Mr. Blake has immense respect for his home country of Jamaica and the United States as well. During my interview with Mr. Blake he explained that he went into the drugs business, after having experienced extreme hardships upon his arrival in the United States. He went on to say that his intentions were solely to make money, and not to be associated with murder. I guess that was the same mind set that Joseph Kennedy and others had during the Prohibition Period. (During the period it was illegal to sell alcohol.) 

   We often seek to use appropriate words or phrases to identify those “special” individuals among us who have endured and conquered unimaginable odds, only to somehow sustain themselves in places of greatness.  The pronouns that the rest of us generally use in associating relevance to this awesome occurrence are…heroic… blessed…or let’s say…survivor.

   However, in the case of Vivian “Dave Blake, this Tivoli Gardens, Jamaica born and raised Don Dada. I personally think ‘survivor’ would be an appropriate fit.  To survive poverty, dangerous ghetto streets, and being listed on the F.B.I. Most Wanted. During the interview with Mr. Blake his face lit up, when he spoke of his children, which he counts among his greatest accomplishments. His son Duane Blake co-wrote with his father one of the hottest book on the market presently entitled “The Shower Posse The Most Notorious Jamaican Criminal Organization” for which he is receiving growing national accolades for its intense, candid prose; all of which is borne from the true life experiences of his father. This book is a documentary of the activities of one of the most criminally activity group of individuals ever known. Mr. Blake went into depth and was brutally honest with his son Duane Blake in telling his story. His award winning daughter Dominique Blake is making her mark on the track and field circuit. Like her father her confidents is pushing her to run straight to the top of her sport.

   Mr. Blake displayed distressed and remorse when I read to him the various articles displaying him as a cold hearted monster, which I can assure that he isn’t. Mr. Blake is a living example that you can’t judge a book by its cover or by what you hear of a person. Mr. Blake stated if he could have done things differently and was shown a better way of life, he would have done so. Mr. Blake is very comfortable with all the general public.  Perhaps this is due in part, to years of practice as a high profile leader among his countrymen.  

   But for me, I am most impressed by his genuine compassion and profound loyalty for the underserved, oppressed, and maligned persons, whom so faithfully (and proudly) bear the title of ordinary people.  Without hesitation…Vivian Blake is one of those rare individuals, willing to use his ‘personality’ status (and his life) to promote cohesion and to raise public consciousness about the disparities that exist among the poor, despaired and “have made it” societies of today in his home country of Jamaica and the world.

   Mr. Blake openly and honestly acknowledges his past. He adamantly refuses to accept his past as a negative in the sense that he has made a change especially in terms of his happiness that the ordeal with the law is over, his success to always be an exemplary father which is shown in his pride of his children.          Overcoming obstacles is not an uncommon experience for this talented man.  Mr. Blake is now still in Federal custody. Faced with this damnable possibility, many of us would probably just resign ourselves to the incident.  Not so, in Vivian’s mind, life hurdles doesn’t shake him.

   Drawing on the love and support of his extremely close-family and friends; his deeply rooted faith; an unfathomable amount of self-determination and will…Mr. Blake will soon walk out a free man.

   Although I have attempted to introduce this very unique and extremely bright man to the readers of this article that really doesn’t need an introduction to most…in no way have I even begun to adequately impart the many, many levels of Vivian Blake’s character and depth.

   Truly, the name Vivian Blake is a name to know…for this man is destined for ‘greatness.’

   Personally, I am proud to have the opportunity to know him.  Mr. Blake is representative of the reality that the world consist of all types of elements, we as humans make mistakes, but that a mistake doesn’t mean you give up. Mr. Blake firmly believes in the fact that all things are possible…success, prosperity, and acknowledgement is the ultimate outcome.

   In the scheme of life, many people may achieve fame…but few will have the ability to balance their success with humility and reverence.   Vivian Blake will be one of the positive success stories, leaving the ghetto streets of Jamaica and U.S. Federal Prison taking his experiences to the next level in the executive suites. Vivian Blake was a leader from birth. After interviewing Mr. Blake I had a change of heart on judging of others. I often say that you never know where a person has been if you haven’t walked in their shoes, and you don’t know what a person has seen if you don’t have their eyes. If you are blessed enough to have never had to do almost anything to survive, you just thank God that you didn’t have to. And, please know that just because a person does break the law it doesn’t make them a monster. More than Mr. Blake has made mistakes, like him they too will and have lived to tell the story. My final thoughts are, let us not believe the hype. Whether it’s the media, or powers that be, feeding the public at large what in essences they desire the public’s perception of a person to be. I’ll leave you with this. If you believe everything you hear, then you should eat everything you see…

   Much love and blessings to this astute Brother that again I call my friend…Peace out!!!!!