As carriers of a message set to heal a violence shattered community, Reverend Al Sharpton joined Musician/Activist Deacon Dy-Dy (née Dy-Shawn Simpkins, Sr.) and family in the recent Love and Not Hate March & Movement on August 12, 2017. The event was organized by Simpkins’s nonprofit organizations, his GAP Program and other nonprofits collectively known as Community United As One. The group, along with the East Orange City Council, used the march as a kickoff to an annual event that brings awareness to the ongoing gun violence. Sharpton’s presence helped bring community focus to the epidemic that has taken the lives of promising teens and adults, including that of Simpkins’s son, Dy-Shawn Simpkins Jr.
Simpkins Jr. was a starting freshman lockdown corner back at Norfolk State University until a senseless act of violence cut his life short in a double homicide. Part of the march culminated in a musical segment where Simpkins, Sr. performed their collaborative song, “Seeds in the Field”, recorded before his son’s untimely death. With spiritually potent music that he releases as Deacon Don Dy-Dy, his mission is to lure the hip-hop generation towards a holier message. A native of East Orange, New Jersey, Simpkins Sr. possessed natural athletic talents that were certain to provide a segue to a college education and a promising professional athletic career in the NFL—until the now reformed activist served fifteen years in prison. Upon his release, Deacon Don was determined to set an upstanding example for his wife and children. Once a repeat offender of the law and now a spiritually enlightened emcee, Deacon Don Dy-Dy is an example of a life more fully lived after a wakeup call.
Musically, Deacon Don and his son Dy-Shawn also known SG (So Good) DaDa or Therealdada were able to bridge the gap between social media and old and new school poetry on wax. As the Simpkins family continues to pick up the pieces after their loss, the Don Deacon has made it his mission to continue spreading the word of God through the use of his street-oriented Christian Hip-Hop content. He hopes to bring light and awareness to the plague of senseless gun violence in America. While many would struggle to find the blessing or silver lining in any tragedy, in sharing his music and experience, he has undertaken the mission to change the lives of misguided youth before it’s too late.
For more events and updates, please visit Simpkins’ website
www.deacondondydy.com
and social media accounts:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/deacondondydy.simpkins
YouTube Chnl – Deacon Don Dydy – Topic
Twitter https://twitter.com/deacondondydy
Deskgram https://deskgram.org/deacon_dondydy
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