Last Updated on October 25, 2013
What is it that sets us apart and makes us unique? How do begin to think of news ways in which to operate and govern our own communities? How do we account for all of the past HBCU graduates who don’t think giving back to their own communities is worth the investment? What type of thinking is this that keeps us bound in the mental chains of “rugged Individualism” as George Fraser would call it? It’s not so much about the process as it is about a particular “state of mind”. We have some the brightest minds the world hasn’t seen yet and now is the time to open up and move into our hidden power. There is a book within each HBCU that must come out and spread the truth concerning our rise. We can no longer be hidden or stay submerged in Adullum’s cave; as the portals of time have opened and granted us the asylum needed to build and grow our own economic base. The time has come where we must will ourselves to finish the race that has been set before us.
Great things are not something accidental, but must certainly be willed ~Vincent Van Gogh~
Our motto in the 21st century should hinge on two words “Prosperity & Success” as we must embrace the fact that it is our time to pick up the pieces of our past failures; and embrace our new destination. Each and everyday our HBCU’s must advance, progress, and challenge the status quo of those who question our existence; and of those who don’t believe we are a force to be reckoned with. Our world has moved into a global paradigm of interlinked societies and we cannot just stand at the fence while countries embrace opportunities from each other’s kinship. We have to compete in order to stay relevant and to grow our institutions. HBCU’s should be in the global discussions concerning the top schools to become educated at. As a collective unit we definitely have a lot of resources to offer the world; and must grab this unique opportunity to grow our capital base. Future generations are counting on our decisions in this present moment to give them a leg up upon their arrival on this plane. We must continue to carry on our tradition of being strategic overcomes and torchbearers.
The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the will to carry on ~Walter Lippmann~
Preparation for the opportunities that lie just ahead begins now; as we must work together to strengthen not only our Institutions but our endowments as well. It doesn’t make sense to leave the generations to come with outstanding debt, outdated modes of thinking, and rundown buildings. There has got to be a level of responsibility amongst all staff, professors, and students. Congratulations, to all of the HBCU’s who are making very critical and important strides in furthering the agenda of black education. We applaud you and salute your very diligent efforts but it still “takes a village to raise a child”. We got to do better in light of our thinking towards strengthening our resolve and building on the successes of our forbearers who made sacrifices that we couldn’t even imagine today. While mastery is the goal we still have to continue day to day to fight and accept the challenge at hand.
To be great is to be misunderstood ~Ralph Waldo Emerson~
Anthony Robbins says,“If you can’t, you must, and if you must, you can”. I am on board with this statement because it explains that we must learn to face our fears in the midst of adversity; which will only provide the greatest liberation and economic success for our economy Yes, we are misunderstood and misrepresented as a community but that shouldn’t still stop our focus of reaching to the top. Fear must not paralyze our growth and development in this new economy. All the stops must be pulled out to master new skills and transform our “Intellectual capital” into opportunities to our own communities. The challenge that confronts us is that we refuse to take a leap into the void of nothingness to create out of ourselves. It’s ok to ask for help every once in a while but to keep kneeling and begging for what we can do for ourselves; lessens our credibility as a group and pushes economic opportunities to those who are prepared for what we are scared to face. Somehow we must break away from our shadows and understand that “Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever” (Dr. Martin L. King); and begin to embrace the direction in which the world is moving and compete at those highest levels.
The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but it is too low and we reach it ~Michelangelo~
How do we as an intellectual community learn to lead in a knowledge-based society? How will we come together and form strategic alliances with other nations from around the world? The new prosperity & success will be in our ability to adapt to unforeseen changes in this global landscape, assume new levels of responsibility amongst ourselves, and to maintain a shared vision of change and accountability. Knowledge is power and we have to redefine our roles in this new economy as “Enlightened Giants” in this new global paradigm. We have to embrace trade as the economic engine of growth for our communities. We also must invest in our own infrastructure and highlight our greatness to the world. The information age is moving rapidly and everything is reflecting a move of motion. The Dinosaur mentality is no longer effective as our beliefs and behaviors about our situations must change.
You’ve got to think about “big things” while you’re doing small things, so that all the small things go in the right direction.
~Alvin Toffler~
Tyrone Brackens is a Mentor and Social Entrepreneur. He recent founded DSLAB Technologies, Inc (Center for the Development of Social Learning & Advanced Breakthroughs) which is a Community Development initiative; where HBCU (Historically Black College’s & University) students can be trained and mentored in the fine arts of “Entrepreneurship, Wealth Creation, & Philanthropy”. You can follow him at HBCUEnlightened (Pintrest, Twitter & Facebook), on his blog at www.hbcuenlightened.wordpress.com or email him at probrack@yahoo.com.
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