Black History Month

Welcome to my digital home and my third post.   Today, I am thinking about Black History Month as I prepare to speak at NASA and at a high school.  Will also provide a brief book update.

I appreciate being asked to speak at Black History Month (BHM) events.  It’s an opportunity for me to learn something and contemplate the meaning of BHM, as I see it.  This year I  speak at NASA Ames Research Center where I worked from 1984 to 2014.  I am also spending a day at a high school to talk about my career, themes from my book and thoughts on BHM.  As with most of my talks, I have three intentions:  1) give the audience something to think about - big picture; 2) give the audience some data or information they may not know;  3) get something from my audience that makes me think - big picture.

I was reflecting on the 1963 March on Washington at which Dr. Martin Luther King spoke.  1963 was the Centennial anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation (EP), enacted January 1, 1863.  Dr. King delivered a report card, a demand and a vision to the nation on racial justice and equality.  The 1863 Emancipation Proclamation did not end racism, bigotry, injustices and indignities towards Blacks and other “others”.  It just freed the slaves.  So, I mused what a similar March on Washington might look like at the EP’s  Bicentennial in 2063?  Interestingly, it has been 56 years since the ’63 March on Washingon and it’s only 44 years until the Bicentennial.  I’ll be 106 then. I hope to be around.  My children and (expected) grandchildren will be.  If my grandchild gave the 2063 March on Washington speech, what might they say? What would you like for them to say? And what responsibility will I have and you have to make good grades on the report card?  

Manners book status:  Version 1.5 is complete and in the hands of two other members of “Team Donald” for review before shipping to a professional editor. Made significant revisions based on prior reviews for which I am grateful.  One big decision I made is to have about 8 to 10 “beta” reviewers read the clean manuscript to see if the work resonates. The betas will be from my target audience:  early career professionals, high school and college students and their parents or guardians, and guidance counselors and educators.  Of course, I want everyone to read it and get value.  I am developing a review rubric for the betas to organize the feedback. After updating, it will be ready for a publisher.  Currently, don’t have a deal with a publisher - leaning towards using a “partner publishing” company.  Partner publishing is somewhere between a traditional publisher and self-publishing. I am very excited about the conversations I hope to have about the book’s themes.  Was encouraged when I read a quote from former President Barack Obama, who was presenting at a My Brother’s Keeper event in Oakland.  He made a point similar to one I make in the book about success and money. Exciting!