Truth.Culture.Style
In the Executive Leadership Center on the campus of Morehouse
College, a lobby full of middle and high school students from
around the Atlanta area and college students from throughout the
Southeast gathered for a Youth Relationship Abuse Prevention
Summit.
Organized by the Office of Fulton County District Attorney Paul
Howard, Jr., the Summit addressed the alarming rise in dating and
relationship violence among young people in Georgia and all over
the nation.
Expert panelists, relationship abuse survivors, parents, school
administrators, lawyers, ministers and community activists were on
hand to support the event which took place on February 9, 2008.
The keynote speaker was Reverend and civil rights leader Dr.
Joseph E. Lowery. He delivered a powerful keynote address
compelling the students to be smart about who they get involved
with.
Before Dr. Lowery took the stage, he was introduced by a familiar
face to many and the first gentleman of hip-hop, Mr. Derek Watkins,
a.k.a. Fonzworth Bentley.
Before the event started, I had a chance to sit down with Bentley.
Despite a few sound check interruptions, we finally found a semi-
quiet spot in the auditorium to talk.
First, we discussed the upcoming release from his debut album,
Cool Outrageous Lovers of Uniquely Raw Style (C.O.L.O.U.R.S).
He's teamed up with Kanye West and Andre 3000, two friends
whom he's familiar and comfortable with.
The album will soon be released on Kanye's own record label,
Getting Out Our Dreams (G.O.O.D. Music). Together, they've created
a sound and music video that personifies the gentleman Bentley is.
I got a chance to preview the video and I'd say it has that old school
style and sound we need back in the industry. Think along the lines
of Earth, Wind & Fire. You know, back when real instruments were
used to make music.
"I think music is something that I've been running away from and
never dealt with it," Bentley admits. "Where some artists are
considered 'funky', my music is 'jazzy'."
Bentley's brother, Dion Watkins, a USC film school graduate
directed the video. The two brothers support each other's individual
visions and share a desire to create multi-media entertainment that
will inspire and uplift the human spirit.
We also talked about his etiquette book, Advance Your Swagger:
How to Use Manners, Confidence, and Style to Get Ahead. The book
is designed to bring our generation back to a time when ‘please and
thank you’ were common words in our vocabulary.
"I want people to know a lot more about Derek Watkins and to know
a lot more about my world," he says.
"At the end of the day whether you like my music or my book,
whether you like me or not, you're gonna learn something. That’s
what it’s all about…helping others as much as I’ve been helped,"
said Bentley.
"It's about making sure you're the best individual you can be so that
when the opportunity presents itself, you are prepared," he states.
His parents, Fred and Harriette Watkins, set the example for him to
follow and Derek/Bentley walks confidently in that path.
"I think that Derek not only has an incredible opportunity, but a
responsibility," says his mom. "It's time to show you can be smart,
you can dress appropriately, you can be articulate and be hip."
We also talked about ministry. Yes, ministry. During the course of
our interview, I realized there's more to him than just being an artist,
master violinist, entertainer, MC, dancer, fashion guru, Morehouse
graduate and former personal assistant to Sean "Diddy" Combs.
This is a man of God.
Bentley's passionate statements like, "There's power in the name of
Jesus!" and "I've accepted the call to be a greater witness for Christ"
are clear indicators that he is called and chosen.
Mere words are not strong enough to convey Derek's passion for
Christ. So, here you go. Listen to our interview.
After the Youth Summit, Bentley, his cousin Marcia, his old friend
from school and I went out to eat at Houston's restaurant. Our initial
50 minute wait quickly turned into 5 minutes.
After our food arrived, Bentley blessed it and we all dug in. We were
hungry after a long evening of serious conversations with the
students.
Have you ever seen someone eat ribs without actually touching it
with their fingers? Well, he did. I've never seen anyone eat ribs with
a fork and knife so neatly and effortlessly. Obviously, he practices
what he preaches in his etiquette book.
While we were eating, we had a great conversation about college,
politics, relationships, life with God, and he had a chance to catch
up with what his old friends were doing.
A few weeks later on February 24th, I was invited to witness Bentley
deliver his first sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church, the home of Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. He spoke to the congregation about having
faith (Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and
certain of what we do not see - NIV) and how exercising that
scripture has led to significant breakthroughs in his life, personally
and professionally.
He shared with the congregation his testimony of how by faith, he
was healed from a tumor in his stomach the size of a volleyball.
By faith, he received admittance to the VH1 Fashion Awards, which
he initially didn't even have a ticket. (His flawless attire, coupled with
his I-won't-be-denied confidence conveyed he should have been on
the list to attend, so they let him in). Attending this event led to other
opportunities which have impacted his career.
"You have to exercise your faith, align yourself with someone going
in the same direction you want to go, and have integrity," Bentley told
the congregation.
After his address, the altar call was full of about 30 souls young and
old crying and giving their life to Christ. Bentley was later told by
Pastor Warnock that was the largest altar call they've ever had.
You can't argue with results. Clearly Derek Watkins, a.k.a. Fonzworth
Bentley, is more than just a celebrity.
College, a lobby full of middle and high school students from
around the Atlanta area and college students from throughout the
Southeast gathered for a Youth Relationship Abuse Prevention
Summit.
Organized by the Office of Fulton County District Attorney Paul
Howard, Jr., the Summit addressed the alarming rise in dating and
relationship violence among young people in Georgia and all over
the nation.
Expert panelists, relationship abuse survivors, parents, school
administrators, lawyers, ministers and community activists were on
hand to support the event which took place on February 9, 2008.
The keynote speaker was Reverend and civil rights leader Dr.
Joseph E. Lowery. He delivered a powerful keynote address
compelling the students to be smart about who they get involved
with.
Before Dr. Lowery took the stage, he was introduced by a familiar
face to many and the first gentleman of hip-hop, Mr. Derek Watkins,
a.k.a. Fonzworth Bentley.
Before the event started, I had a chance to sit down with Bentley.
Despite a few sound check interruptions, we finally found a semi-
quiet spot in the auditorium to talk.
First, we discussed the upcoming release from his debut album,
Cool Outrageous Lovers of Uniquely Raw Style (C.O.L.O.U.R.S).
He's teamed up with Kanye West and Andre 3000, two friends
whom he's familiar and comfortable with.
The album will soon be released on Kanye's own record label,
Getting Out Our Dreams (G.O.O.D. Music). Together, they've created
a sound and music video that personifies the gentleman Bentley is.
I got a chance to preview the video and I'd say it has that old school
style and sound we need back in the industry. Think along the lines
of Earth, Wind & Fire. You know, back when real instruments were
used to make music.
"I think music is something that I've been running away from and
never dealt with it," Bentley admits. "Where some artists are
considered 'funky', my music is 'jazzy'."
Bentley's brother, Dion Watkins, a USC film school graduate
directed the video. The two brothers support each other's individual
visions and share a desire to create multi-media entertainment that
will inspire and uplift the human spirit.
We also talked about his etiquette book, Advance Your Swagger:
How to Use Manners, Confidence, and Style to Get Ahead. The book
is designed to bring our generation back to a time when ‘please and
thank you’ were common words in our vocabulary.
"I want people to know a lot more about Derek Watkins and to know
a lot more about my world," he says.
"At the end of the day whether you like my music or my book,
whether you like me or not, you're gonna learn something. That’s
what it’s all about…helping others as much as I’ve been helped,"
said Bentley.
"It's about making sure you're the best individual you can be so that
when the opportunity presents itself, you are prepared," he states.
His parents, Fred and Harriette Watkins, set the example for him to
follow and Derek/Bentley walks confidently in that path.
"I think that Derek not only has an incredible opportunity, but a
responsibility," says his mom. "It's time to show you can be smart,
you can dress appropriately, you can be articulate and be hip."
We also talked about ministry. Yes, ministry. During the course of
our interview, I realized there's more to him than just being an artist,
master violinist, entertainer, MC, dancer, fashion guru, Morehouse
graduate and former personal assistant to Sean "Diddy" Combs.
This is a man of God.
Bentley's passionate statements like, "There's power in the name of
Jesus!" and "I've accepted the call to be a greater witness for Christ"
are clear indicators that he is called and chosen.
Mere words are not strong enough to convey Derek's passion for
Christ. So, here you go. Listen to our interview.
After the Youth Summit, Bentley, his cousin Marcia, his old friend
from school and I went out to eat at Houston's restaurant. Our initial
50 minute wait quickly turned into 5 minutes.
After our food arrived, Bentley blessed it and we all dug in. We were
hungry after a long evening of serious conversations with the
students.
Have you ever seen someone eat ribs without actually touching it
with their fingers? Well, he did. I've never seen anyone eat ribs with
a fork and knife so neatly and effortlessly. Obviously, he practices
what he preaches in his etiquette book.
While we were eating, we had a great conversation about college,
politics, relationships, life with God, and he had a chance to catch
up with what his old friends were doing.
A few weeks later on February 24th, I was invited to witness Bentley
deliver his first sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church, the home of Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. He spoke to the congregation about having
faith (Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and
certain of what we do not see - NIV) and how exercising that
scripture has led to significant breakthroughs in his life, personally
and professionally.
He shared with the congregation his testimony of how by faith, he
was healed from a tumor in his stomach the size of a volleyball.
By faith, he received admittance to the VH1 Fashion Awards, which
he initially didn't even have a ticket. (His flawless attire, coupled with
his I-won't-be-denied confidence conveyed he should have been on
the list to attend, so they let him in). Attending this event led to other
opportunities which have impacted his career.
"You have to exercise your faith, align yourself with someone going
in the same direction you want to go, and have integrity," Bentley told
the congregation.
After his address, the altar call was full of about 30 souls young and
old crying and giving their life to Christ. Bentley was later told by
Pastor Warnock that was the largest altar call they've ever had.
You can't argue with results. Clearly Derek Watkins, a.k.a. Fonzworth
Bentley, is more than just a celebrity.
In Bentley's etiquette book, you’ll learn
everything you need to know about:
You're guaranteed to learn something
new. Basically, it's good 'ole home training.
Get your copy today!
everything you need to know about:
- manners and the magic of Please
and Thank You - the do’s and “oh no you di’int’s” of
cell phones, e-mail, and text
messaging - projecting confidence through your
body language - the power of introductions, even
when you can’t remember
someone’s name - what to do before, during, and after
a job interview - body maintenance, from hair to
toes to pearly whites - the principles of timeless fashion,
so you never go out of style - 15 things every man and 15 things
every woman must have in his or
her closet - Plus “Bent Hints”–little things to
keep in mind for any occasion
You're guaranteed to learn something
new. Basically, it's good 'ole home training.
Get your copy today!
More than a
celebrity
by Kim Ford
Fonzworth Bentley:
VIDEO:
Bentley tells
of how God
healed him
from a tumor
in his
stomach the
size of a
volleyball.
Bentley tells
of how God
healed him
from a tumor
in his
stomach the
size of a
volleyball.
Bentley delivered
his first sermon
at Ebenezer
Baptist Church,
the home of Dr.
Martin Luther
King, Jr. on Feb 24.
his first sermon
at Ebenezer
Baptist Church,
the home of Dr.
Martin Luther
King, Jr. on Feb 24.
After the service, Bentley signed books and took a few pictures with these lovely
young ladies.
young ladies.
Truth.Culture.Style
VIDEO:
Bentley tells
how to handle
a domestic
violence
situation and
discusses
why he
stopped
drinking.
Bentley tells
how to handle
a domestic
violence
situation and
discusses
why he
stopped
drinking.
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