The Black Category

As I write, the Oscars are on television. The buzz around the Oscar awards this year was the second consecutive year without any black nominees in the major award categories. Several well known figures were outspoken about boycotting the show (Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith, Spike Lee, etc).

Chris Rock, the host of the Oscars, was very candid about the subject as he began the show. It was thought-provoking to hear his perspective on the subject. His tongue-in-cheek answer to the problem is a “black category” (like the male and female categories).

Personally, I don’t know enough about the roles, the opportunities or possibility for black actors to be nominated for these awards. It did create a compelling discussion in our house. This is the question we landed on:

What is the answer to the problem?

Is the answer a mandatory person of color in each category? Is the answer more well produced, acted and directed movies with people of color in the lead? Is the answer better promoted films to the Academy of Motion Pictures?

I don’t know. I do know there is an answer, and the answer begins with another question.

What do you want?

Southpaw is a movie about Billy Hope, a boxer who falls from grace. He goes from the top of the sport to being kicked for assaulting a referee. In the midst of this, his wife dies in a freak yet violent accident, he turns to the bottle, and he loses his daughter to the state. In despair, Hope goes to the one place he find comfort – the gym.

The gym owner is a man who has his own problems. Yet he asks an insightful question of Billy at a critical junction of his story:

What do you want?

The spotlight turns directly on Billy. If Billy answers the question honestly the role he plays is reversed. Billy can no longer play the victim. If Billy knows what he wants, he’s in control. He’s in charge. Life is his to win or lose.

What do I want?

This year, I’ve asked myself this very question more often and with more depth than I have in years. Here’s my answer –

• I want to create with a purpose.

It’s my BIG WHY. With more detail this means:

1. Write.
2. Design.
3. Speak.

That’s the how. Specifically, it looks like this:

1. Write often (3-5 times/week) & deep (write a book).
2. Design & create t-shirts.
3. Speak 10-12 times outside of my “day” job.

Finally, the purpose piece.

• Guide people to freedom in their personal and professional lives.
• Support groups making a difference in the world (Mexico outreach, etc).

Defining this helped me take control of my life. If I don’t write a book, it’s my fault. It’s what I want, so I’m responsible for it. If I don’t sell 1000 shirts, it’s my fault. It’s what I want; I’m responsible.

It started with a question.

What do I want?

What do you want?

It’s time to take control of your life. You don’t have to be a victim. It’s time to be responsible.

It starts with a question.

What do you want?