Maurice Phillips
Destiny’s Son is a story that should be told. This is my life, my vision, and I want to share it with you, the reader. My story reflects the strength of the African-American family and our ability to love and strive forward despite the obstacles set before us.
My story depicts the vicious cycle of poverty, but more importantly how to overcome it.
Destiny’s Son is a compilation of the obstacles, distractions, despair, and the madness I encountered throughout my destiny. There are several messages throughout Destiny’s Son. If I could help others by writing, then I have truly accomplished my callings. Thank you, Jesus!
Mr. Phillips currently counsels youth offenders, and offers specialized counseling for emotionally disturbed males and females ages 12-25 years old, and provides parental counseling. In addition to providing counseling, he has coached basketball from junior- high to collegiate levels, conducted motivation-speaking engagements for Golden Gate Academy, Boys and Girls Club of America, community centers, group homes, NAACP National Youth Conference, and Cal- State Hayward’s African-American graduation.
Mr. Phillips recounts several mischievous incidents during his childhood, which began his journey toward his destiny. At the age of four, he recalls being attracted to a red cigarette lighter that was positioned out of his reach. In an effort to retrieve the red lighter, Maurice leveraged the lighter against his chest, which set his shirt aflame. He sustained a severe burn on the left side of his chest, where his heart beats, and if that wasn’t enough, prior to the healing of the chest burn he contracted chicken pox. The scar from the burn reflects the image of the African continent. Mr. Phillip’s belief is that the image of the African continent on his chest indicates that he was chosen to help others overcome the obstacles in their lives.
His birth name being Phillip Maurice Watson-Gibbs, he will use only his first name Phillip, meaning great-helper, and Maurice, meaning love. Mr. Phillips’ philosophy is that before anything great happens to you, consistently you must first have love in your heart.
Other Projects: Documentary, Sound Track
Email: Familydynamics2002@yahoo.com
My mom learned about her pregnancy at the age of sixteen and in her mind she wanted to continue the vicious cycle of poverty by asking Grandmama to sign her welfare papers. Virginia must have been drinking that day because she told my mom “Hell No!” Mom argued, “Why can’t you sign my paper work?” She continued, “You signed Margaret, papers and she has three children and I’m having one but you won’t sign my papers.”
We all lived in a three bedroom house, Grandmama, Margaret, Sheila, Angela, Ricky, Dale, Dennis, Donna, Deneen, Dianna, Pete, Uncle “Hooker”, mom and I. Let’s not forget about our dog, a boxer mixed with bull dog. His name was “Pimp”. The color of Pimp’s coat was the color of a penny and he protected his family. As mom went to work Uncle Ricky and “Hooker” had to baby-sit, but I didn’t mind because they were cool. Uncle Ricky attended Martin Luther King Jr. High School and played baseball. Our family talked about Uncle Ricky being very smart in school and he would have continued his education and made the pros had he not been shot at on a daily basis for refusing to join a gang.
Finally, dad came home from the Vietnam War. Dad returned when I reached two years old and his duty was a medic working in the hospital. Upon his return to Chicago, he applied for the Chicago Transit Authority as a bus driver. I remember praying his schedule would change because he worked the night shift. Mom worked as a receptionist with the Chicago Police Department and registered for college.
