The Dr. Vibe Show™: Bill Roddy “Manhood From The Hood – Part One Of Two”

May 29, 2013

Bill Roddy: Co-Founder and Executive Director Of The Osiris Foundation And Author Of "Manhood From The Hood" — Bill Roddy: Co-Founder and Executive Director Of The Osiris Foundation And Author Of “Manhood From The Hood”

Bill Roddy is well known in Minneapolis/St. Paul as the co-founder of Osiris Organization, a non-profit mentoring organization working with at-risk youth through life skills training, computer technology, and entrepreneurial education.

Born in Arkansas, Bill spent his formative years with his grandparents and aunts in Chicago. He came to Minnesota in 1975 to attend the University of St. Thomas, in St. Paul.

After graduating, he worked in the corporate sector. In 1991 he worked as a professional tennis instructor and as multicultural tennis director with the USTA. He founded Osiris Organization out of his desire to mentor young men in the community.

“Manhood From The Hood”, his memoir, recalls the no-nonsense, masculine ideals Bill learned from his grandfather.

During part one of our two part conversation about his book, “Manhood From The Hood”, Bill shares about:

– Why did he write and what made him write “Manhood From The Hood”
– The moment when he decided to write “Manhood From The Hood”
– Some turning points and emotions that came out while he was writing the book
– How much his family cared for him when he was growing up
– His memory of holding the first finished copy of the book – the important role that his wife played in him writing the book
– start of his journey from on a farm in Arkansas to Chicago
– How his grandfather was him father when he was growing up and how he dealt with that situation
– “Throughout my entire my life, I have been loved by all my family.”
– The special role that his aunts played in his life
– How did the family handle the transition from Arkansas to Chicago – Some of his high school experiences in Chicago
– How he has used basketball to take him to where he wanted to go
– Some of his experiences and some of the challenges he overcame being a Black male going to a predominately white college and the all the help he received
– “College was an extension of my family values.”
– His closest friend who he has known since kindergarden and their special relationship
– Memories of his graduation day from college
– “I didn’t graduate from college, my family did.”
– His first job after graduating from college in Phoenix and why he left after one and came back to Minneapolis and has been there since – Some of the special people that have an impact on him during his journey
– The most difficult part of the book for him to write
– The positive impact of his book has had on other men who grew up without or not knowing their father
– His message for Black men