I coach a high school wrestling team and a middle school team. I consider myself a coach and an activist, so I’m really involved in the community.
We have a tendency to sugar coat the Civil Rights movement by showing arm in arm and everyone singing ‘Kumbaya’. We don’t really always show the resistance from the government, the resistance from the status quo, from the majority to silence the movement.
Sadly, black people disassociate ourselves from the things which make us who we are, identifying them as lesser, or inferior. It’s a form of self hate. So, with reckless abandon, we strive to be like the majority.
When I was young, to have a big nose, big lips or dark skin was the worst. You were the wretched. That was something I not only felt, but I participated in.
I just feel like if I really believe what Dr. King said, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,’ then I should be compelled to use my God-given platform to effect change.
We all serve a purpose. My purpose isn’t to be rejected. My purpose isn’t to think small or to be introverted. This door closed is literally pushing me to the next door.
Identify your niche and dominate it. And when I say dominate, I just mean work harder than anyone else could possibly work at it.