An Inner Reflection on BHM and How My Culture has continuously, yet inadvertently shaped me into a Modern Day Pioneer

Happy BHM! I wanted to take some time to share a personal story with you all. 

Every year during this time I try to take some time and reflect on my journey and what it means to be a part of the Black/African American Community and the privileges it has afforded me. 

A lot of times, we tend to get caught up in the hinderances such as accessibility to resources, groups, education, jobs, station, class, and just overall lack of understanding/misconception of who we are as people. And all of these are valid, trust me I understand first hand.

After leaving Detroit for the University of Michigan, and pretty much every stop thereafter professionally, I felt as if I was one of the few, if not only that identified with my background let alone looked like me. 

At first, it caused many challenges. Questioning myself on if these arenas were places that I belonged or wanted to be in, having to be the spokesperson for EVERYONE in the black community every time a question comes up about my culture, or just being the main teacher to the rest of my professional peer groups when it comes to being black in America.  

To be honest at times the burden felt so large that I started to question who I was and tried to fit in and just be like everyone else. At school, jobs, and even some outside professional networks to avoid that feeling of being singled out, isolated.

It was scary and draining, but more importantly, it made me look at my differences as negative. Being someone who thinks outside of the box naturally, it at times made me feel that even my way of thinking was wrong. In 2017, my manager gave me a TIME magazine that Jay-Z had the headlining interview in. He told me that I should give it a read if I hadn't. So I did.

Upon reading it, there was one quote in particular that stood out to me:

"The goal in life is NOT to be famous and successful. That's not the goal. The goal is however, to recognize your universal/God-given ability and live your life through that."

In that moment I reflected and realized that in all my years, I've encountered my happiest moments by just being different, thinking creatively, being innovative and living my truth in that.

Inadvertently, because of my identity, skin color and where I am from, I am usually one of the few if not only person that is like myself as well in most professional settings. Similar to my ancestors like Madame CJ Walker, Oprah Winfrey, William DeHart Hubbard, Will Smith and so many more.

From that moment I switched my frame of thinking positively that being one of the firsts has allowed me to pave the way for others that look like myself, but also that there are great opportunities that reveal themselves in those arenas as well. There is the ability to change narratives, add value that others cannot necessarily see, and more importantly help the society progress in ways that can shift culture, mindsets and circumstance.

Through my culture I have been prepared to be a intrapreneur, entrepreneur, and an educator. In a sense, also provide diversity of thought to the places where I am the only one.

Consequently, for this BHM, I was afforded the opportunity to collaborate with LinkedIn, our Black Inclusion Group and some local Harlem, NY professionals to help develop a video concept to talk about this subject, and others within this identity/culture at length.

Huge thanks to our participants including Grammy nominated producer and tech entrepreneur Ryan Leslie, James Beard award winning author & Chef JJ Johnson, Owner of Mott Haven Rosa Garcia, Michelle Kelley of Indie Lee and Co., and of the New School Yelka Kamara for joining us for this important conversation.

Take a look below and let me know your thoughts. Also, if you feel moved, share your story around being "First or Only" too!