Greetings and Good Morning Everyone,
I know that it's been a while since I've posted. I've had quite a bit on my plate recently. I've had a few projects come down the pipeline, my wisdom tooth removed, and the kick off to my Kickstarter Campaign. By the way, if you're interested in supporting the publishing efforts for my second book, I urge you to submit your pledge of support to my campaign.
There's some really great rewards for giving! Anyway, back to the subject at hand. This morning, is a very special day, because it is the first day of February, and the first day of Black History month. Today, Senator Corey Booker of the great state of New Jersey launched his bid for the democratic candidate for President, and what a significant day in history he chose to do it. Senator Kamala Harris did the same a few weeks ago, by announcing her bid for President, as well on then, Martin Luther King Jr.'s observed holiday, on January 21, 2019. Today, I wanted to discuss the "2019 Role Model for the Future".
"Each person must live their life as a model for others."
- Rosa Parks
I wanted to begin with this quote as I reflect on it, and think about how it speaks to my soul and the spirit of who I am. I think about Jussie Smollett who has been a faithful and courageous advocate for the LGBTQ community, who was brutally attacked in an heinous racially motivated, hate crime this week. I think of his advocacy before this incident as a model for us to look up to in 2019. I know that he will fight harder for the rights of the oppressed once he is healed. I send him my prayers for peace and comfortable as he begins to heal. May God continue to cover him.
The Importance of February 1, 1960
On today, I'm reminded of the many role models from the black community that spurred change. The many individuals that stood for my right to be able to read and write as I may today; to attend schools with other races and ethnicities; and those that took the lynchings and beatings for my right to be, at the fundamental basis of humanity considered a human-being. As a native of Greensboro, North Carolina, February 1, has always been an important day in our city's history because, of the Woolworth Sit-In. On February 1, 1960, four freshmen, young Black men from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College, walked into the Woolworth Lunch Counter in downtown Greensboro, NC, and sat down with the intention to have lunch. I wasn't until, I became a Chemical Engineering student of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, in 2001 that this history took on a different meaning for me. When I became a student I gained a true sense of pride knowing that these young men went to my school. They were my role models for change, and in knowing that, as Joe Madison of The Madison Show on SiriusXM, always so eloquently puts it, "the difference between a moment and movement is sacrifice." They sacrificed in that moment (they were kicked out of school by the way), and jumpstarted a movement for Civil Rights in our American history. They are apart of the American fabric of our society. They were the role models of 1960, of their time, and their model for change has been the inspiration for many into the future.
I return to my original statement of being the "2019 Role Model for the Future". As the young men did during their time, they took a stand for what they felt was right. They weren't Martin Luther King, Jr. or Malcom X or the many other faces of the Civil Rights Movement, but they refused to be quiet. I'm not a well-known actress or actor like, Jussie Smollett, but that doesn't mean that I can't stand for the rights of the LGBTQ community. I can be a role model that I expect of others for someone else. On this day, I feel my mantra of "Motivate | Aspire | Inspire" is so important today. There are so many distractions and people spewing non-sense and negative images into the atmosphere, and we need so many people be better models for others. I will say, there are a lot of people that I see that are "models" for others that I want to see, I myself, feel that I am one of them, but they don't get the recognition. Going forward in life, I will focus on as Rosa Parks' quote states as being, living a life "as a model for others." If we all did this, maybe we will inspire future generations as well!
Today, I challenge you to begin to live your life as a model for others. Our future needs it, we need more positive examples in the forefront of our communities. We don't necessarily need a celebrity to lead us. We can lead ourselves and each other through being great at who we are, as everyday people living a normal life with abundance. Have a beautiful day, and God bless!
Peace and Happy #MondayMotivation!
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