There are some lessons you learn in life that may not seem worth it at the time but benefit you later in life. One of the lessons I learned was the reason I proudly transferred from Northern Michigan University and graduated from my alma mater, a historically black college called Lincoln University. I have zero interest in ever returning to Marquette, Michigan again in life, but I learned a very hard lesson there: Even if you make people uncomfortable, as long as you believe in what you're fighting for then keep fighting for it.
In my case, it was standing against quite a few people, one professor specifically, who was adamantly opposed to educating a classroom of students on the Harlem Renaissance. As someone who grew up in an elementary school learning all about African-American writers, poets and civil rights leaders, it was illogical to me to not keep that going in college. A college education is an opportunity to learn from and about a broader audience through culture, race and education. I failed my English final because I wrote an entire paper (later paid and published in Citizens in America magazine) about why the literary canon should be diverse. And that English final with a big, red "F" and no explanation was delivered to me from a teacher's assistant who got on an elevator to bring it down because the professor was too cowardly to do it herself.
I couldn't have been prouder to write that paper. And I rehashed that experience as Speech 7 for Toastmaster's.
In my case, it was standing against quite a few people, one professor specifically, who was adamantly opposed to educating a classroom of students on the Harlem Renaissance. As someone who grew up in an elementary school learning all about African-American writers, poets and civil rights leaders, it was illogical to me to not keep that going in college. A college education is an opportunity to learn from and about a broader audience through culture, race and education. I failed my English final because I wrote an entire paper (later paid and published in Citizens in America magazine) about why the literary canon should be diverse. And that English final with a big, red "F" and no explanation was delivered to me from a teacher's assistant who got on an elevator to bring it down because the professor was too cowardly to do it herself.
I couldn't have been prouder to write that paper. And I rehashed that experience as Speech 7 for Toastmaster's.
Photo credit: Justin Lopez By the time I'd finished three more speeches after that one, I was ready to quietly move on to the next Toastmaster's booklet. (After 10 speeches, you get a certificate of completion.) However, the president of the Toastmaster's chapter (and one of the coolest people I know on a professional level) that I'm affiliated with, Toast of TCS, had other ideas. She talked me into entering a speaking competition. And although my 10th speech and admission into the competition was about the art of ideas, that's not what I wanted to enter the Toastmaster's International competition talking about. (If you want to check out an overview of that speech, click the image below. I highly recommend Sam Harrison's "Idea Spotting: How to Find Your Next Great Idea.") However, I wanted to talk about something that I felt needs to be explored more: education, student rights, equal rights and (one of my favorite topics) the Harlem Renaissance. Luckily for me, I was given the option to revisit Speech 7. And so I did.
Along with the Competent Communicator certificate, I was also awarded first place for the local competition of the Toastmaster's International speaking event. Then I moved on to the division content and was awarded first place again. (As much as I was honored with both, I was also a bit bummed that the two speakers who I was supposed to compete against were unavailable, so it felt more like a participation placement.)
By the time I got to the district level to give my speech again in front of a bigger crowd, I was relieved. Finally I would have people to speak against in my five- to seven-minute speech. I incorporated a few jokes, a couple of Words of the Day ("abracadabra" was one of them in honor of the competitor who was irrationally annoyed that I had a PowerPoint presentation instead of just speaking in front of the crowd), and shared my story.
The first-place winner was an outstanding speaker who talked about the time he had a dance-off with the legendary James Brown. I grinned through his entire speech. He deserved to win, and I made a point of telling him that once the competition was over. (I apologize, but I do not remember who came in second or third place for the longer speaking competition. I do, however, remember being entertained by another speaker who talked about the "art of flirting." She was charming. I thoroughly enjoyed the Table Topics speaker whose Word of the Day was "coexist." My longer speech basically was trying to achieve the same points she made in under two minutes.)
And while I did not make it to the Spring 2018 competition, I still beamed as I left the division competition. I enjoyed my time there. Toastmaster's is a fascinating way to find out what is on other people's minds and what inspires them. And for me it was a beautiful excuse to educate four new and different crowds about the power and creativity that sparked the Harlem Renaissance. For all of the people who walked up after I finished speaking and asked about my experience at NMU, that professor, and their own takes on the Harlem Renaissance and Langston Hughes, I thank you a zillion times. It was an honor "speaking" with you.
By the time I got to the district level to give my speech again in front of a bigger crowd, I was relieved. Finally I would have people to speak against in my five- to seven-minute speech. I incorporated a few jokes, a couple of Words of the Day ("abracadabra" was one of them in honor of the competitor who was irrationally annoyed that I had a PowerPoint presentation instead of just speaking in front of the crowd), and shared my story.
The first-place winner was an outstanding speaker who talked about the time he had a dance-off with the legendary James Brown. I grinned through his entire speech. He deserved to win, and I made a point of telling him that once the competition was over. (I apologize, but I do not remember who came in second or third place for the longer speaking competition. I do, however, remember being entertained by another speaker who talked about the "art of flirting." She was charming. I thoroughly enjoyed the Table Topics speaker whose Word of the Day was "coexist." My longer speech basically was trying to achieve the same points she made in under two minutes.)
And while I did not make it to the Spring 2018 competition, I still beamed as I left the division competition. I enjoyed my time there. Toastmaster's is a fascinating way to find out what is on other people's minds and what inspires them. And for me it was a beautiful excuse to educate four new and different crowds about the power and creativity that sparked the Harlem Renaissance. For all of the people who walked up after I finished speaking and asked about my experience at NMU, that professor, and their own takes on the Harlem Renaissance and Langston Hughes, I thank you a zillion times. It was an honor "speaking" with you.
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