Being A Black Man is Exhausting

It's exhausting being a Black man anywhere in the world. I think that it's particularly exhausting to be a Black man in a country where the government, in the name of justice, has spent the last four years systematically trying to strip you of your most fundamental rights as a citizen and a human being. As I write this, I have been on my feet for more than two hours. My head is throbbing from a migraine that has worsened over the past few weeks.

Black men in education do not take their jobs lightly. We have to be the first ones into the classroom, the last ones out, and the only ones who do our jobs." — Black men in education The Black man is one of the most marginalized groups in this country. With the help of our community, we can change that, especially if you understand your true worth and value to your community. I am a product of the public school system and grew up in a socio-economically marginalized family.?

We know what to do to ensure the next generation is better off. The question is, how will we get there? It's a question that has haunted me since I was old enough to think about it. I've asked myself this question many times as I've grown older, and in recent months, as I've been immersed in the politics of this election season, it's been on my mind more than ever. I'm not alone.

Here are still a couple of things that we have to do to ensure we are safe.

1. Be reflective. It is easy to become defensive when faced with criticism. But if you want to be a good leader, it is essential that you can take criticism. And be able to take constructive criticism and use it for the benefit of your team. One thing I have found in my own experience as a leader is that it's not just about listening to criticism. It is also about learning from criticism and acting on what you know. So it is crucial to reflect. When you are working on your leadership, it will be essential for you.?When hiring, do not hire for the things you don't like to do. Hire for the things you haven't mastered. There's a difference.
2. Have a trusted set of professional friends that are battle-tested, ones that you can call on that don't work with you. They can give you valuable insight. They can be the voice of reason. They can be the ones to come to for advice and reassurance.?
3. Find avenues to decompress. Know what makes you happy, be bold and get to your place no matter what. Learn how to say "no" and not feel guilty when you have to say "no" to something. Do not compare yourself to other people. There are plenty of people out there who are more successful than you and will probably be happier than you. Take time to relax every day. If you feel stressed or overwhelmed, take a few minutes to breathe. It will help you relax. Stop worrying about the future and start focusing on the present.
4. Distributive leadership builds the capacity of the leaders in your network and allows them to be okay with failure. Failure and your willingness to accept it is the ultimate form of growth, as we learn from our mistakes. To grow, you must fail. If you have never failed, you will never succeed. Failure is the only actual test of character. It exposes the soul. Growth comes from the ashes of failure. You are a failure if you don't try. You are a failure if you don't keep trying. You are a failure if you don't change.?
5. Learn how to unplug from technology and re-learn how to live without it. What's the most exciting thing about you? This will be the most challenging thing you'll ever do as a leader. However, mastery of this task will determine how long you are successful.