MULTI-POTENTIALITE FEATURE OF THE MONTH

Clifton Harcum

From Baltimore, MD

Presently residing in Princess Anne, MD

Fight Songs are How I Got Over - The Roots; My Way - Frank Sinatra

Web/Social Media: 

chharcum@icloud.com, www.facebook.com/Mr.Ifucantbeatemjoinem

Clifton Harcum is a natural-born leader and a renowned author/public speaker who has dedicated his life to the achievement and advocacy of the downtrodden through coaching and community development.  He is determined to leave a legacy for his son and the next generation of men to follow.

STB: I'm really excited to feature you as the first male on my blog.  Let's begin where this journey all started for you.  What did you major in? 

CH: I received my BA in Sociology and my MSM in Nonprofit & Association Management. 

STB:  I majored in Sociology & Anthropology, as well.  It seems to be a common go-to for those of us interested in finding our place in the world, as young multi-potentialites.

STB: Are you currently working in that field? 

CH: Sort of. I lead and manage the Office of University Engagement and Lifelong Learning at University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) which provides service and personal development opportunities for college students at the University. I collect and analyze data, write grants and I am currently conducting research in the areas of male college student retention and persistence strategies. I am not sure if I would call what I do as working in my field. I am a social scientist to a degree, but what I do is really self-propelled out of curiosity. I am curious about the impact of holistic development on individuals and how it affects their lives.

STB: Sounds to me like you are putting those stats courses to work...(smile).

Note: Since posting, Clifton Harcum has been appointed to the Princess Anne Planning & Zoning Commission!  Congratulations!

An Open Letter to my Brothers...

Dear (Good) Brothers,

It has been such an eventful time in American history that I have neglected to address you through this forum for a while.  I have used other forms of social media to document my distress with police brutality, shootings of police, abused and murdered sisters at the hands of black men, and good brothers who have the strength to stand up for what they believe, in the face of great ridicule and potential financial harm.  But I thought it was time to take a step back and correspond with my good brothers, for a moment.  My prayer is that these words do not fall on deaf ears, but rather they will inspire you to DO SOMETHING!

Malcolm X once stated in a Los Angeles Speech (1962):

The most disrespected person in America is the black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the black woman. The most neglected person in America is the black woman.

As a black woman in America over half a century later, these words still resonate in my spirit, because not much has changed. One could argue, that while conditions have improved for blacks in America since the 60's, black women are still the most underrepresented group in business ownership and executive level positions, we still receive the lowest wages out of any other group, despite the fact that we have the highest percentage of graduate degrees out of any other cultural group.  Black women are still being debased and disrespected with NO backlash, through every form of media.  Black women are still being brutally and sexually assaulted without recourse, by our "brothers."  Black women are still giving birth to the next generation completely unsupported by some of our "brothers."  Black women are still changing everything natural about ourselves to fit into a standard of beauty embraced by our "brothers," in the pursuit of success.  Malcolm X goes on to ask: