When you’re black and talented, confidence is seen as “arrogance”. Your voice is a weapon that somehow harms others, while those exact same people use their voice to trash and (try to) destroy you. When you recognize areas that need improvement, you call attention to it. You call on the individuals that are responsible, hold them accountable, and when they don’t rise to the occasion, you boot up and do it yourself (on your own dime). The beautiful thing about being black and talented is that NONE of the hate, NONE of the lies, rumors or pettiness could ever stop your greatness! People’s opinions and negativity have zero effect your performance, and it will not stop you from striving DAILY to make life better for everyone. Including the people that trash you. When you are black and talented, you EXPECT to be hated! You expect to be vilified and envied. You expect for people to try to make it difficult for you while they smile in your face. You expect it because it’s all you’ve known your whole life, and that lifetime of less resources, bigger obstacles, and the idea that you need to “stay in your place” makes you the best suited for the role of a LEADER! When you are black and talented, your greatness will make others uncomfortable, your hard work and determination will put others in secret competition with you, your knowledge and ability will cause others to try to tarnish your name and reputation, but you don’t waste your time addressing any of it because you know that the quality of your work, and what you have built, speaks for itself. I’ve noticed that, a lot of times, the people that complain (and benefit) the most from what you’re building don’t really have a problem with what’s being built. They just don’t want to see YOU build it! They want the benefits but don’t want to take the time, care, responsibility or financial burden that it takes to make it happen and resent you because you will! If we can learn anything from this it’s that YOUR greatness isn’t dependent on THEIR opinions. You just have to keep being great because your life was meant to be a blessing to others.
