Love you so much momma Woods, FB aka Carole Anders Harris; Love you Magic, FB aka James Mills, Sr. In 1982, after serving a tour in the US Navy, I entered the 1982 Freshman class of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. I figured I served my country; now let me go learn how to serve my Black community. What was not really understood until years later in 2013, military service-related injuries began to surface during my 1982-83 HBCU collegiate school year. It became very apparent way back then that participating in anything “structural” was not going to be a part of my life path. One of my two injuries was of a beautiful mind nature. Back then we called it, “He didn’t come back (home) right.” In the 21st century, it’s referred to Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, PTSD.

Nevertheless, I was 21 years old and I had a life to live, and I still found a way to serve my Black community when I was called to launch the Afromation Movement to Integrate American History in Seattle, Washington on March 26, 1994. I was the first to profess, prove and promote that Black History is American History. I was the first to demand that so-called Black Month educational dissemination be expanded to Every day of the year…all 366. Team Afromation changed Black America. You change Black America, you change America. You change America, you change the world. For the aforementioned reasons, I’m glad I did not know I was suffering from mental health issues due to my time in the Navy while launching that movement back in 1994.

Fast forward to 2013, after 8 years in Post-Katrina New Orleans answering my second calling when, myself, my mother and others close to me realized that I was suffering (and had been all along since 1982) and that I was deteriorating, fast! Now I do know. And now, you all know. Hear this though, I DID NOT GIVE IN, I DID NOT GIVE OUT, I DID NOT GIVE UP! We gonna give God all the credit, all the glory on this beautiful Sunday morning. Down here on the ground, I’m gonna thank my daughter. I’m gonna thank my Nevada Hudson Fam. I’m gonna thank my Nevada Loving Fam. I’m gonna thank ALL MY FRIENDS. I’ve been so blessed to have maintained beautiful relationships coming straight outta North and North Central Omaha, Northwest High, the United States Navy and Morehouse College, aka “The HOUSE.” To single out one, my brother James Mills, aka “Magic,” backed by his beautiful wife Melanie. James is the only other person from the Class of 80 that I’m aware of to go to the exact same combinations of Omaha schools as me [Lothrup ES, Mt. View ES, Nathan Hale JHS, NWHS], my patna! Well, 2013-on had been a struggle, a battle, constant crisis mode; {Michael vs Woods}. I said to Magic, “I just need just ONE person to understand what’s happening to me.” Magic responded, “I will always understand you Mike.”

Today, my brain is still broken, but my mind is powerful and my heart is strong and my continuation path has been laid out for me, and I have my new marching orders. I gots knowledge to pass on to my granddaughters, nieces and nephews. I just wanna continue to do God’s will. I wanna thank my mother, aka Baby Carole, for being there during a difficult roller coaster ride in the life of an untreated, mostly un-understood disabled Navy veteran; and for never turning her back on her, aka, baby boy. I wanna pray for those currently experiencing mental health issues. I wanna say that 9/10, they just need someone to listen to them. You don’t have to have the answers, you just need the understanding. I wanna say that I am a shining example that there is a way out, a way forward, a way through it. There is a way. In conclusion, I just wanna say that I avoid Facebook not to avoid my Facebook Friends. I avoid Facebook to protect my mental health. Blessings & Peace. Woods

Post from Facebook (temporarily deactivated) account of M Darryl Woods,
September 5, 2021, 5:31am