EDWIN LAWRENCE
LIFE SPEAKS LIFE
Where are you from and what parts of your childhood to young adulthood helped to shape who you are today?
I am from Conway, SC... A small country town with big city issues. Growing up in that environment is what molded me into the person that I am. I am very much so a product of that environment. When I grew up respect was a virtue woven into the fabric of who we were as a family and a neighborhood. On Highland Ave, the community raised us. As a latch key kid, my mother wasn't always around and there was no baby sitter after a certain age. So she left us with a certain list of does and don'ts and if you compromised the list punishment was certain. Not just from her though, but from Mrs Momma Sue, Mrs Pop, Mrs Janeen, Mrs Turk, Mrs McIver, Mrs Teen or whatever adult on the street that caught you outta pocket they had free reign to issue on the spot punishment which meant you got it double, one from them then one from Moms (which I think was more about me embarrassing her or the family than it was about the infraction.) That's what taught me the importance of respect and the understanding that it's not just me when I do something both good and bad but a family, community, and a people that I represent. However, while growing up under that umbrella, I also had an influence from the city that raised me that was outside of Highland Ave. Conway also had its own set of rules in regards to respect and punishments does and don'ts and the punishments were equally as severe. Most of us were raised by our mothers in single parent house holds so the city quickly became your father. With no money for extra, you were taught to get it on your own "be a man" so that's how robbing, stealing, sex, and countless other things got introduced to us at an early age. I caught my first run in with the law at 12 (in those days stealing and breaking the law wasn't glorified like it is today) and was put on intense probation where I had to check in at 7 o'clockevery night via phone (which we didn't have) so I had to go to Momma Deenie's house every night and call my PO. Afterwards, my mother moved out of the city limits and then moved me to my grandmother's house even further out of the city limits. I never knew if that had a direct correlation to me but all my friends said it did and joked me constantly about it. But it was all love. I had many influences, lessons, and situations that made me into the person I am today and gave me a broad perspective on life and a first hand view point on different dynamics of living. So I attribute who I am to the city that poured into the foundation of who I am.
What is your faith background and and belief system? My mother raised me a Baptist. But I had a Muslim family that I was tied to who were beautiful people so I was always intrigued to know about their faith. Then through the introduction to hip hop, people going in and out of prison, and moving around the world I was introduced to the 5% Nation, Scientilogists, Factologist, Neuobians, & Hebrew Israelites. I said all that to say I have had a host of influences and I am not because my mother was but I am because I believe. I am a follower of Christ no denomination no box he said it I believe it and we speak in the way we speak. I am a member of Kingdom 1st Church were they TEACH the gospel... 'In all thy getting get understanding.'
Who are your role models or mentors? Phenomenal question: I have different mentor's in different facets of my life. I'd say 1st Jesus not to be cliché, but in a real... "I'm going through it." Dealing with snakes, a system designed to profit off my parish, friends, family, career, the gift, you name it. If you watch his walk and literally see it as 100 as it is you can stand anywhere, with anyone, and get through anything. He teaches you how to build with people from all walks of life. Think about it. You have a dude from the hood who has been with a team and now his man snitched and set him up after he has done nothing but love (as he knows it), protect, provide, and teach him the streets as he knows it and now he is facing, decades, life, or death for him snitching. If you've never experienced that life how can you talk to him? Through Jesus' walk! It was written there is gonna be a snitch (Judas) on your team that is gonna snitch (kiss you on your cheek) on you and have you sent to prison. If you're the leader and the jail is too packed they are gonna let the Lil Fish (Barabbas) free to insure you a spot in the Feds.
The Michael Brown, Sean Bell, Amadou Diallo, Trayvon Martin, and any other cases were they are openly slaughtering and lynching young black males and concealing under the law of the land didn't they do this to Jesus? Beat him with the cat of nine tails, stabbed him, taunted him, unjustly imprisoned him & lynched I meant crucified him. This don't sound like a familiar story? I could go on and on but that bible is a great mentor wanna know why we are in the conditions we are in in this country, where we come from, and why we are still here read Exodus to know who you are then read Deuteronomy to understand the conditions we are in and why and then we will start getting free from those conditions. My bad off course back to mentors. MSgt Howard 'Pops' Brantley is one of my greatest mentor's in regards to life lessons. He never let up on me always pushing me to excel in a "Joe Clarkian" type way. One of the most important life lessons he taught me was "Practice is never over." Everyday you have to execute in expectation focused on your purpose basically stay ready so you don't have to get ready. Next, is Dr. Jamilah Mubarak one of the most virtuous humans that I have ever been in contact with in my life. She always stood as example of cultural responsibility, the importance of education, a symbol of strength, INTEGRITY, & just a solid individual. I will never forget being in her class when the city was protesting an injustice in the high school in regards to the football team and that day we were supposed to remain silent. When I went in her class there was a note on the board that said, "I have laryngitis. Follow the instructions on the board." As I began to say something to a friend of mine her eyes looked through me and she simply raised her finger to her lips. Silently reminding me to stay focused. Never did I question the note on the board never did I forget. Even when in a professional environment you do not compromise who you are or your responsibility to community and at times silence can become the loudest word ever spoken. My final mentor is my Uncle Beaver (Edward Graham) who taught me tough love and honest truth. As a man you make no excuses, you make it happen, and whatever the consequences you have to face as a result to a decision you made you stand up and take it on the chin. You stand by what you stand for.
What are you most amazed at right now in your life? I am most amazed about The Gift and The Giver. I let go of the wheel and let the Gift make room not me, but Him and I have spoken literally in every area my heart has desired. From speaking at the International World Conference for Human Rights in Townsville Australia, to Prisons, radio, T.V., schools, colleges, churches, corner stores, and corners I watch amazed as the Gift makes room. It also opened the door for my daughter to be accepted and attend the United States Naval Academy. Not me, Him.
Tell me about your wife, family, and children. My wife (Tammie Dean) is an amazing mother with a genuine desire to help people. She is actively involved in community events, is in the process of creating a peer counseling center to assist people with alcoholism, drug addiction, depression, PTSD, and a host of mental illnesses, and has just completed a book. Currently, she is bein the catalyst for us being therapeutic foster parents which has been one of the most rewarding things that I have ever done. My two beautiful daughter's (Ashanti and Endege') are great in their own right. Ashanti is currently attending the Naval Academy in Annapolis Maryland. She is very outgoing, a basketball player to the core of her being, and does public speaking engagements everywhere. My youngest daughter Endege' is equally as outgoing, is an amazing praise dancer, a member of the flag team, and attends Northside High school in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Wait I'd be remissed if I didn't mention the newest addition to my family Kwanasia. A brilliant young lady with endless possibilities in front of her. She is a little shy until she gets to know you but she fits right into the family known as Team Dean Curry Dean and now Scott. My family is just that a team and just like any other team in order for us to be successful in life and in the Kingdom we all have a position to play. We huddle at the dinner table, discuss the weekly playlist, and execute. When one is down or misses the mark, the conversation is brought back to the table, we adjust as needed (punish, praise, or push) and get the person back into the game because it affects the whole team. Some days you are the cheerleader, some days you're the coach, some days you are the referee, but you are never just a spectator. All in!