Nightly News | February 23, 2011
Big Brother helps boys become men
As part of Black History Month, meet Dale Long, a Big Brothers Big Sisters organization volunteer for the past 34 years in his hometown Dallas. He has mentored six youths from adolescence to adulthood, while inspiring countless other African American boys to overcome their own tough reality.
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This content comes from Closed Captioning that was broadcast along with this program.
>>> we've been marking black history month along with our partner website, thegrio.com and its list of 100 history makers in the making. one of the names on the list is a man who has devoted a lot of time and energy to helping young african-american boys become successful men. our report tonight from dallas, texas, and nbc's ron mott.
>> he was a wonderful guy. and i had no idea that he did work like this.
>> reporter: at 58, dale long is old enough to be 7-year-old montell's grand dad but he's actually his big brother .
>> how about that, give me five.
>> reporter: not in the traditional sense, of course.
>> it sort of has a biblical touch to it, right?
>> reporter: for more than 40 years, long has mentored boys for big brothers big sisters of america . pulling them away from the lure of the streets with positive food for thought , with results to match.
>> he can be a very great influence to montell. you know, especially later in life and even now in life.
>> reporter: why did you decide to make this part of your life, this service that you have to kids?
>> somebody was there for me. there was always someone outside of my father and my mother and my family who was there for me.
>> you remember this?
>> reporter: long was there for michael johnson too, earning both a trip to the white house in 1999 when long was named national big brother of the year. today johnson is a successful barber and big brother himself.
>> i don't mind passing it along. that's for it is for men today is stepping up to the plate and passing it on.
>> reporter: but long says far too few black men are stepping up to guide black boys in the trials of growing up.
>> in order to be men, you've got to see men. simple as that.
>> reporter: so he's turned to fraternity brothers hoping to recruit 10,000 men around the country to lead. what makes the barbershop the best place to try to recruit guys?
>> you can see it right here. i mean that's where men gather on saturday morning.
>> we've got some material.
>> reporter: a big brother , rounding up others who can make the cut as role models. ron mott, nbc news, dallas.