Wake Up and Start to Live is based upon a poll commissioned by Village Foundation and conducted by the Gallup Organization in March 1999, for the purpose of examining perceptions of U.S. citizens with regard to African-American men in American society. This book assumes that the African-American community must be aware that to work towards repairing a societal breach, a certain level of self-knowledge must be achieved amongst African-Americans themselves. The poll serves a unique and thoughtful purpose for African-Americans and for other races that are interested in acquiring self-knowledge. Self-knowledge will provide a degree of accuracy, which can be used for critical examination by African-American males in correcting their own individual conduct and perceptions of society. Wake Up and Start to Live focuses on influences that define our society, the importance of self-knowledge, overcoming stigma and perception, and explores contemporary opinions regarding race relations.