growing up I always associated the word no with a negative consequence my mother
no with a negative consequence my mother
no with a negative consequence my mother used to tell me no I couldn’t have the
used to tell me no I couldn’t have the
used to tell me no I couldn’t have the last slice of pizza no I couldn’t have
last slice of pizza no I couldn’t have
last slice of pizza no I couldn’t have that last cookie but no there was no
that last cookie but no there was no
that last cookie but no there was no snacks before dinner time but as an
snacks before dinner time but as an
snacks before dinner time but as an adult I understand the importance and
adult I understand the importance and
adult I understand the importance and the purpose of no as an african-american
the purpose of no as an african-american
the purpose of no as an african-american male I feel as if our society is yelling
male I feel as if our society is yelling
male I feel as if our society is yelling at me no I fit the stereotype five eight
at me no I fit the stereotype five eight
at me no I fit the stereotype five eight sort of medium athletic built body for
sort of medium athletic built body for
sort of medium athletic built body for the tattoos I feel no when I walk past
the tattoos I feel no when I walk past
the tattoos I feel no when I walk past that couple and they clutch their purse
that couple and they clutch their purse
that couple and they clutch their purse a little tighter when I have my dress
a little tighter when I have my dress
a little tighter when I have my dress down clothes on I also feel no when I
down clothes on I also feel no when I
down clothes on I also feel no when I walk past cars with my jeans and tennis
walk past cars with my jeans and tennis
walk past cars with my jeans and tennis shoes on and that person locks the door
shoes on and that person locks the door
shoes on and that person locks the door I feel society is screaming us know when
I feel society is screaming us know when
I feel society is screaming us know when I look at the retention rates of
I look at the retention rates of
I look at the retention rates of african-american males in our
african-american males in our
african-american males in our educational system I also feel Society
educational system I also feel Society
educational system I also feel Society of screaming no when I look at the
of screaming no when I look at the
of screaming no when I look at the recent killings of African Americans who
recent killings of African Americans who
recent killings of African Americans who were killed with their hands up saying
were killed with their hands up saying
were killed with their hands up saying don’t shoot I saw these killings on
don’t shoot I saw these killings on
don’t shoot I saw these killings on Facebook I saw these killings on
Facebook I saw these killings on
Facebook I saw these killings on Instagram and I also saw these killings
Instagram and I also saw these killings
Instagram and I also saw these killings on Twitter I remember the first time
on Twitter I remember the first time
on Twitter I remember the first time that I heard no in our educational
that I heard no in our educational
that I heard no in our educational system I was in a second grade and in
system I was in a second grade and in
system I was in a second grade and in the second grade I was an angry young
the second grade I was an angry young
the second grade I was an angry young boy I was angry because just like my
boy I was angry because just like my
boy I was angry because just like my friends I didn’t have my father in the
friends I didn’t have my father in the
friends I didn’t have my father in the home I missed his such I missed his
home I missed his such I missed his
home I missed his such I missed his guidance I missed his mentorship so I
guidance I missed his mentorship so I
guidance I missed his mentorship so I had a boy
had a boy
had a boy in my heart so instead of talking about
in my heart so instead of talking about
in my heart so instead of talking about it
it
it I used my fists to let go of my anger
I used my fists to let go of my anger
I used my fists to let go of my anger wow I was in second grade I fought my
wow I was in second grade I fought my
wow I was in second grade I fought my way to express my anger I fought my way
way to express my anger I fought my way
way to express my anger I fought my way to express my anger I remember my
to express my anger I remember my
to express my anger I remember my teacher sitting me down and I remember
teacher sitting me down and I remember
teacher sitting me down and I remember her saying to me this no you don’t
her saying to me this no you don’t
her saying to me this no you don’t belong in this classroom no you don’t
belong in this classroom no you don’t
belong in this classroom no you don’t belong in this school when she told me
belong in this school when she told me
belong in this school when she told me no I felt so defeated I felt that the
no I felt so defeated I felt that the
no I felt so defeated I felt that the teacher and my class didn’t believe in
teacher and my class didn’t believe in
teacher and my class didn’t believe in me I felt she was doing the same thing
me I felt she was doing the same thing
me I felt she was doing the same thing that society was doing she was screaming
that society was doing she was screaming
that society was doing she was screaming at me no I just read a book by dr.
at me no I just read a book by dr.
at me no I just read a book by dr. Michael Porter and in his books he talks
Michael Porter and in his books he talks
Michael Porter and in his books he talks about the misdiagnosis of
about the misdiagnosis of
about the misdiagnosis of african-american male boys in that
african-american male boys in that
african-american male boys in that classroom instead of my teacher figuring
classroom instead of my teacher figuring
classroom instead of my teacher figuring out what was going on with me she told
out what was going on with me she told
out what was going on with me she told me that if I fought one more time in her
me that if I fought one more time in her
me that if I fought one more time in her classroom she didn’t care what was going
classroom she didn’t care what was going
classroom she didn’t care what was going on in my personal life that no I could
on in my personal life that no I could
on in my personal life that no I could no longer belong there
no longer belong there
no longer belong there my mother Veda made a very life-changing
my mother Veda made a very life-changing
my mother Veda made a very life-changing decision for me that altered and shaped
decision for me that altered and shaped
decision for me that altered and shaped the course of my life my mother signed
the course of my life my mother signed
the course of my life my mother signed me up for you sports my mother signed me
me up for you sports my mother signed me
me up for you sports my mother signed me up for you sports and Wow
up for you sports and Wow
up for you sports and Wow and you sports I felt that boy that I
and you sports I felt that boy that I
and you sports I felt that boy that I was trying to feel I felt that boy and
was trying to feel I felt that boy and
was trying to feel I felt that boy and my coach my coach served as that father
my coach my coach served as that father
my coach my coach served as that father figure to me my coach taught me the
figure to me my coach taught me the
figure to me my coach taught me the importance of hard work the importance
importance of hard work the importance
importance of hard work the importance of teamwork and my coach also taught me
of teamwork and my coach also taught me
of teamwork and my coach also taught me how to overcome societal no my coaching
how to overcome societal no my coaching
how to overcome societal no my coaching still dis in me and this is something I
still dis in me and this is something I
still dis in me and this is something I keep with me until today my coach used
keep with me until today my coach used
keep with me until today my coach used to always say to us Reggie I will say
to always say to us Reggie I will say
to always say to us Reggie I will say yes sir
yes sir
yes sir he would say how do champions work and I
he would say how do champions work and I
he would say how do champions work and I respond champions work hard all the time
respond champions work hard all the time
respond champions work hard all the time he was saying again
he was saying again
he was saying again how did champion his work champion his
how did champion his work champion his
how did champion his work champion his work hard all of the time that was the
work hard all of the time that was the
work hard all of the time that was the first person to ever tell me that I was
first person to ever tell me that I was
first person to ever tell me that I was a champion that I mattered that I was
a champion that I mattered that I was
a champion that I mattered that I was important that my voice was expected to
important that my voice was expected to
important that my voice was expected to be heard because society always told me
be heard because society always told me
be heard because society always told me no there was one thing my coach didn’t
no there was one thing my coach didn’t
no there was one thing my coach didn’t tell me
tell me
tell me and I always remember this is the only
and I always remember this is the only
and I always remember this is the only lie that I feel that my coach told me my
lie that I feel that my coach told me my
lie that I feel that my coach told me my coach told me sticks and stones may
coach told me sticks and stones may
coach told me sticks and stones may break your bones but words should never
break your bones but words should never
break your bones but words should never hurt you now that I know the power of no
hurt you now that I know the power of no
hurt you now that I know the power of no words do hurt hearing someone tell you
words do hurt hearing someone tell you
words do hurt hearing someone tell you no it hurts
no it hurts
no it hurts having society tell you know it hurts I
having society tell you know it hurts I
having society tell you know it hurts I stay with you sports from the second
stay with you sports from the second
stay with you sports from the second grade to the eighth grade and I decided
grade to the eighth grade and I decided
grade to the eighth grade and I decided that I wanted to play high school
that I wanted to play high school
that I wanted to play high school football now I always had great
football now I always had great
football now I always had great relationships with my coach but when I
relationships with my coach but when I
relationships with my coach but when I got to high school things changed for me
got to high school things changed for me
got to high school things changed for me with my relationship to my coach now in
with my relationship to my coach now in
with my relationship to my coach now in high school I wasn’t the most athletic
high school I wasn’t the most athletic
high school I wasn’t the most athletic kid Wow even wasn’t even the best player
kid Wow even wasn’t even the best player
kid Wow even wasn’t even the best player on the team but I remember we was
on the team but I remember we was
on the team but I remember we was winning the game we were winning 40 to
winning the game we were winning 40 to
winning the game we were winning 40 to zero and at this time I had a 3.0 GPA in
zero and at this time I had a 3.0 GPA in
zero and at this time I had a 3.0 GPA in ninth grade we were winning 40 to zero
ninth grade we were winning 40 to zero
ninth grade we were winning 40 to zero and I remember one of the assistant
and I remember one of the assistant
and I remember one of the assistant coaches who believed in me said to the
coaches who believed in me said to the
coaches who believed in me said to the head coach hey coach you should put
head coach hey coach you should put
head coach hey coach you should put Reggie Strobel in the game he’s been
Reggie Strobel in the game he’s been
Reggie Strobel in the game he’s been working hard put them in the coach the
working hard put them in the coach the
working hard put them in the coach the head coach looked back to the assistant
head coach looked back to the assistant
head coach looked back to the assistant coach and laughs no he’s not getting in
coach and laughs no he’s not getting in
coach and laughs no he’s not getting in he doesn’t deserve to get in he’s not a
he doesn’t deserve to get in he’s not a
he doesn’t deserve to get in he’s not a great enough player when I heard that
great enough player when I heard that
great enough player when I heard that coach said no I decided to quit football
coach said no I decided to quit football
coach said no I decided to quit football altogether I’ve made the mistake of
altogether I’ve made the mistake of
altogether I’ve made the mistake of letting no
letting no
letting no defeat me I allow no to have power over
defeat me I allow no to have power over
defeat me I allow no to have power over me in my life when I quit sports my GPA
me in my life when I quit sports my GPA
me in my life when I quit sports my GPA dropped to a 2.1 GPA because I felt like
dropped to a 2.1 GPA because I felt like
dropped to a 2.1 GPA because I felt like I didn’t have that coaching or that
I didn’t have that coaching or that
I didn’t have that coaching or that fatherly figure anymore in my life and I
fatherly figure anymore in my life and I
fatherly figure anymore in my life and I didn’t know how to navigate through our
didn’t know how to navigate through our
didn’t know how to navigate through our system without a coach when I graduated
system without a coach when I graduated
system without a coach when I graduated high school I graduated for 2.1 GPA and
high school I graduated for 2.1 GPA and
high school I graduated for 2.1 GPA and I had to make some important choices for
I had to make some important choices for
I had to make some important choices for my life I applied to Virginia State
my life I applied to Virginia State
my life I applied to Virginia State University and then in my acceptance
University and then in my acceptance
University and then in my acceptance letter they said no you’re not allowed
letter they said no you’re not allowed
letter they said no you’re not allowed to come to our school unless you get
to come to our school unless you get
to come to our school unless you get your GPA up so I decided to go to Jason
your GPA up so I decided to go to Jason
your GPA up so I decided to go to Jason Reynolds Community College which is
Reynolds Community College which is
Reynolds Community College which is located in Richmond Virginia
located in Richmond Virginia
located in Richmond Virginia while I was at James Saarinen’s
while I was at James Saarinen’s
while I was at James Saarinen’s Community College I also accepted a
Community College I also accepted a
Community College I also accepted a full-time position so while I had this
full-time position so while I had this
full-time position so while I had this full-time position I thought I was gonna
full-time position I thought I was gonna
full-time position I thought I was gonna work within this company for three years
work within this company for three years
work within this company for three years get my associates degree and hopefully
get my associates degree and hopefully
get my associates degree and hopefully just move up in the company retire and
just move up in the company retire and
just move up in the company retire and have a happy life in 2009 my boss called
have a happy life in 2009 my boss called
have a happy life in 2009 my boss called me into his office and he said Reggie I
me into his office and he said Reggie I
me into his office and he said Reggie I know you’ve been working here for three
know you’ve been working here for three
know you’ve been working here for three years you’ve worked really hard I’m so
years you’ve worked really hard I’m so
years you’ve worked really hard I’m so proud of you I just thank you for your
proud of you I just thank you for your
proud of you I just thank you for your hard work but I’m gonna have to tell you
hard work but I’m gonna have to tell you
hard work but I’m gonna have to tell you know you can no longer work here hearing
know you can no longer work here hearing
know you can no longer work here hearing that word no again I felt that same
that word no again I felt that same
that word no again I felt that same feeling that I felt in high school I
feeling that I felt in high school I
feeling that I felt in high school I felt defeated and I felt that I wanted
felt defeated and I felt that I wanted
felt defeated and I felt that I wanted to give up I called my mother that day
to give up I called my mother that day
to give up I called my mother that day and she really helped me and guided me
and she really helped me and guided me
and she really helped me and guided me through this process
through this process
through this process she said well didn’t Virginia state tell
she said well didn’t Virginia state tell
she said well didn’t Virginia state tell you no as well I say yeah but genius
you no as well I say yeah but genius
you no as well I say yeah but genius they told me no did you get your GPA up
they told me no did you get your GPA up
they told me no did you get your GPA up why he was in Community College yes I
why he was in Community College yes I
why he was in Community College yes I did she said I want you to go to
did she said I want you to go to
did she said I want you to go to Virginia State University tomorrow and
Virginia State University tomorrow and
Virginia State University tomorrow and see will they tell you yes so I went to
see will they tell you yes so I went to
see will they tell you yes so I went to Virginia State University and I
Virginia State University and I
Virginia State University and I explained to them that they first told
explained to them that they first told
explained to them that they first told me no but Virginia State told me yes
me no but Virginia State told me yes
me no but Virginia State told me yes day that I was accepted in in that
day that I was accepted in in that
day that I was accepted in in that moment I begin to understand the power
moment I begin to understand the power
moment I begin to understand the power of know while at Virginia State
of know while at Virginia State
of know while at Virginia State University I developed my passion for
University I developed my passion for
University I developed my passion for going back to help young
going back to help young
going back to help young african-american males like myself I
african-american males like myself I
african-american males like myself I wanted to go back and tell them yes
wanted to go back and tell them yes
wanted to go back and tell them yes because Society was telling them no but
because Society was telling them no but
because Society was telling them no but I knew my place and I knew my purpose
I knew my place and I knew my purpose
I knew my place and I knew my purpose was to go back and to our educational
was to go back and to our educational
was to go back and to our educational system I’ve reached out to some of my
system I’ve reached out to some of my
system I’ve reached out to some of my mentors and I asked them what should I
mentors and I asked them what should I
mentors and I asked them what should I do
do
do with this passion how can I spark this
with this passion how can I spark this
with this passion how can I spark this passion that I had somebody recommended
passion that I had somebody recommended
passion that I had somebody recommended to me that Virginia Tech had an
to me that Virginia Tech had an
to me that Virginia Tech had an excellent higher education program but I
excellent higher education program but I
excellent higher education program but I did not have the GPA which is a 3.0 to
did not have the GPA which is a 3.0 to
did not have the GPA which is a 3.0 to get accepted into the school I still
get accepted into the school I still
get accepted into the school I still apply knowing that Virginia Tech may
apply knowing that Virginia Tech may
apply knowing that Virginia Tech may told me no and I got accept it in to the
told me no and I got accept it in to the
told me no and I got accept it in to the school but they told me that I was only
school but they told me that I was only
school but they told me that I was only accepted in on conditional status
accepted in on conditional status
accepted in on conditional status meaning if I did not get a 3.0 my first
meaning if I did not get a 3.0 my first
meaning if I did not get a 3.0 my first semester that they will also tell me no
semester that they will also tell me no
semester that they will also tell me no I will not be able to come back next
I will not be able to come back next
I will not be able to come back next semester I came to Virginia Tech it was
semester I came to Virginia Tech it was
semester I came to Virginia Tech it was a little rough at first when I got here
a little rough at first when I got here
a little rough at first when I got here but I was able to smooth my way Deut a
but I was able to smooth my way Deut a
but I was able to smooth my way Deut a couple of weeks and my first semester of
couple of weeks and my first semester of
couple of weeks and my first semester of grad school I remember November the 11th
grad school I remember November the 11th
grad school I remember November the 11th I experienced a freakish accident on our
I experienced a freakish accident on our
I experienced a freakish accident on our drill field I was playing a flag
drill field I was playing a flag
drill field I was playing a flag football game my team was winning by the
football game my team was winning by the
football game my team was winning by the way they threw a pass I run and I go for
way they threw a pass I run and I go for
way they threw a pass I run and I go for this pass there’s somebody else going
this pass there’s somebody else going
this pass there’s somebody else going for this past as well as I reached my
for this past as well as I reached my
for this past as well as I reached my hands out my hand misses the ball but
hands out my hand misses the ball but
hands out my hand misses the ball but the person who else was going for the
the person who else was going for the
the person who else was going for the past their head hits my mouth when their
past their head hits my mouth when their
past their head hits my mouth when their head hits my mouth my two front teeth
head hits my mouth my two front teeth
head hits my mouth my two front teeth I’m missing and I also split my lip in
I’m missing and I also split my lip in
I’m missing and I also split my lip in half I remember laying on the hospital
half I remember laying on the hospital
half I remember laying on the hospital bed and the doctor told me that I would
bed and the doctor told me that I would
bed and the doctor told me that I would have to be out of graduate school
have to be out of graduate school
have to be out of graduate school for a month if you know anything about
for a month if you know anything about
for a month if you know anything about graduate school if you miss one class
graduate school if you miss one class
graduate school if you miss one class it’s kind of hard to catch up when he
it’s kind of hard to catch up when he
it’s kind of hard to catch up when he told me that I was gonna be out for a
told me that I was gonna be out for a
told me that I was gonna be out for a month I said you know what I quit I’m
month I said you know what I quit I’m
month I said you know what I quit I’m gonna let know
gonna let know
gonna let know defeat me again maybe Virginia Tech was
defeat me again maybe Virginia Tech was
defeat me again maybe Virginia Tech was right maybe I should have been accepted
right maybe I should have been accepted
right maybe I should have been accepted only on conditional status I called my
only on conditional status I called my
only on conditional status I called my mother and she actually flipped the
mother and she actually flipped the
mother and she actually flipped the script on me she actually told me no no
script on me she actually told me no no
script on me she actually told me no no you’re not going to quit no you’re not
you’re not going to quit no you’re not
you’re not going to quit no you’re not going to give up and no you’re not going
going to give up and no you’re not going
going to give up and no you’re not going to give in because there are people who
to give in because there are people who
to give in because there are people who are depending on you there are other
are depending on you there are other
are depending on you there are other young african-americans who are looking
young african-americans who are looking
young african-americans who are looking at you and I’m depending on you to
at you and I’m depending on you to
at you and I’m depending on you to finish your degree at Virginia Tech so
finish your degree at Virginia Tech so
finish your degree at Virginia Tech so you could come home and you can inspire
you could come home and you can inspire
you could come home and you can inspire and motivate them I’m so glad that I
and motivate them I’m so glad that I
and motivate them I’m so glad that I listened to my mother and I’m so glad
listened to my mother and I’m so glad
listened to my mother and I’m so glad that she told me no because I decided to
that she told me no because I decided to
that she told me no because I decided to stay and I decided to turn my no into a
stay and I decided to turn my no into a
stay and I decided to turn my no into a yes while I was here but junior tech
yes while I was here but junior tech
yes while I was here but junior tech while I was here I was able to host over
while I was here I was able to host over
while I was here I was able to host over 30 events for the african-american
30 events for the african-american
30 events for the african-american community I was able to study abroad in
community I was able to study abroad in
community I was able to study abroad in Punta Cana with our football team and I
Punta Cana with our football team and I
Punta Cana with our football team and I also was able to graduate Virginia Tech
also was able to graduate Virginia Tech
also was able to graduate Virginia Tech actually with my highest GPA and our
actually with my highest GPA and our
actually with my highest GPA and our educational system well for 3.67 GPA so
educational system well for 3.67 GPA so
educational system well for 3.67 GPA so I was able to turn my no into a yes
I was able to turn my no into a yes
I was able to turn my no into a yes while I was here with my degree I
while I was here with my degree I
while I was here with my degree I decided I wanted to go back to Richmond
decided I wanted to go back to Richmond
decided I wanted to go back to Richmond Virginia and I wanted to help and
Virginia and I wanted to help and
Virginia and I wanted to help and inspire the young youth there I call
inspire the young youth there I call
inspire the young youth there I call them the next generation potentially the
them the next generation potentially the
them the next generation potentially the next generation of Hokies because they
next generation of Hokies because they
next generation of Hokies because they see me and they see inspiration and they
see me and they see inspiration and they
see me and they see inspiration and they see motivation they say if coach can
see motivation they say if coach can
see motivation they say if coach can come to Virginia Tech and do it then I’d
come to Virginia Tech and do it then I’d
come to Virginia Tech and do it then I’d also know that I can inspire and I can
also know that I can inspire and I can
also know that I can inspire and I can also try to go to Virginia Tech and also
also try to go to Virginia Tech and also
also try to go to Virginia Tech and also do the same thing also with my team
do the same thing also with my team
do the same thing also with my team there are seven and eight they’ve been
there are seven and eight they’ve been
there are seven and eight they’ve been on multiple college trips each coach on
on multiple college trips each coach on
on multiple college trips each coach on my staff is a certified professional in
my staff is a certified professional in
my staff is a certified professional in their feet
their feet
their feet and I also have speakers to actually
and I also have speakers to actually
and I also have speakers to actually come in and to speak to my team so they
come in and to speak to my team so they
come in and to speak to my team so they can learn how to overcome the nose that
can learn how to overcome the nose that
can learn how to overcome the nose that society is going to tell them now when I
society is going to tell them now when I
society is going to tell them now when I think about nose as well a lot of my
think about nose as well a lot of my
think about nose as well a lot of my football players they ask me very
football players they ask me very
football players they ask me very interesting questions one of my football
interesting questions one of my football
interesting questions one of my football players turned to me one day and asked
players turned to me one day and asked
players turned to me one day and asked me with tears in his eyes he says coach
me with tears in his eyes he says coach
me with tears in his eyes he says coach I said yes son he said why how are we
I said yes son he said why how are we
I said yes son he said why how are we continuously getting killed on TV why do
continuously getting killed on TV why do
continuously getting killed on TV why do I have to keep witnessing us someone who
I have to keep witnessing us someone who
I have to keep witnessing us someone who looks like me died on TV and I had to
looks like me died on TV and I had to
looks like me died on TV and I had to respond to him and say I’m sorry that
respond to him and say I’m sorry that
respond to him and say I’m sorry that you’re witnessing this but they actually
you’re witnessing this but they actually
you’re witnessing this but they actually did not get the opportunity like me to
did not get the opportunity like me to
did not get the opportunity like me to turn there no into a yes so you have to
turn there no into a yes so you have to
turn there no into a yes so you have to go and you have to face society and turn
go and you have to face society and turn
go and you have to face society and turn your nose into a yes and I wanted us to
your nose into a yes and I wanted us to
your nose into a yes and I wanted us to partake in a moment of silence a moment
partake in a moment of silence a moment
partake in a moment of silence a moment of silence for the african-americans who
of silence for the african-americans who
of silence for the african-americans who did not receive the opportunity to turn
did not receive the opportunity to turn
did not receive the opportunity to turn their no and to yes
I know this hoodie on my head
I know this hoodie on my head his actions been the first time I
his actions been the first time I
his actions been the first time I actually placed a hoodie on my head
actually placed a hoodie on my head
actually placed a hoodie on my head since the death of Trayvon Martin that I
since the death of Trayvon Martin that I
since the death of Trayvon Martin that I – it could be next on that screen
– it could be next on that screen
– it could be next on that screen because I’m perceived as a threat in our
because I’m perceived as a threat in our
because I’m perceived as a threat in our society a society that continuously
society a society that continuously
society a society that continuously screams and yells at me and people who
screams and yells at me and people who
screams and yells at me and people who look like me know so as I tell my youth
look like me know so as I tell my youth
look like me know so as I tell my youth and I tell all African Americans who
and I tell all African Americans who
and I tell all African Americans who speak and ask me for advice
speak and ask me for advice
speak and ask me for advice don’t look at societal snow as a
don’t look at societal snow as a
don’t look at societal snow as a defeating mechanism look at societal
defeating mechanism look at societal
defeating mechanism look at societal snows as your next opportunity thank you
snows as your next opportunity thank you
snows as your next opportunity thank you [Applause]
”
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