What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore–
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over–
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
“I thought society had moved past that.” – Richard Sherman
https://twitter.com/caino68/status/426156769585274880
https://twitter.com/KennethPinyan2/status/426101719378829312
Racism in America is alive and well. As we have surpassed important dates of MLK Day and Dr. King’s birthday, his “dream” continues to be unfulfilled. The ugliness of racism and racial prejudice broke out in hives via Twitter following Richard Sherman’s (of the National Football League’s Seattle Seahawks) post-game rant. Sherman was called a thug, nigger, monkey, and more insults following the interview. Gary Parrish, a CBS Sports writer, reported that Richard Sherman’s name and the words “Stanford graduate” were mentioned 11 times in mass media. Richard Sherman is a Stanford University graduate. The words “thug” and Sherman’s name were mentioned 625 times. Richard Sherman is not a thug. Thugs don’t go to college.
Rather than debating whether Sherman is a thug or criticizing the racism prevalent in America, I would like to reference several articles that do so effectively. Here is a list:
In only two full seasons, Sherman has become one of the best cornerbacks and defensive backs in the NFL. Two full seasons. That’s like a novice teacher graduating from a teacher education program, teaching for two full academic years and winning a teacher of the year award. It’s unlikely. It’s unlikely, unless that individual is committed to their profession, skills, and potential. Ryan Clark, a NFL player for the Pittsburgh Steelers, recalls meeting Sherman for the first time “He said he would be a pro bowler. It wasn’t arrogant to me. It was definitely self-assured…It was letting me know that he had a goal of being one of the best in the game…I knew then that he had the confidence.”
Commitment.
Sherman learned it from his parents. Kevin Sherman, Richard Sherman’s father, rises daily at 4:00 A.M. to drive a garbage truck. He continues working despite the fact that his son signed a four-year contract worth $2.2 million. Sherman’s mother, Beverly, works with children with special needs in the inner city. She is committed to providing education to all children.
Richard Sherman knows all about commitment. At Dominquez High School—in a dangerous Compton community—he epitomized scholar-athlete. Sherman states “It’s really a negative-energy based society…I excelled on the field and off the field. Nobody is going to sit here and tell one of the top athletes at the school, ‘you’re a geek.’” He won a Division III football title, earned All-American honors in the triple jump, and ranked second in his high school class with a 4.2 cumulative grade point average (a result of successfully passing several rigorous advanced placement courses).
He continued his commitment at Stanford University—the fifth best university according to U.S. News. After excelling as a wide receiver for two seasons, Sherman injured his knee. Upon returning the next season, he willingly helped his team by moving to cornerback (a difficult task). He was committed towards serving his team. In 2010, he lead a strong secondary as Stanford’s football team only lost one regular season game (a record-setting season). As a member of Phi Beta Sigma and the Stanford Cardinal football team, Sherman earned a Bachelors of Arts degree (3.90 cumulative GPA) in Communication (that included a statistics class at one of the most rigorous universities in the country). Additionally, Sherman is enrolled in a master’s degree program at Stanford, thus proving his academic astuteness.
Think about that for a moment: an African American boy (who doesn’t come from financial wealth) graduates second in his high school graduating class, and is accepted into one of the most academically challenging universities in the United States of America. Not only did he attend at elite University, he excelled.
He continued his commitment into the pros. Projected as the 24th best cornerback in 2011 out of 182 cornerbacks, Sherman was picked in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL draft. Nobody is expected to become good or excellent coming out of the fifth round. Based on his draft position, Sherman was predicted to possibly be a rotational player—not a starter or a future Hall of Famer. Furthermore, there were at least 19 cornerbacks chosen before Sherman. He was projected to be scouted in the sixth round. Out of obscurity, Sherman has risen to the top of defensive backs in the National Football League.
Think about that for a moment: a fifth-round draft pick transforms into an elite defensive back. A scholar-athlete that graduated from a University known for it’s academics with a 3.9 GPA was drafted into the NFL. While a majority of his peers focused on excelling in football and just getting along in academics, Sherman focused on both. Sherman excelled in both areas.
He continued his commitment into life. In 2013, Sherman launched Blanket Coverage, an official charity designed to help students acquire school supplies and clothes. Like his mother Beverly, Sherman is committed to education. Like his father Kevin, Sherman is committed to hard work. His commitments have empowered Sherman to overcome the odds stacked against him.
As the negative media attention and racist comments continue, I recognize Sherman’s excellence as a human being, scholar, African American, man, and spirit. Hopefully, you feel the same.
Please share this article with someone who cares about excellence and respects people of all ethnicities, races, and backgrounds. Thank you. Follow me on Twitter: @BlackScholarONL
 Steve Jobs flips off his competition. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They invent. They imagine. They heal. They explore. They create. They inspire. They push the human race forward. Maybe they have to be crazy. How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art? Or sit in silence and hear a song that’s never been written? Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels? We make tools for these kinds of people. While some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do. |
https://twitter.com/BlackScholarONL/status/420610964770529280
I’m not sure how many of you read Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon. It’s a great book about creativity and productivity. The lessons taught in this book can be applied to any discipline, industry, or skill. It’s been one of my favorite books since 2012—when I first read it. Like most readers of good work or good art, you find yourself wanting to connect with the creator of the good work. I tried. I followed Austin Kleon on Twitter. I have also listened to several interviews featuring Mr. Kleon. In summary, I came away unimpressed and confused each time.
Today, I un-followed Mr. Kleon. Why? Well, the easiest way to explain why is to say that he’s a jerk. I don’t mean that disrespectfully, but as a honest opinion based on numerous observations. He didn’t say anything negative to me, but it felt like every fourth tweet was negative or condescending.
.@MatthewDiffee: “You’re an extrovert?” Me: “Yes, but I’m very grumpy, so sometimes you can’t tell.”
— Austin Kleon (@austinkleon) March 9, 2013
I loathe negativity. It saps my energy. I don’t like being angry. We have enough “angry Black men” in America, right? As I pondered why his tweets were so negative, I recalled a specific section in his book. Kleon writes the following:
“You’re going to see a lot of stupid stuff out there and you’re going to feel like you need to correct it. One time I was up late on my laptop and my wife yelled at me, ‘Quit picking fights on Twitter and go make something!’ She was right. But anger is one of my favorite create resources.”
Ahhhh. It all makes sense now. He purposefully tweets negative things and comes off as a jack ass, because 1) He probably is a jack ass jerk, 2) He uses the negativity as fuel for his creativity. I respect the latter. I can relate. But there’s something in my spirit, something that tells me that’s not right—that’s not the way to do things. Even in Kleon’s own book, in chapter 8, it says “BE NICE. (The world is a small town). So why isn’t this guy taking his own advice?
My problem is that I know the connection or correlation between having a successful business and connecting with people. I saw it firsthand with my grandfather. He woke up bright and early every morning. He came to pick his eldest grandson up—myself. I hopped in his jeep or his Volvo and we drove to Sam’s Club, almost every morning. We grabbed donuts, big boxes of candy, coffee, water, chips, soda, and a copy of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Most of these items were for the vending machines. Grandpa would later remind me that the customers wouldn’t get comfortable in a place of business without having access to some luxuries—such as snacks and beverages. The donuts and coffee were for the staff. He believed in keeping his barbers and beauticians fed. He made connections with his people in subtle ways. Additionally, grandpa helped his employees with their taxes, legal situations, and lives. He frequently met with his young staff to offer life advice. Despite his success, he never took any employee, vendor, or customer for granted.
Unsurprisingly, the thesis of Welcome to Black Excellence is connections. In order for the Black community in America to improve, we have to support one another. Ask any psychologist or sociologist, society is based on relationships and connections. There are no self-made millionaires or billionaires. Every human being needs someone. As an introvert, I can credibly say that even introverts or “home bodies” need people. If you create art for a living like Austin Kleon, you need people to want to read, view, appreciate, share, and buy that art. That requires you to be likable.
In this social media dominant era, artists, writers, entrepreneurs, entertainers, athletes, and professionals need to be mindful of what we say and do online. I encourage everyone to be genuine. “Be yourself.” By being yourself, you will be unmistakable and possibly remarkable. But regardless of your gifts and talents, your personality and how you interact with others determines your success. Your attitude determines your altitude. Now I personally recognize that some people didn’t like the content of My Flexibility Manifesto: Following Your Passion 2 Success. I used positive psychology and spirituality to advise readers how to find meaningful, purposeful work and their life’s purpose. Anytime you talk about politics, religion, or spirituality, you are going to turn some people off. I was well aware. Thus, my approach for Welcome to Black Excellence is different.
As an African American intellect and creative, here’s my conundrum. There are 4.6 million African Americans with bachelor’s degrees. A quick Google or Twitter search with the words “Black Scholar” will result in many results that include myself. In creating Black Scholars LLC in December 2010, I have seen two sides of the coin. One side of Black scholarship is harsh, extremely political, anti-White, anti-Anglo Saxon, anti-European or Western influence. The rhetoric is unforgiving of this nation’s ugly past. This type of Black scholarship borrows from Nat Turner’s rebellion and Marcus Garvey’s teachings. A clear example of this type of scholarship can be found on Tavis Smiley’s and Cornel West’s Facebook group based on their collaborative efforts against poverty (which is strange, because neither Tavis Smiley or Cornel West subscribe to this scholarship).
The other side of Black scholarship is positive, uplifting, and future-focused (I even started my own Facebook group that depicts that). This half of the dichotomy is cognizant of America’s past and present, but it is not engulfed or handicapped by it. Although, I don’t write much about slavery, America’s true discovery, or African empiricism, I know that history well. I believe that history. I respect that history. But I didn’t study African American cultural studies in college (independently I did examine many issues from the African American perspective). I studied psychology. I studied education. And now I’m studying professional and technical writing/communications. Combine all three, and you have me. A gifted writer that believes in the power of education and positive psychology. I recognize that our history books are inaccurate and mainly one-sided. But I can’t change that bias. What I can change is the perspective that I write from and the perspective that some African Americans operate from. We can operate from a place of affluence, togetherness, and hope. Does that make me the ultimate scholar? No. But I’m learning.
Regardless of what side of Black scholarship I picked, inevitably I would piss some people off.
By being true to myself, I am creating the best art possible. I am focused on those that resonate with the future-focused paradigm of change in our communities. I am still being remarkable. I won’t participate in racist antics or discriminatory practices against people who look different than myself. What’s the purpose of the art if you delete the potential fans and viewers of the art? It’s not about ME. It’s about the people—all people—not just a small portion of the whole. Once we truly understand this, we will be successful as a society. Right now, we are not successful.
Consequently, teachers aren’t teaching effectively in our nation’s classrooms, because they still think it’s about them. It’s not! It’s about the children. Businesses are failing one after another, because they think it’s about them, their board of directors, their website, or their marketing plans. It’s not! It’s about the people, the consumers, the users, and the audience.
The reason why Apple and Oprah Winfrey are so successful is caused by their authentic focus on the people.
The goal for any creator, artist, entrepreneur, or professional is to SERVE the people. It’s about enhancing and increasing the lives of your tribe. That’s why I encourage Facebook users to comment on statuses and interact versus simply liking posts and pages. If Facebook is truly a social platform, then people should be socializing.
Think about it from this perspective, would you rather sell a million books and no one talks about how that book changed their lives for the better? Or would you rather sell 10 books and it dramatically impacts the lives of the readers to the point that they start opening their own businesses, falling in love, believing in God, and volunteering for non-profit organizations? For most of us, we want the gray area. We want to be commercially successful while impacting lives. And we can have both. But it starts with YOU focusing on your PEOPLE. It’s not about you. It’s about them. If you approach your art, your work, and your business, from a perspective of how you can add value to your audience’s lives, you will not be able to hold the abundance of blessings that will come your way.
For the record, I admire Austin Kleon’s work. I was only using him as an example to make my point. His book inspired my writing and creativity, but I don’t like his personality.
If you liked this editorial, please comment below and share it with someone you love. Subscribe at the top (click the “Follow” button). Email me at Leonard.Wilson.Jr@gmail.com. Follow me at Twitter: @BlackScholaronl. And thank you for reading! I appreciate YOU.
“Bitch bad, woman good
Lady better, they misunderstood
(Im killin these bitches)
Uh, tell em
Bitch bad, woman good
Lady better, they misunderstood
They misunderstood
(Im killin these bitches)”
Admittedly, I do favor the term “bad.” Not “bad” in a negative connotation, rather “bad” like how Michael Jackson implied in hit single. “Bad.”
Because I’m Bad, I’m Bad-
Come On
(Bad Bad-Really, Really Bad)
You Know I’m Bad, I’m Bad-
You Know It
(Bad Bad-Really, Really Bad)
You Know I’m Bad, I’m Bad-
Come On, You Know
(Bad Bad-Really, Really Bad)
And The Whole World Has To
Answer Right Now
Just To Tell You Once Again,
Who’s Bad . . .
If you want a clear example of a bad chick, read about Letitia James—the first African American woman to be elected to citywide office in New York City. As a Howard University Law school graduate, she epitomizes a “bad chick.”
Here’s my opinion of what bad should mean. A woman that’s “bad “is a woman that recognizes her self-worth. Not only does she recognize her worth, but she demands that everyone else does too.
Furthermore, a woman that’s “bad” is about her business—whatever that business may be. Although she may be about her business, she recognizes that she needs God, family, and love. She lives to love. Practically-speaking, she is consistent in her efforts. She consistently keeps the house clean. She consistently keeps the clothes clean and pressed. She consistently keeps food in the refrigerator and cabinets. She knows how to cook and doesn’t mind cooking for her loved ones. She works hard in every aspect of her life. And if she doesn’t know something, she is willing to learn. She’s fully aware of the stereotypes about women of color particularly Black women, and she purposefully ignores them all.
A bad woman is never complacent. She’s always looking for new opportunities to improve. She is seeking to serve others. Her servitude is one of her greatest gifts. Her servitude may vary, but it’s obvious. She’s giving advice to those in need. She’s volunteering to wash the dishes. She’s buying clothes for children in need. She’s has a giving heart. She is a spitting image of her creator.
Regardless of her occupation, she is bad. She is working towards becoming an expert in her field. She’s never content with a single source of income. She’s reading books, listening to podcasts, and attending conferences. She is adding certifications and degrees to her credentials. She takes notes during church sermons. She takes time to reflect on her goals, vision, and purpose. If she’s an accountant, she’s helping her friends and relatives understand complicated tax laws that could save them thousands of dollars. If she’s an attorney, she’s doing pro bono work to help the homeless and elderly. If she’s a teacher, she’s connecting with problematic children at a level unseen and supporting these students in various ways.
What society gets wrong about bad women is that they are not bitches. The word “bitch” is not a term of endearment. I acknowledge the cool thing to do in modern society is to take a negative, hurtful word and use it to mitigate the word’s former power. It doesn’t work. “Nigger” or “nigga” will always be derogatory, and so will the term “bitch.” Adding bad as a modifier to it doesn’t change it’s true meaning.
Finally, a bad woman recognizes her beauty—intrinsically and extrinsically. She works hard to keep her weight down and to live healthy. She’s responsible for her past, present, and future. She’s working on her relationship with God. She’s working on her career choices and vocation. She’s working on her spirit of generosity by volunteering and giving back to the community. She saves and invests money. She aims for excellence in her life. That doesn’t make her perfect. She’s knows she’s not perfect, but that doesn’t stop her from trying.
That’s a bad chick—a bad woman. By being bad, she’s good. By being bad, she’s great. She’s a reflection of the excellence that she derived from—heaven. I invite everyone to embrace this woman. I invite everyone to address this woman by her true name—queen. Instead of conforming to the ignorance of society, let’s refute these terms that we allow our queens to be mislabeled as.
Follow me on Twitter: @Blackscholaronl or email me at Leonard.Wilson.Jr@gmail.com.
I woke up planning to go to the gym. I tend to work out in my contacts, but I discovered they were ripped. So I had to wear my glasses. One of the coolest aspects about wearing glasses is that if I take them off, I can’t see a thing. For various reasons, I don’t want to see anything especially in the gym.
Women wearing too tight clothing. Strange-looking people staring at me. The ominous reflection in the wall-sized mirror depicting me in full workout mode. I don’t want to see these things. So when I get on the treadmill or elliptical, I take off my glasses. Why? I just want to run. I don’t want to be distracted by my environment. I don’t want to be distracted by overly exposed cleavages or jiggling bellies. I just want to focus. The greatest inventions of our time came from concentrated periods of extreme focus (e.g. Apple Inc.).
One my favorite books of all-time is Ron Suskind’s A Hope in the Unseen. The main character is Cedric. Cedric goes to a predominately Black public high school in a rough Washington D.C. neighborhood. Cedric is ahead of his peers, but he quickly recognizes that his high school accomplishments mean nothing. Why? Because Cedric knows who he’s really competing against, despite his academic excellence, the rigor of the curriculum he has learned is not congruent to the education that the wealthier students across town receive. With his eyes set on M.I.T., Cedric has a lot of mathematical and science basics to learn. During a summer program hosted by M.I.T., he realizes just how far he is behind.
Throughout the book, his mother encourages him to maintain hope. She quotes Hebrews 11:1, which, reads as “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” The psychology behind why I take my glasses off is because I want to build the confidence in what I hope for. What do I hope for? I hope for self-actualization and for becoming the type of husband, father, Christian, writer, and teacher that I have potential to be. I don’t want to die without leaving behind a legacy. I don’t want to die without becoming everything that I could have and should have become.
I argue that too many of us lack the faith necessary to reach our apex. Having faith is having a deep inner belief that what you belief exists. Your dreams can be realized. But because you and I are easily distracted by the social networks, news, reality television programs, irresponsible messages contained in music, the American Dream, and more that we may never realized our true purpose.
I challenge you to turn off the television for five hours. Disconnect from the Internet for a day. Talk a long walk. Go for a run. Pray. Meditate. Get your mind clear. Get your mind focused. Write down your true goals. Dig into them. What do they look like? How are you going to reach them? Who is going to hold you accountable to reach them? How will you track your progress? Why did you choose these particular goals?
If you want to be a (fill in the blank), what are you doing today to become that? What are you going to do tomorrow? What about the next day? And the day after that? Take yourself, your present, and your future seriously. But don’t be distracted by your environment, take off those glasses. You can see better without them. Trust me.
Follow me on Twitter: @BlackScholarONL. Email me at Leonard.Wilson.Jr@gmail.com.
These aforementioned bloggers, thinkers, podcasters, writers, and online gurus are very successful. There are hundreds, possibly thousands, of additional names I could add to that list. I admire the work that these great minds have contributed to my own growth. However, there is a problem. What’s the problem? None of these successful bloggers, thinkers, writers, podcasters, and online gurus are African American. Thus, leaving a huge void in the online community. Black views deserve representation, consideration, and a platform. That’s where I step in. Let the hunger games begin.
Follow me @blackscholaronl.
Welcome to Black Excellence 