The Men of the Tenth Inc. 

On Saturday, October 3, my brother, my son, and I went fishing. As we stood together with our lines cast into the water, I began to think about the lessons that fishing teaches us about Black manhood, brotherhood, fatherhood, and survival. In a world full of sharks, Black men must learn how to navigate dangerous waters without allowing those waters to consume them. We must learn when to be patient, when to be persistent, and when to recognize that what we seek may require mor

There comes a moment in the life of a people when silence is no longer neutrality. It becomes consent. And today, higher education stands at such a moment. Across America, colleges are struggling with declining enrollment, rising costs, financial deficits, and changing public policy. At least 16 nonprofit colleges announced closures in 2025, according to Inside Higher Ed. And from 2008 through 2023, nearly 300 colleges and universities offering associate degrees or higher clo

A paradigm shift begins when we change the way we see ourselves, our circumstances, and our possibilities. It is more than changing an opinion; it is changing the mental framework that determines what we believe is possible. Throughout Black history, some of our greatest leaders understood that before a person can change their economic condition, educational opportunities, or position in society, they must first change their mind. Malcolm X understood the power of this transf

There is a question America must have the courage to ask: What happens to a nation when it repeatedly overlooks leadership that has already proven itself capable of leading? This is not merely a question about race. It is a question about America’s unfinished promise. We live in a nation that speaks often about equality, opportunity, innovation, and leadership. Yet when we examine some of the most powerful rooms in American life—corporate boardrooms, political institutions, a

A mentor is more than somebody who gives you advice. A real mentor introduces you to a world you did not know existed. A real mentor makes you uncomfortable with your own limitations. He makes you look at yourself and ask, “Why am I not doing more?” Malcolm X discovered this lesson while incarcerated in Norfolk Prison. One of the first men who awakened that hunger in him was Bimbi. Malcolm admired Bimbi because of his extraordinary stock of knowledge. Bimbi could speak with i

Sometimes the greatest act of courage is not staying—it is leaving. We are often taught to fight for our place, to prove ourselves, and to endure whatever environment we are placed in. But there comes a time when you must ask yourself a serious question: Am I respected here, or am I merely accepted? There is a difference. Being accepted means they allow you to sit at the table. Being respected means they recognize your value when you are there. Stephon Marbury once described

Some people cannot stand to see another person succeed because your success forces them to confront their own lack of courage. Your ambition becomes a mirror, and they do not like what they see staring back at them. So they criticize you. They question you. They laugh at your dreams. They tell you why you cannot do it—even when they have never accomplished anything themselves. There is an old story about a man who was standing near an owl perched on a branch. The man studied

One of my favorite rappers, Nas, once declared, "Read more, learn more, change the globe." Notice what he said. He didn't say change your block. He didn't say change your neighborhood. He said change the globe. That wasn't just a clever rhyme—it was a revolutionary philosophy. It is a reminder that the mind has no borders. The person who controls knowledge controls possibilities. History has always proven one undeniable truth: those who seek to dominate people first try to co

Recently, Lauryn Hill received BET's Living Icon Award, a recognition that affirmed what generations of listeners have known for decades: true greatness is never measured by volume, but by impact. As a lifelong fan of Lauryn Hill—I even named my daughter after her—I have always admired her ability to stand among the greatest artists of all time in a genre historically dominated by men. She did not ask for permission to be legendary. She created her own standard. As cultural c

Growing up in the Bronx, you encounter every kind of person imaginable. You meet intellectuals who can dissect any issue, athletes chasing greatness, hustlers creating opportunities where none seem to exist, criminals trapped in destructive cycles, and countless others searching for their place in the world. Yet what is too often overlooked is the education that comes from simply surviving inner-city life. Many people see the inner city as a curse. I see it differently. I bel