CEDTalks

I've found myself visiting and sharing several posts from social news and entertainment site Buzzfeed; many of the posts not only amused me, but created moments of reflection. From 30 Signs You Went To A HBCU  to " 40 Things That Will Make You Feel Old ", I've considered how certain aspects of my upbringing and education shaped me. That said I bring to you my own list, eleven essential life lessons learned in my journey to manhood. While some of these are specific to my role as Black man in America, most are still applicable to grown men of all ages. 1. Reality shows are the modern day crack rock. What is something people fiend for, sets black people back, and is monitored by the government (in this case, the FCC)? While my father and those around for Reaganomics would probably answer "base", there is a new drug decimating the black perception and it's found on VH1 and Bravo. Many look at the shows as pure entertainment, but so were sitcom...

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me." Who created that phrase? Slap yourself. Names ,  and on a broader scale words ,  carry the power to unite leaders of countries, empower races, motivate youth, and foster growth. If used incorrectly, isn't is possible to hurt someone? Try this experiment (if you dare to be so bold): the next time you are around a couple having an argument, scream out "b$@ch!" near the female arguing. For safety, throw your voice like a ventriloquist and make it seem like the boyfriend is doing it. The word not only hurts her, it might hurt HIM.  Words carry more weight than people believe. As a writer and linguist (fancy word I used to use on the ladies in '05), I've had incredible experiences with words and they create resounding effects. My lexicon has provided me opportunities professionally and socially that I only could have dreamed of. In addition, it put me in positions to listen to...