If you didn’t attend the 2021 First Annual National Leadership Conference, you missed a weekend of fun that began with a reception at Stoddard’s Gun Range, bonding, FREE range time, education, great food, and lots of awards for chapters and leaders.

Our founder and national president, Philip Smith gave a moving opening address to the leaders. He noted the conference was a day of celebration, faith and fellowship. He shared his thoughts on what he envisions for the future of NAAGA, and he also reflected on our past as Blacks in America. Mr. Smith stressed that NAAGA “is a we, not a me” organization.

Additionally, he pointed out the qualities that make NAAGA special as a Black organization, and how we can best serve our community.

Understanding our past is a crucial element to mapping out our future. Mr. Smith noted how Blacks in America enjoy many of the pleasures of life as a result of the sacrifices our ancestors made with their lives.

Mr. Smith recited a poem he wrote based on the life of Madame LaLaurie of Louisiana. She was known to be one of the most wicked and sadistic slave owners in history. He said his poem was composed using the point of view of one of her slaves:

I WISH I HAD A GUN
By Philip Smith Soboyede

Dear Lord, I stand here preparing to die
I have ran as far as I can…my body can’t move and I cannot run any further
My leg is broke and as I sit here in the night laying against this tree, I can hear the slavers and their hounds coming…
Soon I will be tortured, beaten and eventually killed,
but I am not afraid ‘cause
I can no longer withstand this living hell
I will live free or not at all

I wish I had a gun

I have lost my wife and daughter to the master and his son

My beautiful wife and daughter who were beaten and raped constantly over the years could no longer stand the pain
And would cry out to me, “Save me!”
As the overseers would pull them fighting to the big house
Rather than endure this evil
They hung themselves together in the slave quarters
All I could say

I wish I had a gun

My son standing 6’4 and stronger than two men was beaten everyday
And when he could no longer take the whip
Attacked and killed the overseer with his bare hands snapping his neck
He ran but was caught was hanged
And his body parts quartered and given to the dogs
All I could say

I wish I had a gun

So Lord, I am coming home soon to be with you and my family
Where every day will be peaceful and pain will no longer be present
All I can say

I wish I had a gun