1. Learning from Our Ancestors: Excellence as a Tool for Survival
- Historically, Black people have been taught that excellence is not optional—it’s a necessity.
- During integration, Black teachers and professionals who were hired into white institutions were often so exceptional that they could not be dismissed.
- This is rooted in the idea that Black people had to be “twice as good” just to be seen as equal.
💡 Key Takeaway: Our ancestors understood that excellence was a survival strategy, not a luxury. They had to outperform just to exist in spaces that didn’t want them.
2. Rejecting the “Twice as Good” Standard
- The expectation to be twice as good is exhausting, unfair, and unjust.
- It suggests that Black excellence is only valuable when compared to white mediocrity.
- No matter how much Black people overachieve, the bar will always move—meaning success is still determined by those in power.
💡 Key Takeaway: Black people should not have to constantly prove their worth to a system that was never designed for them. True excellence is not about comparison—it’s about self-determination.
3. Who Sets the Standard? Redefining Success on Our Own Terms
- What does “good” even mean? Who gets to define it?
- If the system controls the definition of success, then Black people will always be chasing a moving target.
- Instead of striving to meet their standards, we must set our own.
đź’ˇ Key Takeaway: True freedom comes when we stop measuring success by their rules and start defining it for ourselves.
4. Moving Beyond the Traditional Path: A New Vision for Black Success
- The old formula—go to school, get a degree, find a job—was never designed for Black empowerment.
- The future requires a shift in mindset:
- Create instead of just consume.
- Build instead of just integrate.
- Lead instead of just follow.
- We have to imagine a new way of living and working, rather than simply trying to fit into existing structures that were not built for us.
đź’ˇ Key Takeaway: The path forward is about breaking cycles, taking ownership, and unapologetically stepping into new spaces on our own terms.
5. Unapologetic Excellence: Owning Our Greatness Without Permission
- We do not need validation to be great.
- Excellence should not be about survival—it should be about thriving, creating, and leading.
- No more chasing acceptance. It’s time to create systems, businesses, and communities that honor and sustain our success.
💡 Final Takeaway: Black excellence is no longer about proving worth to others. It’s about owning our greatness, defining our own success, and boldly stepping into our purpose—unapologetically.