By: Dr. MeShonya Wren-Coleman
Changing Our Narrative
For many years black men have struggled to succeed while stagnated in the mental shackles of a history of slavery, discrimination, social injustice, and the civil rights movement. Living a life of unequal existence has inspired the black man to strive for higher education and skills, to work harder for personal achievements, and to persist for what they believe would serve as a foundation and example for other black people that also desire to reach beyond a life of mediocrity.
Here is an example of success inspired by adversity and perseverance. This is a short story of a young black boy named Jerome Wren that dropped out of high school in the eleventh grade without a plan or a favorable future in sight. Jerome is the youngest boy of seven and the only one of his siblings who did not graduate from high school. As a result, he was labeled by his father the “dummy” of the family. The odds were stacked against him in a world where a black man has to prove himself daily in order to get ahead and to stay ahead.
Despite Jerome’s lack of motivation, his older sister decided to take him back to live in Michigan with her after spending time with their family in Mississippi. He took this opportunity and left Mississippi with his belongings in a pillowcase and only five dollars that his mother had given him. As Jerome reflects on his childhood memories, he remembers the warm devotion of family that taught him the meaning of hard work, prayer and love.
After working several aimless jobs, he decided to pursue and earn his General Educational Development credentials (GED). Fortunately, while in high school he was guided by his teacher to join the Mississippi National Guard where he continued to serve for 34 years until his retirement in which he obtained the highest rank of Command Sergeant Major. This was not enough for the now young man who was no longer a teenager. He took responsibility for his life and made decisions that compelled him to apply for a job despite lacking the qualifications. His only focus was the diminutive opportunity to become a Michigan state police officer. He has learned from his wife Carla to not tell yourself “no” but to let them tell you “no”. They said yes and he successfully obtained the opportunity to provide twenty-five years of service to the people of Michigan as a state police officer who also later became a Detective Sergeant. He found his greatest accomplishments in serving the community in this capacity in addition to, surrounding himself with synonymous people on a mission for commendable excellence.
During times when he experienced obstacles of prejudice, Jerome remained focused on his purpose and his goals. His strives will encourage other black men working to make a difference not only in their lives but also create a momentum of positivity among every one of the black race.
Jerome was incapable of complacency with the posterior position he held as a black man in America while other men that are not black soared ahead of him in the race for success. Consequently, he later pursued and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and also later earned a Master’s degree. It is important to know your worth and Jerome has embraced the value of his existence as a black man living the game of life that is never played fairly. He overcame disparity and the disadvantaged rules of engagement with an attitude that he is more than a conqueror. This attitude of determination has taken him to places of unimaginable accomplishment.
After years of traveling the world on tour during retirement, Jerome and his wife, Carla, decided to relocate to Virginia and begin a new life. Within months after moving, he invested into Amazon and an opportunity opened for him to become a distribution owner. Despite the limited chance that he would be chosen, he again reflected on the mantra to let them tell you “no”. He traveled to Atlanta, Georgia to submit a business plan and to be trained. To his delight, he was one of 1% selected to open a distribution company in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He currently has 25 full time employees and has a goal to hire 80-90 additional employees while building a family culture. His motivation rest in the opportunity to empower young men and women with limited focus as he once did, to continue moving forward and to always put God first.
Like Jerome, so many young black men have made inadequate decisions on their own or the decisions were made outside of their intentions. Nonetheless, a conscientious mentality and a desire to accomplish perceivable goals attests that a black man can and will prosper at whatever he aspires to obtain. Jerome, like other ordinary black men set the course for success and remained focused as he advanced toward the achievement of each goal. He is now an extra- ordinary black man living his dreams of accomplishment and success!
