I recently met a very impressive young man while visiting with my father, Mr. Johnnie Will Smith, in Los Angeles, California. This young man, who lived next door and is the son of one who helps to care for my proud and still self-powered father of 88 years young, possessed incredible vocal, musical, and even writing and producing talent. In other words, he could not only sing and dance, he could 'think,' analyze and strategize too. The only problem with this young man's life success plan, as I shared with him, was that his primary dream plan did not have a practical backup plan. And worse from my perspective, his backup plan, should really be his primary plan instead. Let me explain.
Responsible rap (meaning rap that is true to its origins and roots), Hip-Hop, the broad world of celebrity, and our varied professional sports, are so very important to cultivate and carry forward as part of the larger African-American and minority success story framework for a race. As Quincy Jones repeatedly burns into my soul and pounds into my thick head, "music, art and culture shapes the soul, helps to heal and bring together our world. They help to shape more well rounded people." I agree with Q 100%.
That said, having a career in music, the arts, entertainment (in front of the camera) and sports as the primary life success solution for more than 30 million African-Americans alone in this country, is just plain dumb. Sure, a few lucky ones will make it through, but I would argue that most of them are not in fact all that 'lucky,' at the end of their career-day. A couple facts.
70% of all professional football players file bankruptcy within 5-years of retirement from the game, and there is a 100% injury rate amongst professional football players.
70% plus of all professional basketball players file bankruptcy within 5-years of retirement from the game.
And a vast majority of the "celebrity" artists, from rap to Hip-Hop and beyond, find themselves dead broke after a short, and often even highly visible career.
Continue reading "Solving Poverty: This Generation Needs An Economic Backup Plan" »
























Baltimore Sun Op-Ed: Unleashing Invention In Our Schools
Unleashing invention in our schools
What if millions of kids were given the tools to become entrepreneurs?
Everyone knows that the United States is in a terrible business
slump, and there's no shortage of opinions about it and solutions for it — but there hasn't been much in the way of notable improvement. So we have been looking deeply into the science of human nature to find an answer and a solution, and here is what we know: There are 6 million small businesses, about 100,000 midsized companies, and fewer than 1,000 really big businesses in the United States. In total, they generate right at 100 million real, full-time jobs and just over $15 trillion in sales and production. That is "America's Company," and it has stopped growing.
We found two reasons for it. One, business leaders
aren't in a "growth" state of mind. No matter the size of the company, they have lost their will to dream it and build it. Second, the country is seriously short on start-ups. We need a minimum of 2 million start-up companies per year to keep our economy and jobs pumping, but we are running at a measly 400,000 a year. This is a game-over moment. Nothing fixes the United States' economic problems unless the number of start-ups booms to new highs.
We cannot buy, tax or legislate our way to a sudden, world-changing boom of start-ups. But we can mentor and intern our way to one. The future of our economy is to be found in our youth, because the spirit of free enterprise that builds companies, jobs and economies is most likely to be found there.
Read the complete Baltimore Sun Op-Ed here, and share with your communities. Start the national discussion on the role of hope in the lives of our kids.
Posted at 10:49 AM in 21st Century African-American Agenda, 21st Century Latino Agenda, 21st Century Low Wealth Agenda, 21st Century Mainstream Agenda, 21st century Middle Class agenda, 21st Century Women and Girls Empowerment Agenda, 21st Century Youth Agenda, 5MK Make Smart Cool (Youth) Tour, Bryant and his Vision for Operation HOPE, Bryant Blogging for the People, Bryant Guest Op-Ed, Bryant International Agenda, Bryant on a Vision for the Future, Bryant on a World on Reset, Bryant on America's Drop-Out Generation, Bryant on Bi-Partisan Public Policy, Bryant on Black Entrepreneurship, Bryant on Capitalism for the People, Bryant on Civil Rights, Bryant on Current Affairs, Bryant on Education, Bryant on Entrepreneurship, Bryant on Leadership, Bryant on Love Leadership, Bryant on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Bryant on Something to Think About, Bryant on the Economy, Bryant on Youth Economic Energy, Bryant Opinion and Commentary, HOPE 20th Anniversary, HOPE and the Silver Rights Movement, HOPE Financial Dignity, HOPE Financial Literacy, HOPE-Gallup Index, John Hope Bryant Authored, Love Leadership Examples | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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