December 16, 2013 · 8:14 PM

The life of Nelson Mandela: Images and Quotes

Yesterday, Nelson Mandela’s body was laid to rest. I blogged about the death of Nelson Mandela, but I want to celebrate the life of Nelson Mandela in images and his most  popular quotes.

NM1

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

NM7

“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

NM2

“There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.”

NM6

Nelson Mandela won the nobel peace prize in 1993.

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

NM5

“We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right.”

“If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.”

“Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do.”

NelsonMandela3

NM3

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

NM4

“Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.”

“If I had my time over I would do the same again. So would any man who dares call himself a man.”

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December 9, 2013 · 3:54 AM

The death of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

On Thursday night, I found out that Nelson Mandela died.

When I found out I just stood there for a moment feeling like I lost something but I didn’t know what. There was nothing immediately tangible about my life that changed or is going to change because of his death but I definitely felt like the value the world has decreased. The sense of loss I felt compelled me to define what I lost, and find out more about this colossal man from Africa.

I listed a few of his accomplishments here:

  • Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born July 18, 1918
  • Mandela had a royal upbringing being a son of a tribal chief in Transkei, one of the future “Bantustans”.
  • In April 20, 1964 he was convicted of treason and sentenced to life imprisonment for leading a campaign of sabotage against the government.
  • It was forbidden to quote him or publish his photo.
  • When Nelson turned 70 he was the most famous political prisoner.
  • He was released from prison on February 11, 1990.
  • He served as President of the African National Congress from 1991 to 1997.
  • In 1993 he received the Noble Peace Prize.
  • He was president of South Africa from 1994 – 1999.
  • He’s often described as a “father of a nation”.

The more I learned about his life the more I realized how much this world will miss him. Much like when my grandfather died, I didn’t miss him until 2 days after he died when we were driving to Atlanta to lay him to rest. I had come to an understanding that I would never hear his voice again, never see his face, he would not ever see my children or me with a wife. All my successes in life could not be shared with the most important person in my life. So, appreciate your loved ones for the wisdom they share. When they are gone, their memories will remind you of each lesson they granted you. Nelson Mandela started out as a boxer and ended up a leader of a country. I guess being a boxer taught him how to fight literally and figuratively. As a young black man you will have to face and navigate your own challenges with the same calculated deliberate movements. Much like other black leaders, like President Barack Obama and Reverend Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. you will face and endure discrimination, at some moments it will be obvious but most times it will be an underlying opposition. As a black man you will have to be 3 times better to compete in a subjective world where certain biases are not in your favor. You have to be more prepared, more determined, and always ready. You will receive an extra helping of scrutiny and criticism at every turn.  I wish I could say something softer, nicer to make you feel comfortable but this is the world we live in. It doesn’t mean that you can’t succeed, it means that you must be better than the pack. You can change the world by just trying to make a difference. To even comprehend what Nelson Mandela was to the world, you have to recognize the world for what it is and make it better. Nelson Mandela had to surmount huge obstacles in a world that continuously opposed him. He will always be an icon of leadership and hope, a representative of peace to the entire world.

There’s redemption in death that all your loved ones endure. When the people die, they take all the moments with them. All the possibilities of meeting Mandela are gone, of shaking his hand… gone, seeing him smile…gone, hearing his voice…gone, laughing with him…gone, being in his presence…impossible. The true appreciation of a man usually comes in the memories that he leaves behind. The sorrow comes when you learn what you’ve lost. It comes when you no longer have the teacher guiding you, the example to follow. Mandela’s death leaves the world with less. Nelson’s life will forever remain as a symbol of freedom and democracy. A midst all his challenges he remained resilient and focused in his beliefs and goals. His example as a leader is impeccable, he’s a leader among leaders.  I suggest you read about Mandela, go to see the movies about him. Nelson Mandela’s life’s work will always remain as a benchmark to align your goals.

Madiba will always be a beacon for leaders that follow him.

MPM

“Do not judge me by my successes. Judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.”

Nelson Mandela

“A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.”

Martin Luther King

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December 2, 2013 · 6:26 PM

1 bad decision can alter your life.

I’ve been blogging to you the importance of the decisions you make and how they shape and direct your life. Last year on March 17th, a judge announced that the defendants in the Steubenville rape trial were found guilty.

Last month, Ma’lik Richmond, 17 years old, was released out of the detention center after serving nine months of one year sentence.

Ma’lik Richmond and Trent Mays were found guilty of sexually assaulting a female acquaintance while she was severely intoxicated. The court case rocked the town of Steubenville, Ohio. Let’s be clear…I’m not blogging about guilt or innocence, or right and wrong…I’m blogging about decisions.

There are so many contributing factors that happened wrong on the evening of August 11th …and it all landed in the lap of these 16 & 17-year-old teenagers.  Two star football players and a 16-year-old girl, who was drunk out of her mind…to the point where didn’t remember anything that happened to her. She was in Ohio, miles away from her home in West Virginia. At times, because she was so drunk, she didn’t have any idea where she was or who she was with. The court found the two star football players Ma’lik 16 and Trent 17 guilty of exploiting the girl by taking naked pictures with her and “digitally penetrating” her. These events on the night of August 11th will forever change these 3 lives.
So let’s think about this:
Both teens received a 1 year incarceration and the possibility of being categorized as registered sex offenders for the rest of their lives.
The football futures of both teen football careers are quite possibly over.
Someone close to the case possibly and attorney named, Lipps stated, “Delinquent beyond a reasonable doubt on all three counts as charged.” The verdict is the  equivalent of a guilty verdict in adult court.
In earlier testimony, two former friends of the girl told the court in testimony for the defense that she had a reputation as a liar.
It’s awful…Ma’lik’s life is forever changed…and the victim doesn’t even remember what happened. She will always be the girl who was assaulted, but her identity will remain concealed.
Ma’lik and Trent were sentenced to a minimum of one year. Lipps said that the Ohio Department of Youth services will rule on whether Mays and Richmond will be detained longer, adding it will depend on their behavior and their progress in rehabilitation. Both could have remained incarcerated until they are 21.
I have some questions…not for you to answer but to think about:
There was a number of teenagers at this party drinking. How was it possible that all of the underage drinking was allowed?
 
This party went on for hours with no adult supervision, where were the owners of the house when all this partying occurred? The young woman who was “digitally penetrated”…where were her friends? 
She was from another state…did her parents know where their daughter was going? 
Now…let talk about parents, specifically your parents and those annoying questions they ask you.  Have you heard your mother or father, someone that cares about you ask… “Where you are going?” “Who are you going with?” “When can I meet your friend?” Parents ask these questions because of circumstances that you could possibly end up in. They ask these questions to help you make the right decision about a person, or activity etc. Maybe they recognize something that they don’t want you to get involved with…maybe they love you and they don’t want you to make a mistake.
After the verdict was read, Ma’lik Richmond turned to his lawyer, Walter Madison, and said, “My life is over.“
1BadDecision

1BadDecision

Learn from Ma’lik…

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December 2, 2013 · 6:11 PM

Learning how to lead (Blog 2 of 2)

  • lead      verb 1 show the way by going first;
  • leader      noun 1 someone who leads or goes first;

In my last blog I discussed that first step away from the pack. This first step separates you from the pack, makes you uncommon, possibly makes you “uncool” but it gives you an identity different from anyone else. There will always be people that are smarter, bigger, faster, “cooler”, or funnier that you. Those people may just be content to fit in, go along to get along but if want to be a leader the only thing you need most is courage. Many people have the talent and skill to be exceptional, special or great but most don’t have the courage to use those skills to be exceptional, special, or great. Leadership is not a team, job, event, place or group. It doesn’t end with you winning a game, or turning 18, or graduating college. Becoming a leader doesn’t start when you apply for a position or play a sport. Certain accomplishments may get you noticed or selected for a position but that’s only because people recognize leadership traits in you, they believe in you…sometimes before you believe in yourself. It’s easy to stay on your block or in your neighborhood and be average, but to be a leader you must possess the courage to act.  Being a leader starts when your decisions and actions are exceptional, special or great.

Your abilities don’t make you a leader, what determines your role as a leader is what you do with those abilities.

I feel a leader is a role that comes from a collection of traits. It’s your posture, the way you shake hands, the way you form your sentences, the way you tell a story or the way you command attention. Being a leader is exemplified in your actions, if you speak your mind, if you take a stand on an issue, if you fight for what’s right when everyone else is silent. Molding your leadership traits take courage to fight alone, to believe in something that you know is right and do something about it. The process of you becoming a leader has already begun, whether you step in the role or not, the chance will present itself when you’re ready. You will have to recognize that your moment when it occurs.

I went to see the movie, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”. It’s the second movie of a three part series. In the first movie, Katniss Everdeen, the main character, volunteered to save her sister, Primrose, who had been originally selected for the games. Primrose would have most likely died in the games so Katniss believed she could sacrifice herself in the games to save their family. Her stepping forward immediately separated her from the pack. She expected to lose and die in the games but she used her basic  skills to survive and eventually win the games. Surviving and winning the games made her the leader of her sector. It wasn’t her winning the games but her actions, her defiance of a tyrant made her a leader. Her actions made her someone the people would follow.

Leadership usually comes from a noble place. Katniss sacrificed herself to save her family and in the meantime she had become the hope of her people by winning the games.   In this second movie, “Catching Fire” she had become a symbol of hope for her entire district.

When I was nominated for the Vice Chairman position, I didn’t see myself as this national leader, I still don’t but my peers did. I remember when it happened, it was 2006 at a delegates conference. I had got into a heated argument with a person on the executive board. During this argument, I publically challenged him and I didn’t back down. I knew then, that I was right regardless of what the perception was. From then on people recognized me as a person that spoke his mind and didn’t align with the status quo. Some people admire this trait, some people are intimidated by it. I know I have a responsibility to the delegation that I represent. Did I ever predict me being in this position? No. Throughout my life I’ve witness and inherited strong qualities from leaders that have mentored me. Those qualities or traits help me with the responsibility that I now possess. Does that make me a leader? Yes and I’m still trying to get better at it, still trying to do what’s right for the entire organization.

At my current job there’s a “Successories” poster that shows an eagle flying alone. It reads,

“Leaders are like Eagles, they don’t flock, you find them one at a time.”

MPM

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