomplishing its many goals, by laboriously researching to recruit men and women from all parts of the country to join us in imparting words of wisdom as a means of encouragement and support benefiting us all.

Dr. West imparted knowledge to the “TBM” audience that it takes tremendous courage to be and continuously seeking for unarmed truth. Dr. West believes that the condition of truth is when you allow suffering to speak. Any time you talk about truth, you are talking about a way to truth. And the way to truth is to make sure suffering speaks. That all the voices of suffering speaks in such a way that it has dignity, it has the elegance, the excellence and plays a role in shaping the destiny of individuals, which is one of the largest communities in society.

Now unconditional love is important, especially for a hated, despised people who have been taught to hate and despise themselves. All of us are worthy of love. Justice is what love looks like in public. When you really love people… you face and challenge the fact that they are being treated unjustly.

You can’t stand the fact that they are being treated unfairly. At the very beginning there are three pillars: “Can we tell the truth about ourselves? Can we tell the truth about our community? Can we tell the truth about our society and our world?”. Because in the end it is going to be the truth that sets us free. And at the same time that truth is inseparable from love because that love is about mastering the courage to fight for justice. It’s a fire in your bones, if you don’t do something the rocks are going to shout out. Love will transform a person’s life and each life is priceless.

On May 2, 2009, Bro Tee (Founder) & The Thoughts Of Black Men & Family was proud to present Dr. Cornel West with a token of love in honor of his support to our organization and to the nation in which respects his knowledge and wisdom which made a difference in which we live today.