the past can be a disheartening place to revisit in times of unimaginable
revisit in times of unimaginable
revisit in times of unimaginable encounters we search for the truth
encounters we search for the truth
encounters we search for the truth behind our own narratives who we are who
behind our own narratives who we are who
behind our own narratives who we are who we become depends on how we arrange the
we become depends on how we arrange the
we become depends on how we arrange the plot points in our lives into a
plot points in our lives into a
plot points in our lives into a narrative that shapes our existence and
narrative that shapes our existence and
narrative that shapes our existence and is the fundamental part of being human
this is the existential crisis and
this is the existential crisis and presented end to end to an outside
presented end to end to an outside
presented end to end to an outside observer may lead to a misunderstanding
observer may lead to a misunderstanding
observer may lead to a misunderstanding of the dilemma the narrative becomes a
of the dilemma the narrative becomes a
of the dilemma the narrative becomes a form of identity and each event
form of identity and each event
form of identity and each event becomes a piece of the story to this day
becomes a piece of the story to this day
becomes a piece of the story to this day the pieces of my story are wounds that
the pieces of my story are wounds that
the pieces of my story are wounds that held into scars in the shapes of
held into scars in the shapes of
held into scars in the shapes of question marks to this day I don’t
question marks to this day I don’t
question marks to this day I don’t understand the plight that I was forced
understand the plight that I was forced
understand the plight that I was forced to endure and even on the brightest of
to endure and even on the brightest of
to endure and even on the brightest of days on the outside on the inside it
days on the outside on the inside it
days on the outside on the inside it felt like the demons of lights and if
felt like the demons of lights and if
felt like the demons of lights and if you don’t met me as a child you too know
you don’t met me as a child you too know
you don’t met me as a child you too know what poverty looks like in the eyes of
what poverty looks like in the eyes of
what poverty looks like in the eyes of hope and to cope i distract my
hope and to cope i distract my
hope and to cope i distract my imagination past the circumference of my
imagination past the circumference of my
imagination past the circumference of my surroundings
surroundings
surroundings day after day with unrest
day after day with unrest
day after day with unrest I had to shield my youthful innocence
I had to shield my youthful innocence
I had to shield my youthful innocence from the vicious cycle that played the
from the vicious cycle that played the
from the vicious cycle that played the community I called home this was a
community I called home this was a
community I called home this was a community that was a vicious
community that was a vicious
community that was a vicious entanglement of concentrated destitution
entanglement of concentrated destitution
entanglement of concentrated destitution addiction crime you for disconnect and
addiction crime you for disconnect and
addiction crime you for disconnect and the culture of violence the pounds of
the culture of violence the pounds of
the culture of violence the pounds of these burns for the weight on my back at
these burns for the weight on my back at
these burns for the weight on my back at an age where I need a books in my hands
an age where I need a books in my hands
an age where I need a books in my hands help find my voice and a clearer
help find my voice and a clearer
help find my voice and a clearer understanding of my place in this were
understanding of my place in this were
understanding of my place in this were unnecessary events like the unfortunate
unnecessary events like the unfortunate
unnecessary events like the unfortunate discoveries as a child I played
discoveries as a child I played
discoveries as a child I played hopscotch and playgrounds leave it with
hopscotch and playgrounds leave it with
hopscotch and playgrounds leave it with a collage of crack vials broken glass
a collage of crack vials broken glass
a collage of crack vials broken glass and shell casings the street like
and shell casings the street like
and shell casings the street like signified my curfew and deeply embedded
signified my curfew and deeply embedded
signified my curfew and deeply embedded into my worldview with the environment I
into my worldview with the environment I
into my worldview with the environment I knew all too well and my crooked smile
knew all too well and my crooked smile
knew all too well and my crooked smile was a reflection of the imagery of the
was a reflection of the imagery of the
was a reflection of the imagery of the beautiful sunset over the projects when
beautiful sunset over the projects when
beautiful sunset over the projects when my mother sat me down for the talk and
my mother sat me down for the talk and
my mother sat me down for the talk and went to help regressions of topics to
went to help regressions of topics to
went to help regressions of topics to help protect her son her only child I
help protect her son her only child I
help protect her son her only child I didn’t know what to expect as she spoke
didn’t know what to expect as she spoke
didn’t know what to expect as she spoke I attempted to shield my ears from the
I attempted to shield my ears from the
I attempted to shield my ears from the concepts that
concepts that
concepts that lead a preteen to believe this word was
lead a preteen to believe this word was
lead a preteen to believe this word was imperfect never take drugs stay away
imperfect never take drugs stay away
imperfect never take drugs stay away from games always be aware your
from games always be aware your
from games always be aware your surroundings and the well-articulated
surroundings and the well-articulated
surroundings and the well-articulated speech on the steps to handle encounters
speech on the steps to handle encounters
speech on the steps to handle encounters we’re police officers I chuckled at the
we’re police officers I chuckled at the
we’re police officers I chuckled at the idea of ever fitting the description
idea of ever fitting the description
idea of ever fitting the description unbeknownst to me ten years later as I
unbeknownst to me ten years later as I
unbeknownst to me ten years later as I was being pulled off a local city bus by
was being pulled off a local city bus by
was being pulled off a local city bus by the police they stated I fit the
the police they stated I fit the
the police they stated I fit the description
description
description my mother said your brown skin would be
my mother said your brown skin would be
my mother said your brown skin would be threatening to some but to never succumb
threatening to some but to never succumb
threatening to some but to never succumb to the misrepresentations of who you are
to the misrepresentations of who you are
to the misrepresentations of who you are or who you were born to become and
or who you were born to become and
or who you were born to become and introspect the conversations with my
introspect the conversations with my
introspect the conversations with my mother about the dangers of our
mother about the dangers of our
mother about the dangers of our environment didn’t fall on deaf ears I
environment didn’t fall on deaf ears I
environment didn’t fall on deaf ears I want to turn her fears in the progress I
want to turn her fears in the progress I
want to turn her fears in the progress I want to collect her worries I heard no
want to collect her worries I heard no
want to collect her worries I heard no that everything would be okay but how
that everything would be okay but how
that everything would be okay but how how does the african-american teenager
how does the african-american teenager
how does the african-american teenager quiet his mother’s fears when she grew
quiet his mother’s fears when she grew
quiet his mother’s fears when she grew up in the 1960s and knew what it was
up in the 1960s and knew what it was
up in the 1960s and knew what it was like to be oppressed when I dissect my
like to be oppressed when I dissect my
like to be oppressed when I dissect my past and identify the lessons learned
past and identify the lessons learned
past and identify the lessons learned and the insights gained from those life
and the insights gained from those life
and the insights gained from those life experiences I understand the importance
experiences I understand the importance
experiences I understand the importance of embracing my culture and uplifting
of embracing my culture and uplifting
of embracing my culture and uplifting others and if you asked me what it was
others and if you asked me what it was
others and if you asked me what it was like to be an african-american male in
like to be an african-american male in
like to be an african-american male in present day I’d allow my voice to go
present day I’d allow my voice to go
present day I’d allow my voice to go silent while the voices of others rises
silent while the voices of others rises
silent while the voices of others rises high let’s set a history of James
high let’s set a history of James
high let’s set a history of James Baldwin let’s hear the truth of Malcolm
Baldwin let’s hear the truth of Malcolm
Baldwin let’s hear the truth of Malcolm X let’s see the courage of dr. Martin
X let’s see the courage of dr. Martin
X let’s see the courage of dr. Martin Luther King jr. hid the words of a
Luther King jr. hid the words of a
Luther King jr. hid the words of a culture preaching a need for a change
culture preaching a need for a change
culture preaching a need for a change I grew up in Jersey City and
I grew up in Jersey City and
I grew up in Jersey City and neighborhoods I was considered to be on
neighborhoods I was considered to be on
neighborhoods I was considered to be on a shaky foundation where people who is
a shaky foundation where people who is
a shaky foundation where people who is considered to be the working-class poor
considered to be the working-class poor
considered to be the working-class poor who labored incredibly hard for low
who labored incredibly hard for low
who labored incredibly hard for low wages and advocated for family values in
wages and advocated for family values in
wages and advocated for family values in an effort to protect their loved ones
an effort to protect their loved ones
an effort to protect their loved ones from the harsh realities of the inner
from the harsh realities of the inner
from the harsh realities of the inner city and yes I grew up with friends who
city and yes I grew up with friends who
city and yes I grew up with friends who sold they use drugs join gangs were
sold they use drugs join gangs were
sold they use drugs join gangs were incarcerated all of the above but these
incarcerated all of the above but these
incarcerated all of the above but these were the same friends who dreamed the
were the same friends who dreamed the
were the same friends who dreamed the one day breaking a cycle by going to
one day breaking a cycle by going to
one day breaking a cycle by going to college and earning a degree
college and earning a degree
college and earning a degree obtaining a career that would offer
obtaining a career that would offer
obtaining a career that would offer financial stability for the betterment
financial stability for the betterment
financial stability for the betterment of themselves and their families these
of themselves and their families these
of themselves and their families these are the same friends who desperately
are the same friends who desperately
are the same friends who desperately want to leave the environment they
want to leave the environment they
want to leave the environment they called home but fell victim to the trap
called home but fell victim to the trap
called home but fell victim to the trap of the street or third culture they
of the street or third culture they
of the street or third culture they became a reflection of the unwavering
became a reflection of the unwavering
became a reflection of the unwavering cycle that plagued their ability to
cycle that plagued their ability to
cycle that plagued their ability to progress the mainstream values overtook
progress the mainstream values overtook
progress the mainstream values overtook their family values the values became
their family values the values became
their family values the values became predicated on individualism materialism
predicated on individualism materialism
predicated on individualism materialism a hyper masculinity
a hyper masculinity
a hyper masculinity unfortunately my story to overcome in
unfortunately my story to overcome in
unfortunately my story to overcome in the struggle isn’t one that is isolated
the struggle isn’t one that is isolated
the struggle isn’t one that is isolated I’m calming or unusual for a young
I’m calming or unusual for a young
I’m calming or unusual for a young african-american male growing up in the
african-american male growing up in the
african-american male growing up in the inner city
statistically black men have a higher
statistically black men have a higher probability of walking the corridors of
probability of walking the corridors of
probability of walking the corridors of prison in the halls of the university
prison in the halls of the university
prison in the halls of the university that means I wasn’t ever supposed to
that means I wasn’t ever supposed to
that means I wasn’t ever supposed to make it from the project’s to the stage
make it from the project’s to the stage
make it from the project’s to the stage when I graduated in December of 2016 as
when I graduated in December of 2016 as
when I graduated in December of 2016 as one of the proudest moments in my life
one of the proudest moments in my life
one of the proudest moments in my life however only 33 percent of black men
however only 33 percent of black men
however only 33 percent of black men ever graduated college that means the
ever graduated college that means the
ever graduated college that means the probability that I would ever graduate
probability that I would ever graduate
probability that I would ever graduate was isolated uncommon and unusual black
was isolated uncommon and unusual black
was isolated uncommon and unusual black male achievement has become intractable
male achievement has become intractable
male achievement has become intractable across the country often we face what
across the country often we face what
across the country often we face what seems like insurmountable odds in the
seems like insurmountable odds in the
seems like insurmountable odds in the form of a combination of poverty
form of a combination of poverty
form of a combination of poverty illiteracy discrimination and prejudices
illiteracy discrimination and prejudices
illiteracy discrimination and prejudices the achievement gaps that exist today
the achievement gaps that exist today
the achievement gaps that exist today between the different communities is a
between the different communities is a
between the different communities is a detriment to society where the
detriment to society where the
detriment to society where the commitment should be focused on creating
commitment should be focused on creating
commitment should be focused on creating equal educational opportunities to
equal educational opportunities to
equal educational opportunities to foster the uplifting of the nation’s
foster the uplifting of the nation’s
foster the uplifting of the nation’s economy prosperity and competitiveness
economy prosperity and competitiveness
economy prosperity and competitiveness too many black men have deferred dreams
too many black men have deferred dreams
too many black men have deferred dreams consistent doubts and contradictions
consistent doubts and contradictions
consistent doubts and contradictions that leave them with significant
that leave them with significant
that leave them with significant questions of cultural identity yearning
questions of cultural identity yearning
questions of cultural identity yearning for their placement and society too many
for their placement and society too many
for their placement and society too many black men are present but not visible or
black men are present but not visible or
black men are present but not visible or visible but yet in our present they’re
visible but yet in our present they’re
visible but yet in our present they’re in a dire need of guidance
in a dire need of guidance
in a dire need of guidance help them not only understand their
help them not only understand their
help them not only understand their place in this world but also how they
place in this world but also how they
place in this world but also how they can contribute to the future progress
can contribute to the future progress
can contribute to the future progress there are questions that need to be
there are questions that need to be
there are questions that need to be answered how do we position young black
answered how do we position young black
answered how do we position young black men so that their obstacles are looked
men so that their obstacles are looked
men so that their obstacles are looked upon as challenges that can be overcome
upon as challenges that can be overcome
upon as challenges that can be overcome how do we empower motivate and encourage
how do we empower motivate and encourage
how do we empower motivate and encourage them to continue to inspire to
them to continue to inspire to
them to continue to inspire to accomplish their dreams despite the
accomplish their dreams despite the
accomplish their dreams despite the turmoil they may or may not be facing
turmoil they may or may not be facing
turmoil they may or may not be facing and how do we create a pathway built on
and how do we create a pathway built on
and how do we create a pathway built on the foundation of higher education that
the foundation of higher education that
the foundation of higher education that read the fine statistics and initiates
read the fine statistics and initiates
read the fine statistics and initiates change none of these questions are
change none of these questions are
change none of these questions are simplistic or easy to answer but at the
simplistic or easy to answer but at the
simplistic or easy to answer but at the University of Central Oklahoma we
University of Central Oklahoma we
University of Central Oklahoma we believe we have started to create the
believe we have started to create the
believe we have started to create the riffles that will one day lead to the
riffles that will one day lead to the
riffles that will one day lead to the formation of waves they help us find the
formation of waves they help us find the
formation of waves they help us find the answers that we seek stevie johnson the
answers that we seek stevie johnson the
answers that we seek stevie johnson the assistant director for inclusion and
assistant director for inclusion and
assistant director for inclusion and retention for UCL develop the black male
retention for UCL develop the black male
retention for UCL develop the black male initiatives and fellows program where he
initiatives and fellows program where he
initiatives and fellows program where he is pushing the culture forward by
is pushing the culture forward by
is pushing the culture forward by providing additional layers of academic
providing additional layers of academic
providing additional layers of academic and social support to black men from
and social support to black men from
and social support to black men from populations that are underrepresented in
populations that are underrepresented in
populations that are underrepresented in higher education this vision has
higher education this vision has
higher education this vision has involved in some engaged dialogues
involved in some engaged dialogues
involved in some engaged dialogues cultivated by exposing young black men
cultivated by exposing young black men
cultivated by exposing young black men to different ways of thinking to promote
to different ways of thinking to promote
to different ways of thinking to promote positive education educational and
positive education educational and
positive education educational and professional outcomes we need to help
professional outcomes we need to help
professional outcomes we need to help build important connections provide a
build important connections provide a
build important connections provide a sense of purpose in an effort and
sense of purpose in an effort and
sense of purpose in an effort and establishing meaningful employment and
establishing meaningful employment and
establishing meaningful employment and careers are defined by longevity the
careers are defined by longevity the
careers are defined by longevity the black Mel initiatives and Fellows
black Mel initiatives and Fellows
black Mel initiatives and Fellows Program was developed to increase
Program was developed to increase
Program was developed to increase retention extend diverse enrollment
retention extend diverse enrollment
retention extend diverse enrollment improve graduation rates for black men
improve graduation rates for black men
improve graduation rates for black men we need to reconfigure that norms values
we need to reconfigure that norms values
we need to reconfigure that norms values and habits by injecting hope and new
and habits by injecting hope and new
and habits by injecting hope and new possibilities we are preparing them for
possibilities we are preparing them for
possibilities we are preparing them for their future by creating a model
their future by creating a model
their future by creating a model represented by the fostering of a
represented by the fostering of a
represented by the fostering of a learning community this is a community
learning community this is a community
learning community this is a community that is committed to education assisting
that is committed to education assisting
that is committed to education assisting with changing for substance through
with changing for substance through
with changing for substance through academic enhancement and by the
academic enhancement and by the
academic enhancement and by the facilitate
facilitate
facilitate a developmental mentoring BMI is built
a developmental mentoring BMI is built
a developmental mentoring BMI is built on a foundation of peer-to-peer
on a foundation of peer-to-peer
on a foundation of peer-to-peer mentorship the initiatives represent the
mentorship the initiatives represent the
mentorship the initiatives represent the mentees who are first year full-time
mentees who are first year full-time
mentees who are first year full-time black male students and their mentors
black male students and their mentors
black male students and their mentors are the fellows who are upperclassmen
are the fellows who are upperclassmen
are the fellows who are upperclassmen and the birthday of this program in 2014
and the birthday of this program in 2014
and the birthday of this program in 2014 we welcome 20 initiatives and five
we welcome 20 initiatives and five
we welcome 20 initiatives and five fellows and 2016 we more than tripled in
fellows and 2016 we more than tripled in
fellows and 2016 we more than tripled in size welcoming 60 initiatives and 20
size welcoming 60 initiatives and 20
size welcoming 60 initiatives and 20 fellows statistically black men first
fellows statistically black men first
fellows statistically black men first year full-time students have a retention
year full-time students have a retention
year full-time students have a retention rate of 48% with a GPA 1.7 compared to
rate of 48% with a GPA 1.7 compared to
rate of 48% with a GPA 1.7 compared to being lie which has a retention rate of
being lie which has a retention rate of
being lie which has a retention rate of 68% with a GPA of 2.4 our success has a
68% with a GPA of 2.4 our success has a
68% with a GPA of 2.4 our success has a lot to do it the commitment from
lot to do it the commitment from
lot to do it the commitment from everyone that is involved through the
everyone that is involved through the
everyone that is involved through the development of our messaging ministering
development of our messaging ministering
development of our messaging ministering and monitoring we are creating a
and monitoring we are creating a
and monitoring we are creating a learning environment that has formulated
learning environment that has formulated
learning environment that has formulated into a Brotherhood that offers many
into a Brotherhood that offers many
into a Brotherhood that offers many benefits we offer cohort classes to the
benefits we offer cohort classes to the
benefits we offer cohort classes to the freshmen students where they can take
freshmen students where they can take
freshmen students where they can take several courses together during their
several courses together during their
several courses together during their first semester which we hope will create
first semester which we hope will create
first semester which we hope will create a vine and make their transition into
a vine and make their transition into
a vine and make their transition into the collegiate lifestyle that much
the collegiate lifestyle that much
the collegiate lifestyle that much easier
easier
easier we also offer financial literacy
we also offer financial literacy
we also offer financial literacy sessions tuition waivers scholarships
sessions tuition waivers scholarships
sessions tuition waivers scholarships internships job opportunities graduate
internships job opportunities graduate
internships job opportunities graduate school trips and free tutoring sessions
school trips and free tutoring sessions
school trips and free tutoring sessions both the initiatives and the fellows are
both the initiatives and the fellows are
both the initiatives and the fellows are required to dress in business casual
required to dress in business casual
required to dress in business casual attire on one specific day a week
attire on one specific day a week
attire on one specific day a week throughout the school year we are trying
throughout the school year we are trying
throughout the school year we are trying to reconstruct misconceptions and
to reconstruct misconceptions and
to reconstruct misconceptions and redirect their narrative we are
redirect their narrative we are
redirect their narrative we are determined to promote progress and
determined to promote progress and
determined to promote progress and advocate for change we represent the
advocate for change we represent the
advocate for change we represent the change
change
change that we seek so why is the blackmail
that we seek so why is the blackmail
that we seek so why is the blackmail initiatives and Fellows program so
initiatives and Fellows program so
initiatives and Fellows program so important to me at the age of 19 I
important to me at the age of 19 I
important to me at the age of 19 I dropped out of college after my freshman
dropped out of college after my freshman
dropped out of college after my freshman year I didn’t drop out because I didn’t
year I didn’t drop out because I didn’t
year I didn’t drop out because I didn’t want to pursue higher education
want to pursue higher education
want to pursue higher education I enjoy it learning I wanted an
I enjoy it learning I wanted an
I enjoy it learning I wanted an education I didn’t drop out because I
education I didn’t drop out because I
education I didn’t drop out because I sold to use drugs join the game and I
sold to use drugs join the game and I
sold to use drugs join the game and I was never incarcerated thanks to my
was never incarcerated thanks to my
was never incarcerated thanks to my mother I avoided the pitfalls of my
mother I avoided the pitfalls of my
mother I avoided the pitfalls of my environment I dropped out because I was
environment I dropped out because I was
environment I dropped out because I was lost I was confused that I didn’t feel
lost I was confused that I didn’t feel
lost I was confused that I didn’t feel like I belong there at the age of 18
like I belong there at the age of 18
like I belong there at the age of 18 when I stepped on campus for the very
when I stepped on campus for the very
when I stepped on campus for the very first time I didn’t see many people who
first time I didn’t see many people who
first time I didn’t see many people who looked like me
looked like me
looked like me shared my story well that out that I
shared my story well that out that I
shared my story well that out that I believe could relate to the struggle
believe could relate to the struggle
believe could relate to the struggle that I’ve been through I was a first
that I’ve been through I was a first
that I’ve been through I was a first generation college student and even
generation college student and even
generation college student and even though I had to support my family kids
though I had to support my family kids
though I had to support my family kids stopped me from feeling out of place or
stopped me from feeling out of place or
stopped me from feeling out of place or like I had no direction it took me
like I had no direction it took me
like I had no direction it took me almost 11 years to go back to college to
almost 11 years to go back to college to
almost 11 years to go back to college to pursue my education I went back because
pursue my education I went back because
pursue my education I went back because of a promise I made to myself and to my
of a promise I made to myself and to my
of a promise I made to myself and to my mother I went back because I wanted to
mother I went back because I wanted to
mother I went back because I wanted to be an inspiration for those who said a
be an inspiration for those who said a
be an inspiration for those who said a similar story or came from a similar
similar story or came from a similar
similar story or came from a similar background as I did I struggled I made
background as I did I struggled I made
background as I did I struggled I made poor choices
poor choices
poor choices I battled temptations and peer
I battled temptations and peer
I battled temptations and peer pressure’s I was almost in calculating
sometimes we judge people not on where
sometimes we judge people not on where they are on the inside or who they have
they are on the inside or who they have
they are on the inside or who they have the ability to become but we’re there
the ability to become but we’re there
the ability to become but we’re there from the mistakes they’ve made or what
from the mistakes they’ve made or what
from the mistakes they’ve made or what they had to endure when we should be
they had to endure when we should be
they had to endure when we should be lifting them up embracing them and
lifting them up embracing them and
lifting them up embracing them and allowing them to spread their wings
I was fortunate many young black men
I was fortunate many young black men aren’t as fortunate as I was many young
aren’t as fortunate as I was many young
aren’t as fortunate as I was many young black men are enrolling into
black men are enrolling into
black men are enrolling into universities to escape the oceans of
universities to escape the oceans of
universities to escape the oceans of their dilemmas but most of them are
their dilemmas but most of them are
their dilemmas but most of them are leaving never learning how to swim when
leaving never learning how to swim when
leaving never learning how to swim when I first heard about the BMI program I
I first heard about the BMI program I
I first heard about the BMI program I immediately thought back to the nineteen
immediately thought back to the nineteen
immediately thought back to the nineteen Overson myself and I know I know if this
Overson myself and I know I know if this
Overson myself and I know I know if this program was around during that time of
program was around during that time of
program was around during that time of my life I would have never dropped out
my life I would have never dropped out
my life I would have never dropped out of college when I was in a desperate
of college when I was in a desperate
of college when I was in a desperate need of an education and in order to
need of an education and in order to
need of an education and in order to deal with my entry into the real world
deal with my entry into the real world
deal with my entry into the real world being miles the program I needed 16
being miles the program I needed 16
being miles the program I needed 16 years ago that these young black men
years ago that these young black men
years ago that these young black men have today when I look into the eyes of
have today when I look into the eyes of
have today when I look into the eyes of the initiatives and fellows I see my
the initiatives and fellows I see my
the initiatives and fellows I see my narrative I see my plight I see my hope
narrative I see my plight I see my hope
narrative I see my plight I see my hope I see my dreams I see each of these
I see my dreams I see each of these
I see my dreams I see each of these young men trying to overcome the same
young men trying to overcome the same
young men trying to overcome the same pitfalls that I faced I see a reflection
pitfalls that I faced I see a reflection
pitfalls that I faced I see a reflection of myself and I don’t want them now at
of myself and I don’t want them now at
of myself and I don’t want them now at the show before as much or for as long
the show before as much or for as long
the show before as much or for as long as I did they’d be in my program is
as I did they’d be in my program is
as I did they’d be in my program is special and it’s changing the lives of
special and it’s changing the lives of
special and it’s changing the lives of many young black men and I’m thankful
many young black men and I’m thankful
many young black men and I’m thankful very thankful that Stevie Johnson gave
very thankful that Stevie Johnson gave
very thankful that Stevie Johnson gave me the opportunity to be a part of it
me the opportunity to be a part of it
me the opportunity to be a part of it there’s a quote by former first lady
there’s a quote by former first lady
there’s a quote by former first lady Michelle Obama that states the power of
Michelle Obama that states the power of
Michelle Obama that states the power of hope is the belief that things will get
hope is the belief that things will get
hope is the belief that things will get better if you are willing to fight for
better if you are willing to fight for
better if you are willing to fight for it we we are willing to fight for it you
it we we are willing to fight for it you
it we we are willing to fight for it you cannot change the world
cannot change the world
cannot change the world by trying to change someone’s mind but
by trying to change someone’s mind but
by trying to change someone’s mind but rather by changing their perspective we
rather by changing their perspective we
rather by changing their perspective we believe that each of these young black
believe that each of these young black
believe that each of these young black men deserve an opportunity because the
men deserve an opportunity because the
men deserve an opportunity because the awakening of a young man’s mind is a
awakening of a young man’s mind is a
awakening of a young man’s mind is a tool that can significantly change the
tool that can significantly change the
tool that can significantly change the world we believe we have the power to
world we believe we have the power to
world we believe we have the power to change their narrative
change their narrative
change their narrative but it will take the work of many not
but it will take the work of many not
but it will take the work of many not the work of few thank you
the work of few thank you
the work of few thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment