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What's In Your Bag, 119 Elm St, Montclair, NJ (2026)

07/17/2026

N90 Mask

Be sure and use the N90 mask to protect your respiratory system from the Canadian wildfires particles. The (AQI) air quality index in New Jersey is between 152 and 164, making the air unhealthy. So, minimize all outdoor activities. Here’s a picture of the sun through the thick smog. 🤔🤔🤔

07/15/2026

F e l l o w s h i p

Beyond great food and ambience, there is so much more to fellowshipping with friends. For many years, Alan and I have solved all the world’s problems over our love of food and sporting events. 😂 More importantly, fellowship has enabled us with safe spaces to emote and bounce around life’s goals, hopes, and expectations. It has also been a very strong foundation for building levels of accountability, where we check and support one another. ❤️

As individuals of different age groups, religions, and ethnicities, we have learned to respect, honor, and celebrate our differences while leaving room to grow mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. In short, Life is a whisper. So, whatever you do, remember to make each moment of fellowshipping count with those you love. ❤️

Have a wonderful evening!

Mike
❤️🙏🏾

07/13/2026

J U S T B E C A U S E

For no reason, other than I love this man, I am posting this photograph and message of us. This is my cousin Charles Marlen (Barbee) Bradley. He is the son of my cousin, Linda Barbee-Bradley, and is part of my Jersey City, NJ Barbee family. Since he was a little boy, his mother always said, Marlen looks just like you. Even though I did not see it at the time, I would just laugh and hug her. She would then say, I told him (Marlen) to make sure he gets to know and spend time with you. Needless to say, his mom was one of my favorite cousins. ❤️

Not only did (Marlen) Charles and I connect, we made it a point to work together and be intentional about our presence in one another’s lives. So, as we parted this past Saturday from our MAN VILLAGE Men’s Support Group session on Discipline, I told myself, if for no other reason, share my public love and appreciation for this Man of God. Even with his 6’4” imposing frame, Charles is the most humblest persons you could ever meet. He is an honorable man, loving father, works in finance, and is an entrepreneur within the digital animation space. If you have not noticed, I am honored for the relationship he and I’ve had over the years, and am extremely proud of this man. ❤️

Charles, keep shining. You are WINNING!

Love ya,

Cuz Mike
❤️🙏🏾

07/12/2026

D I S C I P L I N E

To a packed group room of 34 participants, MAN VILLAGE Men’s Support Group tackled portions of the topic on DISCIPLINE. The discussions were deep and robust that, in order to cover other aspects of the subject, we are having a part II. The conversation shifted in a few areas. One of the most notable moments came when we heard from our youth and their perspectives. It almost impossible to discipline our children when we have not been consistently present in their lives. Let’s sum it up this way. Corporal punishment is not a healthy or recommended form of discipline. So, when we say we’re discipling our children, are we just guising punishment as discipline?

Unfortunately, when it comes to family practices, we wrongfully Interchange the terminology discipline for punishment. While both words deal with aspects of rule breaking, they have two entirely different meanings and approaches. Discipline primarily focuses on teachings that shift behaviors with hopes they develop into long term sustainable growth. It’s intended to close gaps between actual behavior and desired outcomes. Contrarily, punishment is more of a responsive action geared to penalize a person for something they did in the past.

So, as we delved deeper into the conversation, perspectives varied on the intent of disciplining versus imposing punishment for maladaptive behaviors. As you can imagine, there are many layers to understanding discipline, its application, how it differentiates from other words geared to alter unwanted behaviors, and how it is an essential extension of love. We are excited to engage in further discussions on this topic in our next MAN VILLAGE session. TBD. ❤️

Mike
F a c i l i t a t o r
MAN VILLAGE
Men’s Support Group

07/08/2026

As previously posted, yesterday was the 95th Bornday anniversary of my father Otha Donald Barbee. I decided to lay flowers at his gravesite.
Despite several failed attempts locating the graves of his father, my paternal grandfather William Nathaniel Barbee, whom I am named after and his uncle, Irving Barbee, I was willing to try again. Coincidentally, they are buried in the same cemetery. Two major factors that impacted my search over the years was their lack of headstone markings, and the fact they are buried in the older part of the cemetery that dated back to the 1800s.

Therefore, I once again solicited the help of the cemetery’s office staff. This time, I demanded that they helped me locate the marker. To my surprise, they obliged. So, together and after an hour search, I, along with two of their workers, finally located the unmarked graves of my grandfather William Nathaniel and great great Uncle Irving. Happy as I can be, I took several pictures and asked the staff to take one of me at the empty gravesite. I can now rest easy knowing that a headstone bearing their names will be engraved. That is so history will record, here lies the bodies of two great men whose contributions were never forgotten.

Rest Easy Grandpa William and Uncle Irving.

Fun Fact: My father and his dad transitioned 49 years apart on the same February 12th date. 😉🤔❤️

❤️🙏🏾

07/08/2026

D I S C I P L I N E

Recently, the long awaited Michael Jackson biopic was released. Many voiced opinions about the father, Joe Jackson’s methodology of discipline through corporal punishment. Some viewed his approach as abusive, without having any considerations to his culture or the era of his generation. Neither was there any considerations to corporal punishment as a normalized intergenerational learned behavior that was rooted and enforced by White Europeans in American slavery. Ironically, some within the Black community took offense to the heavy criticism. They felt embarrassed and even judged by the degree of criticism, mainly because Joe Jackson’s methodology of corporal punishment was familiar in many of their households.

According to the World Health Organization, corporal punishment is of no benefit to the child or parent and viewed as a public health concern. In addition, research has correlated corporal punishment, flogging, beatings, whippings, etc. to increased risk of mood, anxiety, and personality mental health disorders. They state, “it causes severe toxic stress, alters brain development, and significantly increases the risk of aggression, anxiety, and depression.

With a MAN VILLAGE Men’s Support Group membership of 209 men, of whom 98% of them identify as African-American (Black), let’s take a deep dive into the sensitive topic of DISCIPLINE, its impact, effectiveness, methodology, moral contradictions, cultural considerations, and the framing of misbehavior. Questions must be addressed. Do the means justify the end? Is corporal punishment, within African-American community, a byproduct of learned intergenerational cycles of normalized trauma? Is the methodology of discipline heavily influenced by one’s race, ethnicity, and/or culture? How do we turn the corner? What say you?

RSVP is required.

Mike
William Michael Barbee
F a c i l i t a t o r
M A N V I L L A G E
Men’s Support Group

07/07/2026

Daddy, Happy Heavenly ❤️

Today, my Dad, Dea. Otha Donald Barbee would have been 95 years young. Born July 07, 1931 in the segregated south of Durham, North Carolina to the late William Nathaniel & Jeannawillis (H)Umphrey Barbee, my father beat the odds. By the time he turned five, he was raised by his aunt & uncle, Mother Mozelle & John Chambers in Richmond, Virginia. He attended and graduated with pride from Armstrong High School with his best friends Jimmy “Uncle Bey“ Odell, former VA Lt. Gov Douglas “Doug“ Wilder, and a gentleman we only knew as “Blue Juice“,” due to his rich dark complexion. The four of them did two things together after graduating from high school. They joined their local chapters of the NAACP and enlisted in the US Military, serving in the Korean War. ❤️

As a child, I feared my father. As a young man, I respected my father. As a man, I adored my father because he was the greatest example of a man that I have ever met on this side of heaven. He was an honest, honorable, morally sound, consistent, funny, steady, prideful,, strong, reliable, talented, resourceful, present father, and a Man of God. He loved his family, and anyone who knew him understood his love for Jesus and family were his priorities. He was a standard setter, and prepared me for how to conduct myself as a man. So, whenever you see me standing up to racists, bullies, conmen, double talking preachers, crooked politicians, and those who benefit off the backs of the less fortunate, I learned it from my father. ❤️

Daddy, I thank you for your example of what a man supposed to be. Thank you for leading me and your family on this course. You are and will always be the greatest man I have ever known in the flesh. Rest easy. I will see you soon. Happy Bornday Anniversary. ❤️

Your Youngest,

Mike
❤️🎊🎉🙏🏾

07/03/2026

West Orange Pre-July 04, 2026 fireworks 💥☄️🔥

06/28/2026

P I C K L E B A L L

Pickleball has become synonymous with the growing interest of our MAN VILLAGE Men’s Support Group brothers. Pickleball, along with other forms of exercises, is a mindfulness activity. All of them have the ability to reduce unnecessary mental that we subconsciously listen to daily. It also allows the mind to subconsciously connect to rhythmic hits of the paddle two ball while moving the body. Today, our brother Ray joined me, John, and Laird. Tomorrow, I cannot help but to wonder if you will be there. Until then, enjoy the remainder of your weekend in peace.

❤️✌🏾

06/28/2026

The Next Generation

Under the topic of “The Next Generation,” MAN VILLAGE Men’s Support Group discussed intrenched intergenerational disconnects between our youth, young men, men, aging men, and senior male populations. We were blessed to have in our midst, youth as young as 14-22 and seniors who ages ranged from 79 - 82 years young. As a point of reference, it was an honor having the lineage of three generations of men from the same family who epitomized the value, successes, and importance of having a consistent male figures present in a young man’s development. Nuggets of learned experiences were received by all in attendance.

All present in yesterday’s session agreed that bridging communication gaps between the generations was essential for the overall growth of our families and community. Some of the key factors we discussed regarding bridging gaps were as follows: Enter any and all engagements with Love, Engaging one another without judgment, Maintain respect even though our communication styles are different, Do better at listening, Set healthy boundaries with consequences, Be more flexible, and Be willing to engage one another in areas of common interest.

As MAN VILLAGE continues raising our individual levels of emotional intelligence & self-awareness, forgiveness of self and others, creating healthy boundaries that maintain and protect our mental wellness, and being intentional about incorporating mindfulness activities into our daily lives, we believe that those once uncrossable gaps will slowly close. We look forward to seeing you at our next session. Until then, be intentional about sowing deeds of kindness and seeds of love into the lives of strangers. ❤️

Peace,

Mike
F a c i l i t a t o r
M A N V I L L A G E
Men’s Support Group

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