The Eta Gamma chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc. held a seminar titled “A Hot Ghetto Mess? Or Visionary Global Leader?” on Jan. 28 in the John B. Coleman Library as the fourth event of Alpha Week.
The seminar featured dynamic keynote speaker Lasana O. Hotep. He is a researcher, consultant and entrepreneur. Hotep is also a student success coordinator in the Multicultural Student Center at Arizona State University.
Hotep began his address to the sizable student audience by talking about the current generational gap between the older generation and the younger generation. With the use of many audio and visual apparatuses, he spoke on how the older generations consider younger generations as failures due to the impressionable minds of teenagers and the following of different trends.
While he stated he is not a conspiracy theorist, Hotep gave elaborate and eye-opening examples of how the government causes some of the negative effects that black people may face. He also discussed some of the challenges of African-American people, such as dropout rates, incarceration and single parenting.
“We have to become more internally motivated. Excellence should be an internal motivation rather than an external motivation. We can’t let what we see around us be our motivation,” Hotep declared.
As the seminar went on, he began to introduce ways of breaking out of the mindset of a “hot ghetto mess” and how students can become global visionary leaders.
Some of these ideas included ways to understand financial wealth, such as the difference between income and wealth. For instance, when people begin to receive larger incomes, they tend to forget to invest money or buy life insurance. Though life insurance may take money from your paycheck, it will ensure one’s survivors a sense of financial stability.
He also spoke about the media. He said the media tend to portray people as being “rich, famous, and sexy.” This can lead audiences to believe that they aren’t living right if they aren’t rich, famous and sexy, and how society should abandon that mindset.
Hotep suggested that students striving to become visionary leaders should establish a connection with someone and take a genuine interest in their perspective rather than just preach to them out of nowhere.
Hotep concluded the seminar with a notion that will be very important to the future of African-Americans. They need to break away from stereotypes based on race. For example, they shouldn’t criticize a black man for being interested in other sports such as surfing rather than basketball.
Finally, they should start by sharing their knowledge with family, expand to the community, and to the country.
“I was very enlightened by his words and I think we all benefitted from hearing the positive message,” said sophomore Derek Williams.
Oba Tsare Woodyard, member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. said “I hope what he said reaches from their heads to their hearts, which is knowledge of self, knowledge of health, and knowledge of wealth.”
Shimakia Clayton, a sophomore biology major, said that it served as a wake up call.
“It was very helpful to me and a real eye-opener. We really need to pay attention to society, and develop a thorough understanding of our culture and the world around us so we can make positive changes in the future.”
Jermaine Harris, also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. said, “I just hope the audience will let it all soak in because it’s great for black people to share knowledge with other black people.”