Looking for a speaker to talk to your group or organization about growing up Black in America?My name is Oronde Ash, former Asst. Men's Soccer Coach at North Carolina State University. I can no longer stand idly by and watch my brother fall. I will not. Young folk need to hear. I am their past, I am their future; I am all that goes unspoken and unheard within them. I have a story to share about life and a means to live it well.
I have been a young immigrant, wide-eyed to the conflicting realities of the American dream. Where I came from, I was just a boy. In America, at 9 years old, I suddenly became "black". I've lived on a Caribbean island, in the American suburb, the urban jungle that is New York City. I've waded through family dysfunction, government cheese, self hate, bitterness, steaming anger at God and His world. I was a C and D student, a negative-thinking boy convinced that life held nothing of value. I shunned my family, ignored my friends, lost hope in human goodness. I was scared of the possibilities --scared of the [black] boy in me. I lived that darkness and then... then, I became an A student, class valedictorian, Most Likely to Succeed, Broadway actor, full college scholarship recipient, friend, contributor to the well-being of my family. I became the human being I always wanted to be, bent on transforming the world for the better. And all this happened between the ages of 9 and 17.
I have sine gone on to college, graduate school a professional life and I'm raising a family. I wish to talk about my life and the lessons I've learned along the way with any group, organization or individual willing to listen and work through change.
To hear more about my youth, click http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=F3C1059042142A62 and watch the videos or visit http://www.youtube.com/user/bygINCpresents.
Contact me at bygINCpresents@live.com to talk further.
Asked by bygINCpresents 2 months, 2 weeks ago
Communities:
Be Healthy,
Stop Violence,
Get a Job,
General,
Be a Parent/Caregiver,
Get an Education/Skills
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speaker,
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oronde ash,
being black,
black boy,
transforming,
blackness,
family,
college,
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