Postcards from Around the Globe
MAY 27, 2007 - SOUTH AFRICA - Justin Earl Scurlock
A Meeting of Gold Mines
One pestering thought that I have had since the day I was selected for this trip is how a group of 16 aspiring leaders from different walks of life could come together.... Myself and my brothers on this leadership project are individuals who differ in bearings. Some of us are chapel assistants, SGA officials, band members, part of fraternities, etc. We all have our own interest; however, as a
collective unit, we are representing Morehouse College in South Africa.
At the inception of this trip, a natural, prevalent thing occurred; like started to identify with like. Initially, it wasn't a big deal that some of us would only sit on the bus with certain individuals. It wasn't a big deal that the same individuals were eating together at dinner. It wasn't a big deal that the 16 of us would flock to where we were comfortable. However, when we realized the symbolism in our
actions, an amazing thing happened. A week's de-briefing turned into a meeting of how we, as leaders, have done ourselves an injustice by resisting relationships with each other.
Locked in a room with each other and bound by a verbal contract to honesty, confidentiality and openness, we all had a heart-to-heart conversation. I had no idea that we would be so open when talking about our problems. At the end of about four hours, we talked through our mishaps and left the room different men. One may read this and think that the moral is very rudimentary; however, it is a lot deeper then one would think.
How can we expect to lead effectively if we can't lead amongst ourselves? Ever since I stepped foot in South Africa, this whole notion of consciousness has intrigued me. Martin Luther King Jr. called it Somebodiness. Steve Biko called it black consciousness. And Socrates summed it up best when he said an unexamined life is not worth living. I have come to the conclusion that as a community and culture, it is imperative that we all self-reflect, find our sense of individuality, tear down stereotypes, and work together as the 16 leaders on this trip demonstrated to generate a better tomorrow. I also have realized that we
are like gold mines. The only way we can find our true potential (gold) is if we dig for it. This process of digging takes place when we self-reflect.
Yesterday, we went to this cave called the cradle of humankind. Here is where the first forms of human life are believed to have been found. The cradle of humankind, to me, brought to life the story of the allegory of the cave and paradigms we have as African Americans. The Darkness in the cave represents ignorance, and the sunlight represents enlightenment. It was so easy for us to duck into the darkness of the cave when we first started. Initially, it was tough walking through the cave, because we were really claustrophobic. As we continued walking, we started to conform to our environment. In order to leave this newly acquired comfort zone, we had to climb through small holes and walk up about 200 steps. When I reached outside, my bones were aching and my
eyes were hurting as they adapted to the sunlight. Nothing in this world has ever been as beautiful as the South African landscape that I saw when I left that cave. As it pertains to each other and the world, all 16 of us have vowed to climb out of darkness and see the light even though it may cause us to stretch a little. Climbing out of ignorance is not an easy task.
More Postcards
JUNE 18, 2007 - SOUTH AFRICA - Richard C. Jones
MAY 29, 2007 - SOUTH AFRICA - Mauri J. Robinson
MAY 29, 2007 - SOUTH AFRICA - Kelechi Kalu
MAY 28, 2007 - SOUTH AFRICA - Kweku Arko-Gilbert
MAY 28, 2007 - SOUTH AFRICA - Freddie Wilkes
