YBE YOUNG BLACK ENTREPRENEUR
MAGAZINE QUARTERLY YBEMAG.COM ISSUE 9 10.2016
A NobleSol Art Group Publication
THE ALPHA MALE ISSUE
DEREK ANDERSON
A MAN OF STAMINA
MIYA BAILEY REGINALD DYE DANIEL WEBSTER GILES SEVEN HUES RIC MATHIS ANDREW MOMON JR. TARIQ NEVAR JON REID JASON WARNER FABIAN WILLIAMS
A MESSAGE TO OUR ELDER ALPHAS
THE KING OF INK THE ALPHA MALE ABSENCE THE ONE LEFT STANDING
A CUT ABOVE THE MAVERICK ENTREPRENEUR
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Quarterly
A NobleSol Art Group publication
10. 2016 ISSUE 9 For advertising rates: Info@NobleSol.Net Publisher & Founder OKEEBA JUBALO Advertising Director Johnny Clarkson Director of Public Relations Rushia Brown Marketing Advisor Antonio Owens Creative Direction & Graphic Design NobleSol Art Group @NobleSol.net Contributing Writers Rushia Brown Reginald Dye Dethra U. Giles Alia Lewis Sciler Williams Copy Editor Kat Brown
C opyrig ht
C
2016 by Noble S ol Art G roup. Al l r i g h t s re se r v e d
Young Black Entrepreneur MAGAZINE A NobleSol Art Group Publication
CONTENTS Pg 6
Publisher’s Letter A Message To Our Elder Alphas
Pg 8
Tariq Nevar $$ A Cut Above
Pg 10 Reginald Dye $$ The Alpha Male Absence
YBE NATION YBEMAG.COM
$$: Article/Contribution
18
Pg 11 The Publisher’s Pick Pg 12 YBE On The Move Pg 14 Miya Bailey $$ The King of Ink Pg 16 Jon Reid Pg 18 Andrew Momon Jr.
16
Pg 20 Ric Mathis $$ The Maverick Entrepreneur Pg 22 The Lion’s Den Pg 24 Derek Anderson $$ STAMINA Pg 28 Jason Warner Pg 30 Seven Hues Pg 34 Fabian Williams $$ The Occasional Superstar Pg 36 Daniel Webster Giles $$ The One Left Standing
GetBevel.com/trimmer
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24
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THE
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ALPHA
MALEISSUE
#YBEBOSS
A MESSAGE TO OUR ELDER ALPHAS PUBLISHER’S LETTER
These words are coming to you from an honest place with the best intentions. My truth is simple and straight to the point- WE need your help. As a 40 year-old Black Man who has worked endlessly to create financially lucrative avenues for our people, I am now at the place of humbly asking for your help. We are at a fork in the road and my generation does not have what we need to move ourselves up the ladder. Your generation was able to capitalize on a number of affirmative action programs rolled out by the American government, but those streams of opportunities have dried up for my generation. With all of our integrated years behind us there is a new and harder road ahead of us. I speak as an entrepreneur, father, husband, son, brother, uncle, friend, artist and a number of other titles I have honestly earned over the years. Those of you who know me on a personal level also know my character and work ethic.
YBE NATION
I would not come to you if we did not need your help. Over the years I have climbed one mountain after another with the refusal to give up. I have pushed on every door to get my message and business out and now I am reaching out to you. If I went through every detail of my professional and personal efforts, victories and failures, then this would be a very long written piece. Please know that I am coming to you as your son, nephew or maybe even your grandson. The institutions that enforce America’s oppressive treatment of Black Men are thriving, alive and well. The difference between your yesterdays and my today is that your enemies got smarter and multiplied as they prepared for me. The Black church was a place for us to gather ourselves and recharge ourselves as we fought our fights against the bitterness of white supremacy and white hate. I remember my grandfather, father and uncles from that era. They were not perfect, but they were real in their imperfections. There was a common goal and common agenda for all of us. The lines were drawn and either you were on Malcolm’s side or Martin’s side, but the point was clear that we had to get free. Sadly America divided them and killed both of them like dogs in street. Now decades later we are stranded somewhere in the middle of white supremacy and Black delusion. The truth is this: Now we can’t trust the Black church system, the banking system, the educational system, the healthcare system, the policing system, the judicial system and every other system designed to deny us our basic rights as men in this country.
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We don’t have anywhere else to turn. Please do not get religious on me and tell us to turn to prayer, a book or a building. My generation of ethical and honest entrepreneurs need your help. The plain truth is that we have been praying for hundreds of years, reading books for hundreds of years and going into buildings for hundreds of years and now we need the help of our elders. We need your experience, relationships and connections to resources to aid us in moving ourselves up these American ladders. We are reflections of all your hard work and sacrifices. We are disciplined and focused, but still we need your help. This issue of YBE Magazine is dedicated to all of our brothers who are working against a system that is designed to make sure that we fail. These brothers are moving forward, and we still need your help. I challenge you to look deeper within yourself and see us as the next generation of leaders who will become even stronger by working with our alpha elders. The fight did not end with the handful of certain liberties that were handed out to your generation. We are now in the middle of this fight, and I am calling out to all of our alpha elders for your support.
OKEEBA JUBALO
Young Black Entrepreneur Magazine Founder & Editorial Director YBEMAG.com OKEEBAJUBALO.com NobleSol.net
W EE K EN D 4
D
AY
WILL YOU LEAVE BILLS OR BENEFITS?
Chuck D Mushiya Rick Ross Rashan Ali
Ice-T
David Banner
La Detra White Les Brown
Gina Paige Donnie McClurkin
AUCC FINANCIAL LITERACY Presents the Pre-Conference
Premiere of Black Friday The Remix Friday 6pm - 9pm Location: Clark Atlanta Student Center Date: Nov 4 2016 RSVP NOW @ EasyRSVP.net
YBE
YOUNG BLACK ENTREPRENEUR
MAGAZINE
YBE FEATURE
TARIQ
NEVAR
A CUT ABOVE By Alia Lewis
The atmosphere in Furious Styles Barbershop is chill and smooth like the music playing over the stereo. Like Tariq Nevar, the shop isn’t flashy from the outside. Instead it’s classy, simplistic, and possesses a treasure chest full of talent and immense skills within. Tariq is confident with the blade, yet relaxed like his clients. He’s comfortable and casual, yet sharp and focused like the Oster razor he’s holding. Scissors clip, children play, and clients laugh as a I chat with celebrity barber Tariq Nevar on life, hair, and success. If you don’t know who Tariq Nevar is, think about the movie Barbershop 3: The Next Cut and the star studded cast it features like Ice Cube, Cedric the Entertainer, Anthony Anderson, Nicki Minaj, Common, and Eve.
Think about all the fresh cuts and styles that graced the heads of each actor in the film. Now you’re familiar with Tariq. At only 25 years old, he worked as the lead barber on a film that grossed over 20 million dollars during its opening weekend and over 54 million dollars today. At 26, he received birthday shoutouts from Anthony Anderson, Eve, and Lamorne Morris. When describing Barbershop 3: The Next Cut Tariq says, “That was the most fun, hardest, most gratifying job ever”. During the movie, there was nothing Tariq didn’t do. He created the styles of everyone in the film. He designed the set to make sure it had an authentic barbershop feel. Tariq even put the actors and actresses through barber school to make it appear like they were real barbers. “I had a lot of responsibility. I couldn’t be in there star struck. I had a job to do,” recalls Tariq. “Most of the preparation was mental... If you combine the net worth of the cast, I‘m working with over a billion dollars a day. That comes with a different mindset. You have to stay sharp.” OCTOBER 2016
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Although Tariq worked with such high profile celebrities, you wouldn’t be able to tell in his demeanor. He’s not pompous nor arrogant. “Regardless of all of the celebrity stuff that people like to see. I’m really client based. I really enjoy styling my clients on the day to day. The ones that are working on a corporate level, CEO level, all the way down to the valet.” recounts Tariq. So how did Tariq get to where he is now in only 26 short years? “I was born interested in hair because my mother worked at a high level. She was styling all over, doing movies, TV shows, sporting events, commercials.” Tariq is referring to his number one supporter, the late Heather Roxanne Ferguson. The hairstyling legend who went by Roxanne worked on movies such as Because of Winn Dixie, Dream Girls, ATL, Pirates of the Caribbean, Why Did I Get Married?, Good Deeds, as well as a host of other films. “It was a shoe in,” describes Tariq. “Steph Curry’s dad played in the NBA for a decade. Same concept for me in the hair world.” Tariq developed a fascination for barbering in the ninth grade and took that interest to Syracuse University four years later. During his time at Syracuse, he got his feet wet in entrepreneurship. He started a mobile student barbering service and traveled from dorm to dorm. He would cut hair for $5 and sell zebra cakes for fifty cents. “I was killing it as a freshman”, says Tariq. Some days he would make upwards of $30 a day just cutting hair.
“I’ve had more setbacks than I could probably remember to tell you right now, but it’s all about the energy. Are you going to let those set backs define you and knock you off your game or are you going to realize it’s apart of life and keep it moving?” Tariq has been an entrepreneur since high school, so when asked about an entrepreneur’s mindset, he tells YBE this: “You have to have a level of humility in knowing you’re going to get knocked down, in knowing not everyone is going to respect you. You have to build and command that respect, but still have the stubbornness to say I don’t care, this is what I’m going to do, this is what I’m going to be and you can’t stop me!” Tariq also schools the YBE Nation on money management: “I wish someone would’ve took all my money and put it somewhere,” Tariq says laughing. “I would tell someone starting out in any level of entrepreneurship or career to get into the practice that your money isn’t yours. Pay yourself a salary, live way below your means until you got it and you’ll know when you got it.” “There is a level of uncertainty in being an entrepreneur. The way to minimize that uncertainty is to maximize your savings.” Tariq is widely successful, yet giving back is still close to his heart. “For me personally I’m not too far removed from being a little kid… [with a] closet fully stocked in thrift shop apparel, needing boys and girl’s club and sports to keep me out of trouble, so naturally my first response is to help anybody because that’s how I’m here.”
“Somebody gave me an opportunity so any chance I get I’ll use the talents that God gave me and give it back to somebody less fortunate. I think that’s the only way to continue to keep the cycle of entrepreneur life flowing is to pay it forward.” Tariq Nevar is America’s premiere barber. He’s gracious and humble in demeanor and conversation yet ferocious and focused when it comes to his dreams and his business. “At the core I’m a people person,” says Tariq. “I literally lead with love.” Tariq Nevar is the definition of a YBE Alpha Male. He makes the most out of every opportunity he’s given. YBE congratulates Tariq and wishes him future success.
YBE
After staying in Syracuse for six years, he decided it was time to move on. Because of his skills, he had the freedom to travel anywhere since he knew any shop would love to have him. With his spirit high and expectations higher, he traveled to the booming city of Atlanta. “I get all the way down to Atlanta and find out my mother passed away,” says Tariq. Hurt, confused, and lost Tariq decided not to dwell on the emotions that could lead to lasting anger. “She would’ve wanted me stay strong, and keep going, and progress the way she raised me to,” Tariq says. Tariq mourned, picked himself up, and went back to work. “I moved down here with a mission and goal in mind.” He says he stay focused and used her energy and blessings to knock opportunities out of the park when he got them. Tariq did just that. Not only does he create buzz worthy styles, but he trends on social media while doing it. Tariq is so good at what he does that even his clients become local celebrities because of his work. “That’s just a full testament to staying completely focused,” Tariq says recounting his trending styles. “I wanted to make sure I was prepared at all times for anything. Not a grade of hair that I couldn’t deal with, style or person, not a personality type that I couldn’t mesh with.”
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NATION
REGINALD
DYE
The Alpha Male Absence! By Reginald Dye
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The alpha male is one of dominance. A force that progresses, protects, and preserves self, family, and legacy! We are the first option and the last resort. The accelerators and perpetuators of blackness in its rawest, uncut and vigorously valid form. We as black men have to return to our rightful place as the pillars of the commu-nity! The pillar that upholds the standard, not the one that holds up the progress!
YBE
OCTOBER 2016
We will stay the course RESILIENTLY! It's a must that we see things through. Too much imbalance is occurring within the black community because we walk away from being husbands and stray away from being fathers. Up the 85% of black boys in America grow up without a father in the home, so it renders them uncertain of who they are which robs them of their purpose! The perseverance of a strong black alpha male is supposed to send shockwaves to white supremacy while delivering a major impact for generations to come. Our legacies need to extend to our children's children. For the sake of progression the next generations need to KNOW us! The worst tasks ever are the ones that were not completed.
NATION
Mass incarceration has become a vehicle of modern slavery. Gang warfare and police brutality serves as a one- two punch to snuff out black lives young and old alike, while HIV now travels so rapidly and frequently through black bodies that it has decreased the black life span. While many may argue that these travesties among us are self-inflicted, or the result of historically and reoccurring oppression, it's no surprise why every third Sunday in the month of June there is always some shout out to a black woman for being a mother AND a "father." Such false festiveness is occurring because the natural
standard of the black alpha male has become genetically modified. The kings have downgraded themselves to pawn positions with very little sacrificial fight. Our proactive pounce has diminished, and has made way for pussycat prissiness. Trend-setters have become trend followers, and of course, I can create one definitive phrase after another but the utmost certainty is that brothers are neglecting to handle their business. In order for an alpha male resurgence to occur, we as men have to resurrect our thinking. Unlearn to relearn so that we may reclaim our rightful roles as the heads of the herd, the leaders of the pack and the proprietors of the pride. We have to reawaken RELENTLESSLY! Our passion has to have a purpose. When it doesn't, it becomes anger not properly asserted which is a train wreck waiting to happen. An Alpha male is a brand that loves to create opportunities for our people by recreating ourselves. We are providers that lead our village but most intimately we lead our homes and love on our families. We assure those we love that we will be active and will not be absent. Our wives won't have to wait up and our children won't wonder where is daddy? We have to respond RADICALLY! Leaders lead from the front! We don't do what everyone else is doing, we research for multiple ways to supply multiple demands. Against the grain is a comfort for us, because an alpha male understands the importance of counter attacking the incoming attacks against himself and his people. He is a Hannibal-like strategist who can attain success confidently by confronting opposition.
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Sol Brown, OKEEBA JUBALO, Kat Brown & Noble Brown
Jhazmin and Johnny Clarkson
Maynard Eaton and Robin Ligon
THE INVITE: 2016 YBE Magazine PowHER Networking Mixer. THE VENUE: Thompson Bespoke. THE HOSTING COMMITTEE: OKEEBA JUBALO, Johnny Clarkson, Rushia Brown and Kat Brown. EVENT NOTES: An evening for networking with the featured women of the 07.2016 YBE Magazine PowHER Issue and supporters.
ON THE MOVE
Angela Carter
Alia Lewis
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Colette Geneve
Denitria Fountain and Fred Green
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ON THE MOVE Guests
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YBE FEATURE
MIYA
MiyaBailey.com CityofInk.com
BAILEY THE KING OF INK
By Sciler Williams
Miya Bailey is one of the few artists who has made a lasting and impactful impression on the art world. Many people know him for his work as a tattoo artist, but at the center of everything, he is a visionary, eager to reach the masses. After hearing Outkast's "Player's Ball", Bailey, 19 at the time, made his way from the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina to the great art hub, Atlanta. As he transitioned into his manhood, he also began his evolution into the monumental artist that we all know today. Growing up, his mother raised him to find his place in the art world. "Art and money always came together," said Bailey, "They were never separate in my life." At the parties that his mother would host, Bailey would exchange a drawing for a quarter to party goers.
While some artists choose art, for Bailey art chose him. "I didn't have the luxury," said Bailey. For him art was his livelihood. At a young age, he learned to use art as a means to get the things he wanted. Aside from buying extra clothes, he built what he proclaims was the best toy collection in Asheville. To this day, he has a toy collection that he keeps to remind him of the hustle. After spending his childhood drawing and painting, Bailey became hell bent on tattooing for a living. In a time where the tattoo industry was restricted to white bikers, Bailey had to fight for his place in the tattoo world. Former owner of West End tattoo shop in Atlanta, Julia Alfonso, afforded Bailey and many other black tattoo artists the opportunity to nurture their craft. Following his time with Alfonso, Bailey made his way back to his hometown of Asheville, North Carolina where he opened up his first shop. Unfortunately the people of Asheville did not accept Bailey's all-white staff only tattooing black people.
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With tensions high, Bailey often got into physical altercations. Then a brawl at Denny's changed everything. One day restaurant goers aggressively jumped some police officers for harassing Bailey and his crew. Bailey was faced with a charge of attempted murder and battled a two-year trial. When the dust settled he was not convicted, and he decided to move back down to Atlanta. Bailey opened City of Ink on Castleberry Hill in February of 2007 with hip hop and tattoo artist Tuki Carter. The vision was to mesh the world between music and tattooing. The shop manifested beyond imagination. City of Ink has gained tons of recognition for being black-owned and mastering tattooing colors on all skin complexions. In an effort to document the true reality of the urban tattooing business, Bailey collaborated with director Artemus Jenkins to create the documentary, Color Outside the Lines. They traveled from Atlanta to Amsterdam and in the conversations with other black tattoo artists, the beauty and the trials of the urban tattooing world were revealed. Those same truths are lived everyday at both City of Ink locations. Today hidden behind the Castleberry Hill location is a beautiful Paper Frank mural, and inside is a home fit for up-and-coming painters, musicians, fashion enthusiasts, and cannabis lovers. On the flip-side, there's the Notch8 art gallery. It holds high end art and is specifically geared towards art collectors. Notch8 can be found in South Atlanta where the range of art is impeccable.
While Bailey is very versatile in regards to the type of artwork he can offer to people, there is also another piece of himself that he has hidden away. In the next five years, he's looking forward to opening up a chain of boutique style hotels. "If I dream about something," said Bailey, "I have to manifest it."In fact, he usually doesn't mention his plans until he already has some parts of them set in stone, so don't be surprised if you see some fly hotels popping up soon. Besides gifting the art world with his genius, Bailey is constantly spreading awareness on civil rights and looking for ways to give back to the black community. If you catch him on social media, you will see that he opens the conversation up for his followers to voice their opinions on social issues that are tough to talk about, like police brutality. He is also vulnerable in his conversations about the racist encounters he or the people he knows go through. Miya Bailey is truly a force to reckon with. He has 23 years of tattooing under his belt, meaning that his exquisite artistry can only get more divine. In the coming years, we can only hope to prepare enough space for the greatness of Miya Bailey. Until then, he will be at either one of two City of Ink tattoo shops, suited up at Notch8, pushing for civil rights, or balancing life as a husband, father, grandfather, and son.
Fine Art by Goldi Gold @ The City of Ink Gallery
YBE
NATION OCTOBER 2016
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Tattoo by Miya Bailey
JON
REID AllenReidEnterprises.com
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How much money did it take to start your business and what funding sources did you access? The investment for my service business was not a lot of capital. In fact, it was less than $5,000 to incorporate, market, establish an office, have a website designed, etc. I utilized funds saved from a job I left. I also built more capital for my business by investing in residential real estate; buying and selling investment homes helped fund my consulting business.
Revenue growth has been funded by landing strategic contracts with larger firms like AT&T, Suntrust, Directv, etc, and by collaborating with organizations like the SBA, Urban League of Greater Atlanta, and other non-profit organizations. I’ve been able to get my company’s name recognized as well as building my personal brand through selective networking. I noticed that the more I’m on syndicated radio shows, writing articles on minority access to capital and sitting on panels, I’ve been able to grow strategically.
What have you done to rise to the top? I haven’t risen to the top yet, LOL! I like the adage, “When you shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you’ll land amongst the stars”. Here is the key: Network with those individuals who are smarter than you, more successful than you, and continue to learn.
Who was your greatest teacher or what has been your greatest learning experience? My greatest teacher was actually my father. He was an educator in high schools and colleges and also a restaurant and business entrepreneur. My father was always working on the next business idea. I received his entrepreneurial spirit. In one word or brief phrase, tell a new Alpha Male what to expect. Listen 10 times more than you speak. Acquire as much knowledge as you can, then execute. Continue to execute and you will succeed.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
How would you define a great leader? My definition of a great leader: One who teaches others to be leaders; a person who leaves behind knowledge for someone else to acquire.
How has your revenue/staff grown over time and what systems have you put in place to manage that growth?
YBE
Who are you? I have more than 29 years of experience in Corporate Finance, Accounting, Real Estate (commercial and residential), Budget Development, Project Management, Contract Administration, IT Technical and proposal writing. I am a motivated, passionate, transformational leader (MBA, CIA, PMP) with strong business process and financial acumen. Currently I am the co-owner of Allen Reid Enterprises, LLC. This management consulting firm specializes in project management and entrepreneurial education as well as real estate investing and coaching, accounting, IT and finance operations (for both small to large sized firms), ERP deployments, auditing, remediation, compliance, documentation and implementation services.
What was the biggest challenge that you faced in your industry? Access to capital was and is one of the greatest challenges, and running a close second is the perception that being a minority infers a product or service that is inferior. The challenge was to break pre-conceived notions.
NATION OCTOBER 2016
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ANDREW
MOMON JR.
MomonLeadership.com
OCTOBER 2016
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Who are you?
I have over 15 years of experience serving as the special assistant and chief adjutant to internationally renowned pastor and leader Bishop Eddie L. Long. Simultaneously I serve as Chief Leadership Officer at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church where I oversee key ministry areas including: Leadership Development, the Nation of Jesus Men's Ministry, the Father's House Ministerial Alliance, and the Newbirth Church Association. A 2011 Executive VIP ProtectionServices graduate and a two time International Atlanta Open IBJJF Jiujutsu Gold Medalist (2014 & 2012), I am a traveler and a '"foodie." My wife Kendra and I reside in Atlanta.
What is your industry and why did this industry appeal to you? My industry is Leadership Development.
This industry appealed to me because I realized that we all are here to play a part in the future of society and the world we live in. If we desire to see the state of the world we live in improve, it has to start with us. It takes leadership to change the outcome of any situation, and I believe I offer a perspective that can positively impact people and in turn impact the world.
How would you define a great leader? I define a great leader as one who leads with a mindset and focus to serve first. I state in my book Be The Answer that " We are failing to develop next generation leaders because we are failing to develop now generation servants.” A great leader inspires, motivates, and coaches others to achieve their potential while having a focus on how they can serve their followers and peers leaving them better than they found them. How much money did it take to start your business and what funding sources did you access? I self-funded $30k. How has your revenue/staff grown over time and what systems have you put in place to manage that growth?
The primary staff is co-founder of Momon Leadershp, Dr. Kendra Moon. We currently outsource our primary needs and receive tremendous support from companies like NobleSol Art Group. We also use automated systems such as Infusionsoft to manage communication and the nurturing of our current and potential customers and affiliates.
What have you done to rise to the top? We focus on serving people the way we would like to be served. Our goal is to add more value to each person we encounter. We do not let the amount we are currently paid by a customer determine how much we give. We give our all and strive to exceed expectations daily.
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What was the biggest challenge that you faced in your industry? Exposure, getting the word out about what we offer and getting the opportunity to showcase it. We have also encountered people not wanting to compensate us for the true added value that we bring. Who was your greatest teacher or what has been your greatest learning experience? My greatest teacher as it relates to leadership development has been Bishop Eddie Long. He has mentored me for over 15 years. The leadership experiences that I have gained through my journey with him have been invaluable. I have been blessed to learn and grow leaps and bounds ahead of my time because I've been exposed to high level leadership practice and implementation for more than a decade.
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
I am the co- founder of Momon Leadership - a global leadership consultation firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and author of the cutting edge book Be The Answer: Your Guide To Effective and Transformative Leadership. I am also a John C. Maxwell certified Coach, Teacher, Trainer and a member of the FUTURES Alliance Executive Board.
In one word or brief phrase, tell a new Alpha Male what to expect. Be the answer! The is a problem that you were called to solve by serving.
YBE
NATION
RIC
MATHIS TheFilmBlackFriday.com
YBE FEATURE
The Maverick Entrepreneur
YBE NATION
By Alia Lewis
OCTOBER 2016
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Ten years ago, Ric Mathis was just an ordinary student with hopes of one day making it big in the film industry. Today, he’s an indie filmmaking maverick with a movie that has been screened over 50 times to more than 10,000 people. “My inspiration came from… just wanting to have a platform for us to talk about money,” states Mathis. Mathis is referring to his film Black Friday: What Legacy Will You Leave. In the movie, he poses the question, “If you died right now, would you leave bills or benefits?” In America, although African Americans possess over 1.1 trillion dollars in buying power, there is still great economic disparity and poverty in the community. Mathis interviewed hundreds of people from across America as well as prominent celebrities and distinguished advocates who offered solutions to the problem. Although the film features esteemed guests such as Dr. George Frasier, Dr. Claud Anderson, Dr. Umar Johnson, David Banner, Judge Hatchett, Hill Harper, and Cynthia Bailey, Mathis doesn’t accredit his fame to bringing such powerhouses into the film. When asked how this Georgia State Alumni worked with such an all start cast, Mathis says he practiced metaphysics. “I created a list, like my wish list of all the people I wanted in the film.” In essence, Mathis sort of used what many entrepreneurs refer to as their secret weapon, the Law of Attraction. “Metaphysics is actually seeing something before it happens or applying certain principles to bring things out of the intangible into the tangible world. You can see it and speak it as if it’s already happened,” says Mathis.
With a filmmaking resume as vast as Mathis’ some would think filmmaking has been his dream since childhood. Mathis was born in Valdosta, Georgia but moved to Atlanta when he was 14. At that time basketball was his passion and playing basketball in the NBA while hearing fans cheer his name was his goal. Mathis describes, “At some point I kind of lost the feel for basketball and got more into writing and telling my story.” He desired having a message that people could relate to and could be of value and substance to people. Although writing and filmmaking was his new found passion, he also valued entrepreneurship. Even as a kid, Mathis worked as a paper boy disturbing newspapers and cutting grass in his neighborhood. “I’ve always had an interest in making money and working for myself,” says Mathis. So how did someone with goals of becoming a filmmaker also become a successful entrepreneur as well? “I built my way into entrepreneurship,” explains Mathis. He describes himself as always having an entrepreneurial spirit although he’s had 100 jobs. From an early age, Mathis tapped in into a revelation about entrepreneurship, but most importantly wealth. Mathis tells YBE Nation that, “In terms of creating wealth, you want to create products that you can get paid on five years, ten years later. Or create something once and get paid off of it for the rest of your life. So if you’re doing a freelance job, then that doesn’t happen because that’s someone else’s intellectual property and they’re getting paid for that. When you’re creating your own intellectual property, then you own the rights to that and you continue to get paid off of that.”
Despite the acclaim, Black Friday isn’t Mathis’ first film, nor is it his first time working with such high profile celebrities. Mathis wrote and recited poetry across the country and has filmed events such as the Essence Festival and has worked with celebrities like Kevin Hart. Mathis advises all YBE’s to “get paid to learn.” For those hesitant about entrepreneurship, he offers this ,“Of course go work for other people and then learn but at some point you got to realize okay now I’m ready to put in my own products. The pros of entrepreneurship are you get paid. If you put the work in, if you put the time in you get paid what you’re worth. You don’t have anyone overseeing what you’re doing. You’re your own boss,” says Mathis. When asked about the mindset of an entrepreneur, Mathis says, “If you don’t have the mindset of a warrior or someone’s who ready to conquer, then you’re not ready for entrepreneurship. It takes courage. You got to be bold. You got to take bold steps, you have to be hungry. You have to be focused. You have to be strategic and have principles that govern your life and business.”
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Overall, Ric Mathis creates his own rules and does filmmaking his way. He found a way to create his own intellectual property while contributing to his company and learning new skills in the process. Mathis says, “Shooting the film was like getting a doctorate degree in finance.” Although the film was shot on a five figure budget, the quality is superb. Mathis stopped at nothing to get the right interviews and shots. Some scenes were even recorded on his phone. Not only did Mathis create a stellar production, but he also educates the masses. He helped to place topics such as generational wealth, savings, and most importantly the power of the black dollar on the forefront of people’s minds. Because of Black Friday audience members can apply practical solutions to their everyday lives immediately after watching it. Ric Mathis is a great example of a successful YBE who combined his passions with entrepreneurship. Not only did he help build wealth for himself, but he is also reaching back and assisting others with building wealth as well. We salute this YBE.
THE LION’S DEN FOR THE KING WITHIN YOU JohnnyWalker.com
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AT L A N TA 1 1 . 06.2016 6 : 30pm
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HONORING A LIVING LEGEND YBE
YOUNG BLACK ENTREPRENEUR
MAGAZINE
YBE COVER FEATURE
DEREK ANDERSON DerekAndersonWorks.com
STAMINA
By Rushia Brown & OKEEBA JUBALO
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Behind every successful entrepreneur is a story of how they positioned themselves to someday maximize their potential. Derek Anderson, former NBA superstar has written an unlikely story of success and now uses his businesses to positively impact the lives of others. Affectionately known as “DA”, his ability to fight through incredible odds has prepared him for a time such as this. Before even reaching his teenage years, Derek had already been abandoned by his parents and left homeless. As an 11 year old he lived in homeless shelters, gyms and anywhere he could lay his head. This was one of many tests that would help to form his character and truly force him to dig deeply within himself. “My goals were placed into survival mode and everything that I thought of was about surviving. Once I saw my first bit of success, I felt like I could accomplish anything,” says DA. He made three dollars a day working for the neighborhood candy man. Adults were drawn to his smile and great personality. The school teachers and neighborhood figures served as positive role models for him. He carried himself as a mature young man which led to a number of opportunities simply because of his manners and willingness to say “Yes ma’am or no sir.”
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His responsibilities increased when he became a father at 14 and narrowly escaped death when he was stabbed in a fight. These tough times taught Derek about survival, but his mindset wasn’t that of an average kid growing up in the projects. Working two jobs to provide for himself and his son was his first lesson in financial literacy. He learned early that he had to be frugal to stretch his money, spending only on the necessities. Derek recalls, “I wasn’t one of those kids who kept his head down or was mean mugging people. I was always the kid who tried to smile and have an upbeat attitude. That helped me to get a job at Winn Dixie. People would say that I was a good kid and let me carry their bags. Some kids got ran off and some got to stay, I was one of the few who got to stay." The mindset of a champion was being developed. He understood that his life would be what he made it and not what others thought he would become. The rest of his story is one that should motivate anyone who hears it. Throughout his years of turmoil and trials, Derek continued to pursue basketball and never let his education suffer, graduating from Doss High School in Louisville, Kentucky with a 3.7 GPA and attaining a scholarship to Ohio State University. Derek was not heavily recruited because he was not known on a national level due to his absence on the AAU scene. His responsibilities as a teenage father took precedence over the endless summer hours of AAU basketball.
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“I had to work summer jobs because I had a child. People in the city knew who I was, but nobody in the basketball world knew who I was. Becoming a professional athlete wasn’t anything that I thought about. In my neighborhood I never saw anyone do that so it was pretty much you had to get a job and survive or become another statistic. I just wanted to get a decent house with a small yard for me and my son. Success came for me by working hard. I never chased that NBA dream- I just chased living day by day,” DA recalls. While a promising athlete and scholar, Derek eventually left Ohio State University after tearing his ACL and transferred to the University of Kentucky after rehabbing his injury. During his senior year he then tore his right ACL and once again had to rely on his work ethic and belief in himself to rehabilitate his body and get back on the court. In 1996, DA helped the University of Kentucky win the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship as part of a team that featured nine future NBA players under their coach Rick Pitino. Even then he still wasn’t focused on making it to the NBA; Derek continued to study Social Work and Pharmacy. “I am always in survival mode. So I figured if I wouldn’t make it to the NBA then what was next? So I figured I would finish school. I was never in success mode.” He was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers as the 13th overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft even though he missed
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much of his second senior season at Kentucky due to his torn ACL. His entrepreneurial spirit began to manifest when Derek became the first NBA player to seal his deal without an agent. His thinking was light years ahead of his counterparts. Derek says, “To me it didn’t make any sense to pay someone to do something when he didn’t have any say-so. The NBA had a set position so if I got drafted ninth then I had a certain spot so I would only make what I was going to make. There was no negotiations. The agent couldn’t get you any more.” When asking his coaches why he needed an agent the only answer that came up was that someone would be able to speak for him. That did not add up so he decided that he would speak for himself. “When Michael Jordan called me for Nike and asked me to become a part of his Jordan brand I felt like that was how it was suppose to be. Call me, I show up and I sign the deal. That is how I thought business was suppose to be. Why would I have someone else speaking for me when it is my deal? I didn’t want an agent. I never thought about making millions. The first time I thought about making millions is when I got my first check. I’ve been getting checks ever since.” At that time the Internet was not what it is today, so he relied on the USA Today because they released all of the contract information and details about the players. “If you picked up a copy of the USA Today they had everything about everyone’s contracts. How much they signed for, when they
signed and when they got paid. It was the craziest thing I ever saw. Most of it was published. I saw one guy get forty million and knew that I was better than him so I needed to get paid more than him. It was simple math. If I averaged more points than him and do more than him then I can go into the same office and speak to the same people and get the same thing,” Derek recounts. When asked about serving as an agent for other NBA players, Anderson did see it as an opportunity, but noted that the culture would not support that business move. “ I would serve as an agent and not charge a fee. I would just have them donate to my foundation. The problem with athletes is that they aren’t willing to listen to those who have been in their position. They are only willing to listen to those in suits who aren’t any form of competition for them. Imagine if Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson got together and did what Warren Buffet and Bill Gates did? They would be super powers. It’s a competition thing with athletes. When they see me, its like ‘here comes another athlete.’ They see a guy in a business suit and they will listen to everything he has to say. It is weird. It’s almost like our kids being willing to listen to someone else before listening to us when we will tell them the exact same thing.” His business prowess continued throughout his 11 years as an NBA professional and NBA Champion with the Miami Heat in 2006. Learning to leverage his platform and relationships, Derek was able to set his legacy in motion by establishing Derek Anderson Works, INC, to create quality
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films, premier television series, novels, and futuristic inventions. Currently Anderson is closing a movie deal about his life story based on his book STAMINA which highlights his ability to make it through challenging circumstances. He speaks of how he found his parents and forgave them, and how his life’s motto “Forgive and Forget” has been instrumental in his success both personally and professionally. “All of my brands are predicated around STAMINA. From my STAMINA Foundation to my book and movie.” His commitment to making a difference in the world is seen with his hands-on approach at the STAMINA Academy where he encourages the youth to build life skills, stay off the streets and pursue their goals. “My academy is the first of it’s kind. It’s real life stuff. They tell you to go to school and get a job, but they don’t tell you anything about the things in-between. They don’t tell you about taxes. They don’t tell you about bills. My academy is about teaching them how to prepare for life. What we do is help prepare these kids for what will really happen after they get past the point of being 18 or 19. There are millions of people out here with educations and degrees who don’t have any life skills so they can’t make it. They don’t have common courtesy or job training. We are teaching them job training with the basics of presentation. Basic things like how to wash clothes, iron their clothes, pay their bills and save money. Even basic things like looking up and not walking
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around with their heads downwith their eyes locked on their cell phones.” His goal is to build his academies in every state. Currently, the flagship facility is placed on twenty-four acres in Louisville, Kentucky. Currently, Anderson works between Louisville and Los Angles with plans to open a facility in Atlanta, Georgia. Derek understands that it’s just as important to do good as it is to do well. He also understands the importance of showing our children the right images by being the right images. “If you have children then there is an obligation to help them do better. Your image upholds something to your children.” Derek has constantly stated that accountability is key! His success is directly correlated with his work ethic, infectious smile and ability to believe in himself. He advises anyone who is going into business to be prepared to have to do it alone. “Collaboration is always a great idea, but you can very seldom find people willing to do what they have promised. Your strength and passion will be the primary forces in getting you through and executing your game plan.” From Derek Anderson we learn that success isn’t for the weak hearted, and if you are truly focused on making it to the top you will need to have STAMINA!
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JASON
WARNER
OwnTheVision.com
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Who are you?
Bachelor’s of Science in Public Relations from Florida A&M University.
How would you define a great leader? Great leaders inspire people to be great. Great leaders are visionary thinkers. Great leaders focus on the greater good for the whole, and not for selfish individual gain. How much money did it take to start your business and what funding sources did you access? I have personally invested more than $5,000 in the first six months of launching the Own The Vision Foundation. Fortunately, I have been able to lean on great relationships to get some in-kind services based on our mission to build an infrastructure for Black America. We are a bit different from a traditional business model in that we are a nonprofit organization; however, we do have most of the same costs that a for-profit would incur. How has your revenue/staff grown over time and what systems have you put in place to manage that growth?
Our revenue is donation based. In the first six-months things have been consistent but slow. One of the greatest tools we can use is research. We have to use the research to come up with creative ways to give our target population what they are asking for, without straying away from our mission. As we transition to our GIVE 12 project, in cities across the country, I am excited about our projected trajectory.
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What have you done to rise to the top? We focus on staying consistent in our message and mission. As the saying goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” so we have to be steadfast in our consistency to build this brand. Additionally, the feedback we are receiving is that we are genuine, and have developed a sound strategy for the success of our community. What was the biggest challenge that you faced in your industry? We have the enormous task of changing the mindset of people who have been conditioned to believe a certain way for hundreds of years. While we continue to make strides, it will take consistent brand recognition to make the full shift. Who was your greatest teacher or what has been your greatest learning experience? History. History has been my greatest teacher. I am one to see where I want to be, and find people or organizations that have achieved that goal. I then look at their pitfalls, and try not to repeat those mistakes. Every organization or person is going to have its own hiccups; however, the goal is to learn from other people’s mistakes to get to your finish line quicker. In one word or brief phrase, tell a new Alpha Male what to expect. Perseverance – In your role as an Alpha Male, you will get everything thrown at you (good and bad). You have to persevere through all of it. Keep your head down and push forward.
NON-PROFIT
CEO, Author, Speaker and Change Agent. I am the Chief Vision Owner and thought leader behind the Own The Vision Foundation. A public relations and marketing practitioner by trade, I began my career in local government, and have worked in corporate, agency, educational and the nonprofit arena. By age 24, I was one of the youngest department heads of a large municipality. As Community Relations Director, I served as the change agent helping to bridge the gap between the government and local community. During this period, I had the privilege of coordinating the external logistics for the homegoing service of the First Lady of the Civil Rights Movement, Mrs. Coretta Scott King. After my government tenure, I worked with top communications agencies in consulting and developing essential marketing/branding strategies for some of the world’s most prominent corporations, universities, professional athletes and nonprofit organizations. An advocate and purveyor of life learning, I also made a mark as guest lecturer at marquee universities on marketing, public relations, crisis communications, brand management, entrepreneurship and leadership. I have also been called upon to lead conversations on municipal government relations, non-profit management and community empowerment. I am the author of the forthcoming books: Where the Rubber Meets the Road- It All Starts on the Local Level, a breakdown of the people, responsibilities and department in local/municipal governments across the country; The Success Equation, the missing ingredient to success in business, community, life and relationships; The Rules of Engagement – Lessons learned from a failed marriage: The Male Perspective. I hold an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a
SEVEN
HUES Running4MyLife.org
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Who are you?
What is your industry and why did this industry appeal to you? These industries appealed to me because they speak to the different corners of my life.
How would you define a great leader? I would define a great leader as a visionary, leading people to a particular place from the heart with great intent, edifying and increasing the value of his/her followers by implementing life-changing practices, pushing others into greatness with boldness and assurance.
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How much money did it take to start your business and what funding sources did you access? I started my business with nothing. My mother bought the computer at 14, and from there I went door to door for the business. However, my business has had extreme growth spurts and the first time I needed money to upgrade my business, I borrowed it from three banks totalling about $5,000.00. How has your revenue/staff grown over time and what systems have you put in place to manage that growth?
My business grew to a staff of over 12 people and revenue was at over 300,000.00. To manage that growth, I brought in mangers and supervisors and built a CRM intranet system. However, I am rebranding again. As stated earlier, I am an artist and after a terrible motorcycle accident, I decided to shut the doors to 7th Wonder and focus completely on my entertainment career. Now, after rebranding 7th Wonder, instead of outside employees, my core workers are family members who are extremely competent.
What have you done to rise to the top? To rise to the top, my work has proven to be extremely profitable for clients. My clients rave about our work so that I don't have to. When you show people you care, they support. When you execute on time and hit your marks, the business grows.
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What was the biggest challenge that you faced in your industry? The biggest challenge I face in my industry is sticking to my policies. My firm is not cheap and clients will often try and make me feel bad for them or try to influence me to come down on my prices, but my work is great so I don't budge.
THE ARTS
I am Seven Hues- artist, actor, activist and businessman of 24yrs. I started my branding company (7th Wonder) at the age of 14 and since then, we have branded some of the most amazing national and international clients such as FreeAir, SheSpeaks, MovementForward and Savannah Bourbon. My talents as an artist are always expanding. My digital platforms are: www.7thWonder.com, www.IamSevenHues.com, and www.Running4MyLife.org.
Who was your greatest teacher or what has been your greatest learning experience? My greatest teacher would have to be AJ Savage in Columbia, South Carolina. He showed me how to play the game of business, while giving time to others who need it. My greatest learning experience was in the Marine Corps when a much larger sergent challenged me to a "gear-locker" meeting and I didn't back down. I was put on base arrest and more. From that event, I learned how to speak to people, being able to tell them exactly how I feel, without losing my cool. In one word or brief phrase, tell a new Alpha Male what to expect. Nothing. Have no expectations. Live and live well.
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YBE FEATURE
FABIAN
WILLIAMS OccasionalSuperstar.com
The Occasional Superstar By Sciler Williams
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During the remainder of this year, Williams is sharing multiple series that will highlight different pieces of himself. Magic Baby Love, a series inspired by his youngest son Magic, is coming to Charleston gallery, The Southern, in August. A series on social media, Rockingwell, will be premiering at the Mason Fine Art gallery in November. Williams will also be redefining constellations and the astro world in his interactive series, Constellations and Phangs Williams asks that you, "Stay ready!" No one style of his is the same as the others, so "Be ready to think!"
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in costumes all in the spirit of fine art and good times. Williams's innovative style reveals just a small part of the grandiose imagination manifesting inside the Occasional Superstar. He became obsessed with details after "being raised like a solider" in Fayetteville. Mix that in with the spirit of Atlanta, which Williams says helped him add emotion to his pieces, and you get masterpiece after masterpiece. "Emotion is a God filled language," said Williams, "It transcends regular communication and ignites a personal response." In his series, Logic, Williams intertwines mathematical concepts with social and political issues, such as police brutality. Logic is a reaction to another series, "Contraption", which are pieces of "overly complicated machines that produce simple results." In those spaces, not only does Williams evoke immense emotion, but he also creates a welcoming environment for those who aren't into art. "I look at it like it's church," said Williams about his vision for his art movement. His goal is to reach the blue collar and academic focused people of the world. He gives the analogy of a preacher to a church. With that, he challenges himself to give quality, intensity, and consistency, and believes that those three attributes are important for any artist aiming for excellence. Just three years ago, after his "come to God moment" (as he calls it), Williams stepped out on a leap of faith and made the choice to call himself "an artist." Each of his works of art symbolize his progression and his courage to let nothing get in the way of being true to himself.
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It's not every day that art work is all in one risquĂŠ, educational, moving, and precise, but Fabian "Occasional Superstar" Williams has managed to create artwork that is all of those things and more. The North Carolina native grew up knowing that art would always be apart of his life. He began drawing at a young age. His parents were always supportive; however, naturally they had their concerns about how being an artist would provide security to their son."I had to show them," said Williams. In an effort to follow his dreams, he decided on attending East Carolina University, where he received a B.F.A. in Illustration. Upon graduating Williams spent 15 years working for major companies, such as Coca Cola, HBO, Nike, and Warner Brothers. Though for Williams something was missing. Burning inside was a deep desire to be limitless in the way he expressed his art. After dedicating 15 years to the commercial art world, Williams went out on a limb and dropped everything to focus solely on his dream. Back in 2009, he created the World Wide Art Federation (WWAF) after he and another artist got into an Online beef. Williams took notice of all the attention that the beef was receiving and chose to build off of it. Jokingly, Williams has taken jabs at many respectable artists. The outcome has been his WWAF art series, where talented artists challenge each other, throw jabs, and dress up.
YBE FEATURE
THE ONE LEFT STANDING By Dethra U. Giles DethraGiles.com
There he sat in his chair, slightly reclined and sleeping. I knew, though he was sleep, he was waiting on me. In her soft southern bell voice she said, “Dan, Dan, Dethra’s here.” In my mind I thought “that is not going to wake him.” But it did and he jumped up as if he had been awake all along. He stood to his feet and gave me my usual greeting. With open arms he said, “Hey Baby.” almost sounding like a native of New Orleans. “Hey Baby”, and then a tight hug. “Where Lil Man?”-a question I knew was coming. Lil Man is what he calls my husband. The story is he started calling Frank “Lil Man” because he never wanted anyone calling
him “boy.” You must understand my father-in-law, Daniel Webster Giles, in his words is “89 and two,” 89 years and two months to the rest of us. He was born in 1927 only 62 years after the 13th amendment was ratified. He came up in a time when being called “boy” was more than just demeaning, being called “boy” was the only indication that your life might be in danger as in “Boy, what you doing over here”, “Boy, we don’t like your kind round these parts”, “Boy, were you looking at that white woman?” He never wanted his son to be called “boy” so he called him “Lil Man” and the name stayed. I chuckled and said, “He stayed home with the girl and
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I brought my lil man with me.” Then we sat down to talk. I explained that I wanted to interview him concerning the Alpha male and business. His smile broadened as he said, “Alpha male, yes I am an Alpha Man.” I knew he was talking about the fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha, a fraternity that makes my Father-in-law and my husband, brothers. I explained, I was writing an article for YBE Magazine and I want them to hear from him, someone who has seen so much from sharecropping to a black president. His eyes glazed over as he looked into the distance, “Baby, I have seen a lot. I was in the service for 12 and a half years. Fought in World War II and the Korean War. I know only the Alpha male is the one left standing.” I interrupt his story to keep him on track. I politely interject, “Mr. Giles, the reason I am an entrepreneur is because of you. Did you know that?” He smiles broad and responds, “No, baby. How can I take responsibility for that?” I laugh and fill him in. “When I was graduating from college and I told you I was looking for a job you told me “smart people don’t look for jobs they create jobs.” That put the idea in my head that I could start a business. You raised a son who understood the importance of entrepreneurship. “What can we begin doing to raise more men like that?” He stopped gazing into space and looked at me and then it happened. Wisdom began to flow like water. While you can only get a piece, I will try to share the highlights.
• An Alpha Male protects. “When I opened the store they wanted to try to rob me but they didn’t mess with me.” Of course I had to know why they didn’t mess with him, so I asked, “How did you stop them?” He smiled that devilish smile that I know use to make the ladies swoon back in the day, “Well baby, I brought a double barreled shotgun and I still got it.” I chuckled as I said, “You were going to shoot at them.” Then he responded with a chuckle, but not the “I’m joking chuckle.” He responded with the kind of chuckle I imagine a madman would do right before he did his madmanary and said, “I’m a trained solider, been in two wars and was a paratrooper in one of
them, I don’t shoot at nothin. Plus, I was a pug, a boxer ya know. I was physical and they didn’t want to bother me. But I wasn’t just physical and had a gun I was serious. You wasn’t gone mess with my family. They robbed the store once when my wife was there. That never happened again. An alpha male protects his family and his business.” • Learn to hate blowers. He looked at me and said, “You know I hate blowers right?” I was very confused and asked the question I knew he wanted to hear, “Why do you hate blowers.” He laughed, “You know what blowers do? You know after people mow their lawn they go get a blower and blow the clippings. Well, that just blows your garbage in other people’s yard. Bad black business is like the blower and I hate blowers. When a black business is bad they blow their garbage into everyone else’s yard and other businesses get the impact and have to clean up the mess they didn’t make.” • Space heaters and Eskimos“Don’t sell space heaters to Eskimos.” This one threw me for a loop because I had no clue what he meant. He looked at me and said, “You never heard that.” I just shook my head because it made me laugh which seemed to be a theme for this interview. “Eskimos don’t need space heaters. A man in business knows his market, he knows
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what they need and you don’t sell them something they don’t want or need. Like life, like the world, like the weather, business must go on. And if you don’t change with the changing world business will go on without you. Sometimes that’s a good thing cause business ain’t always good.”
FILM
Alpha Male Wisdom in his words: • If you can’t see it, it is so hard to be it. “Your husband is a good father because he saw 18 years of it.” He said looking at me as if my husband were not his son and as if he were not the example setter of which he spoke. “What I’m saying is an alpha man needs to see what an alpha male looks like. The same goes for business. Your husband saw me run a grocery store, manage property, all of that baby. He knows what it looks like to be the man of his house, raise kids and stand up for what’s right. He saw it, he knows it, so he can do it and teach it. A black man gotta know that his being is something to look up to not down on and he gotta teach that to his son. He gotta teach it to his son so his son knows not to work like hell to get a job he gotta fight like hell to keep when he can make his own job.”
• Tend to your own. “The biggest piece of advice I can give any young man in business is to tell him tend to his own business. You gotta know what your business is and your business ain’t making money, your business is your family. Don’t let the vehicle be more important than the folks riding in it. When the family store got so big it was time to expand, I went to the family and told them what I wanted to do. Lil Man looked at me and said, ‘Daddy sell it and if you can’t sell it, give it away.’ The whole family, even my wife agreed. See they were miserable. An alpha man knows that a business can’t defeat its purpose and the purpose is the family. I had to tend to my business and they were my business.” He talked for hours about life, business, family, the wars, racism, the plight of black people and black business, pride and defeat. While most of it was not funny he kept a smile on his face. A smile on his face and a sinister look in his eyes as if everyone or everything that tried to challenge his position as the Alpha male was standing by looking at us talking. And as he sat in his home he owned, with his wife of over 45 years, talking to his daughter-in-law who was interviewing him for a magazine article and his grandson who was named after him listened, the look in his eyes was saying “I win, cause the Alpha male is the one left standing.
YBE
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