“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” -Psalm 139:13-16
This past weekend marked a milestone birthday for me. Crossing this threshold led me to think about the course of my life; from being raised by a single mother on the side of town most people looked down on (St. Louis’ Delmar Divide) to being a successful husband, father, leader, and business owner. Below are my thoughts on what I would say to my younger self and thoughts I try to pass to those that I mentor.
Dear young Black leader,
You matter and you have value. You are just as important as anyone else that you come into contact with. No matter what else anyone says about you, believe that can succeed! You will walk into rooms where others will immediately see you as inferior. The media will try to portray you as lazy and unserious. These are lies! You come from a legacy of faith, ingenuity, and victory.
Even though our people were robbed of humanity and dignity through chattel slavery, our God continues to be faithful. The Black church has been, and is, a pillar of strength and endurance. Whenever we didn’t have something, we still made it work. Through grit and determination we gave the world blood banks and plasma storage, the three signal traffic light, and were the brains behind NASA successfully entering outer space! Even though education was illegal for us at one time, we have produced some of the worlds greatest orators, philosophers, artists, performers, and scholars.
If your head starts to hang low, remember who you are and hold it up high! Regardless of what others may say and what doors may seem closed to you, you were destined for greatness. Through faith in God, your ancestors rebelled when necessary, spoke truth to power, marched, and endured disdain to create opportunities for you to thrive! God says that you are wonderfully made!
“You may write me down in history | With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt | But still, like dust, I’ll rise.”
-Dr. Maya Angelou
The Cut Culture newsletter exists so leaders can stay sharp and keep growing. Learn more about Herman Armstrong, and the Kathairo Leadership Collective here.
You’ll Also Like These Posts
Kathairo Leadership Collective 
Leave a comment