Tag Archives: Black History

Part 10: May Day- Seven Wonderful Wisdom Quotes From Will Smith

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From Wikipedia Public Domain

Continued from Part 9: Life Tests Us  To Perfect Us.  http://wp.me/ppImQ-sG

In reviewing videos, bios, and books on some great motivators this month, I happened across some videos of Will Smith.  And while my initial goal was to focus on a certain era, I was so impressed with some of his wisdom that I had to share it with you.  You know him as a comedian, actor, and musician, but check him out as the motivator.  In the following quotes, Will Smith speaks on, Talent and Skill, Being Realistic, Making a Choice, Focus, Fear, Preparedness, and Protecting Your Dreams.

1. Talent and Skill

“The separation of talent and skill is one of the greatest misunderstood concepts for people who are trying to excel, who have dreams …  There is no easy way around it. No matter how talented you are, your talent is going to fail you if you are not skilled.   If you don’t study, if you don’t work really hard and dedicate yourself to being better every single day, you’ll never be able to communicate with people the way you want.”  “Talent, you have naturally. Skill is only developed by hours and hours and hours of beating on your craft.”

2. Being Realistic

“Being realistic is the most commonly traveled road to mediocrity.  Why would you be realistic?  What’s the point of being realistic?  I’m going to do it.  It’s done!  It’s already done the second I decide to do it.  It’s done.  Now we just have to wait for yall to see it.”

3. Making a Choice

“There’s a redemptive power that making a choice has.  Rather than feeling like you’re an effect to all the things that are happening.  Make a choice. Just decide, what’s it going to be, who you’re going to be, how you’re going to do it?  Just decide and from that point the universe is going to get out of your way.”

4. Focus

“I realize that to have the level of success that I want to it’s difficult to spread it out and do multiple things. It takes such a desperate obsessive focus.  You’ve got to focus with all your fiber, your heart, and all of your creativity.”

“You don’t have to have a Plan B because it distracts from Plan A.”

5. Fear

“I’m motivated by fear.  I hate being scared to do something.  I think what developed in my early days is that I started attacking things I was afraid of.  You can’t be scared to die for the truth.”

6. Preparedness

“Stay ready and you don’t have to get ready.”

7. Protect Your Dreams (from the Movie, ‘Pursuit of Happyness’) 

“Don’t ever let somebody tell you, you can’t do something, not even me.  You got a dream, you got to protect it.  People who can’t do something themselves, they want to tell you, you can’t do it.  You want something, go get it. Period!”

Barbara Talley is a keynote speaker, author of six books, and trainer on value-based living themes.  She also offers Effective Communication, Diversity, Leadership, Time Management, and Goal Setting workshops.  Visit her at www.thepoetspeaks.com or contact her at 301-428-4831.  You may email her at Barbara@ThePoetSpeaks.com.

What do you know about Martin?

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Original Poem, (c) All Rights Reserved

What do you know about Martin?

There was so much more to him than his dream

He spent his life waking up the consciousness of both black and white people

And those descendants from both sides who were stuck in-between


What do you know about Martin?

Did you know how courageous he was, how he stood firm and did not run

In the face of dogs, police, and angry mobs, he practiced what he preached

For he believed that love was more powerful than a hateful heart and a smoking gun


What do you know about Martin?

Of course you probably knew he was a master of speech and oration

He had degrees from Morehouse, Boston University, and Crozier Seminary College

And in 1955, he received a PHD, to show how much he valued education


What do you know about Martin?

What has his legacy taught or inspired you to do?

Are you one of the proud or one of those wondering, what is the big deal?

Are you aware of how his mere living has changed life so dramatically for you?


What do you know about Martin?

Were you aware that he was only 26 when elected first president of the MIA

It was the Montgomery Improvement Association that helped organize the busing boycott

That plucked both he and Rosa Parks from obscurity and sent them both on their fateful way


What do you know about Martin?

Did you know that it was his ability to lead and inspire that gained him a prominent role

In December 1956 the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Alabama’s bus segregation laws

But it was Martin who helped motivate the people of Montgomery to keep on walking for a full year prior to that in the rain, sleet, and the cold


What did you learn from Martin?

How much or how little does it take to provoke you?

Does it take something that is life threatening to make you respond with violence?

Or will you go off if someone looks at you wrong or steps on your shoe?


It was during this ‘March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom’ in 1963

That Martin Luther King gave his famous, I have a dream speech

And it is these prophetic words that even 40 years later we reflect back on

For although many have sacrificed their lives, this dream is still beyond our reach


Black and White, Jews, and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics

All are still fighting each other, still fighting to be equal and free

We’ve figured out the part of holding hands and singing the song

But there is still too much injustice, hatred, and disunity


So when you echo the dream of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr

What do you really know about this man and his contributions?

How many strides that he fought for are we in danger of losing?

How many new battles have we stood up for and won?


Martin Luther King put everything on the line for freedom

Even when bombs where thrown into his home with his young baby and new wife

He said if we won’t stand for something we would die for anything

And that is how this great man lived his entire life


And then one day he talked of seeing the mountaintop

And told his brethren he would have to go alone

And at the age of 39, in 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated

And God called his faithful and weary servant home


So what do you know about Martin

Do you know all that he did for you?

He said we all can be leaders, because we all can serve

So what kind of service can we expect now from you?


(c) 2007-2010, Barbara S. Talley. ‘What Do You Know About Martin’ is from the upcoming book, Just The Right Words: Special Occasion Poetry, to be Released in 2010.   Barbara is a keynote speaker, workshop leader, and author of six books.   Do not reproduce without express written permission from the author.  To contact Barbara, phone 301.428-4831 or www.thepoetspeaks.com

5th of My Fave Five Dr. King Quotes: On Unity

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Unity

And last, but not least, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke about unity.  In spite of all the “unearned suffering” he endured, nothing he did was about revenge, hatred, or getting even.  He always took the high road.  He just continually worked to make the world a better place for his children.   Inspired and even driven by the non-violent tenets of Gandhi, he lived the proverbial teaching, “Turn the other cheek.”   We celebrate his life because he gave us hope.  He gave us a role model who endured monumental suffering and still stood tall.  He was truly “his brothers’ keeper.”

Dr. King Dreamed of Unity

I cannot possibly conclude a reflection on the impact of Dr. King’s life without mentioning his most famous speech, ‘I have a Dream.’  Watching his prophetic dream come more and more into focus underscores the importance of vision and that we should all have a dream we can believe in.  To me, his dream was primarily about unity.

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal.”

One Day We Will Not Be Judged By the Color Our Skins

I believe that nothing can begin to bring about unity and cooperation better than the genuine acknowledgement that we are all created equal.   There is no superior race; just as there is no inferior race.  There is only one human race and science and religion has proven it.  Dr. King dreamed that one day we would, “sit together at the table of brotherhood,” and that his children would “one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”   Our hatred, fear, selfishness and ignorance continues to keep us at odds with each other.  We’ve got to remember that unity sets us all free.

The Historical Unity Between Blacks and Whites

I have a Black History Month presentation that I offer entitled, “The Historical Unity between Blacks and Whites.”  In this presentation I focus on the wonderful and often unacknowledged contributions of African Americans.  Black history is about black and white history.  It is impossible to fully tell our story without telling his story.   I share the true history, both good and bad.  But, I choose to also acknowledge the positive contributions of the whites.  This strategy leaves both Blacks and Whites feeling more unified, grateful and proud of their past unity, instead of reminders of victimization, anger, hatred, and shame.  This climate of mutual respect can go a long way to building bridges of understanding, respect, and appreciation.

Let’s Join Together in Our Common Struggle

The words of his wife, Coretta Scott King reinforce his desire for unity of all people.

  “The civil rights movement, which Martin led, gave fresh emphasis to the timelessness of our ideals and inspired countless millions around the world.  With Martin’s holiday, we celebrate those heroes and heroines, not only blacks, but of all races and religions, who struggled, suffered, persevered, and helped to change our Nation for the better…  Martin called upon peoples of every nation to join together in a common struggle against the enemies of humanity: Tyranny, poverty, racism, disease, and war.  The national holiday is a time for personal re-commitment to do something about these evils.”

Barbara Talley is a keynote speaker, author, poet, and trainer who can be reached at www.thepoetspeaks.com.  Still looking for a keynote speaker for Black History Month, Women’s History Month, or Administrative Professional Day, phone Barbara at 301-428-4831.

4th of My Fave Five Dr. King Quotes: On Service

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Service (Grace and Love)

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday has become synonymous with a ‘Day of Service.’  We are encouraged to not have a day off, but a day on.  It’s hard to feel hopeless when you have the right perspective and are helping other people.  That brings me to my third favorite quote of Dr. King, Service.

“Everybody can be great… because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

One of the most important services we can offer is to teach, protect, and guide the innocent children and youth.  In the early 90’s, I volunteered with the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday Commission working to work on youth leadership programs.  One year we took the youth to Little Rock, Arkansas to visit Central High School and to teach them, among other things, about the courage of the Little Rock Nine.

What Has History Taught Us?

Coretta Scott King, wife of Dr. King, was Chairperson of the Commission at that time and the thing I remember most about her is that she loved children and dedicated a great deal of her time to encouraging them.  Their son, Dexter Scott King, when reflecting on the importance of history and youth wrote:

“To most young people history is just that, with no relevance to the present or future.  With our new technologies and new-found freedoms, what can we learn from a civil rights movement that took place before this generation was born?  If you cannot understand and respect the lessons which our ancestors learned through hard struggle, then we are condemned to relive those same struggles over and over again.  If history has taught us nothing else, it has taught us that.”

February will be here before you know it and with it come Black History Month.  Please take advantage of the opportunities and programs organized to help us remember the lessons and leaders of the past who have contributed so much to our current freedoms, successes, and opportunities.  Click to read my 5th favorite Dr. Martin Luther King quote on Unity http://wp.me/ppImQ-eJ

Barbara Talley is a keynote speaker, author, poet, and trainer who can be reached at www.thepoetspeaks.com.  Still looking for a keynote speaker for Black History Month, Women’s History Month, or Administrative Professional Day, phone Barbara at 301-428-4831.

3rd of My Fave Five Dr. King Quotes: On Perspective and Sacrifice

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In his 1957 book, Stride Towards Freedom, Dr.  Martin Luther King Jr. wrote:

“Due to my involvement in the struggle for the freedom of my people, I have known very few quiet days in the last few years.  I have been imprisoned in Alabama and Georgia jails twelve times.  My home has been bombed twice.  A day seldom passes that my family and I are not the recipients of threats to death.  I have been the victim of a near fatal stabbing.  So, in a real sense I have been battered by the storms of persecution.”

But, Dr. King had an uncanny way of making the best out of a bad situation.  He had a way of turning misery into meaning, pain into power, and his suffering into an opportunity for personal growth.   He did not complain, retreat, and give up no matter how hard things got.  Instead, in the same book he explains how he persevered,

“If only to save myself from bitterness, I have attempted to see my personal ordeals as an opportunity to transfigure myself and heal the people involved in the tragic situation which now obtains.  I have lived these past few years with the conviction that unearned suffering is redemptive.” 

To read about my 4th favorite Dr. King quote on Service, click here http://wp.me/ppImQ-eD

Barbara Talley is a keynote speaker, author, poet, and trainer who can be reached at www.thepoetspeaks.com.  Still looking for a keynote speaker for Black History Month, Women’s History Month, or Administrative Professional Day, phone Barbara at 301-428-4831.