Tony Brown delivers “The Truth” to SU students

Tony Brown, TV journalist/commentator addressed students Wednesday, October 10, 2001 as a part of the University’s Motivational Speaker Series.
The author of Empower the People and Black Lies, White Lies: The Truth According to Tony Brown, Brown expounded on “How to Be Black and Achieve in America”.
“The biggest problem we face in this country is the fact that we dwell on the things other people won’t let us do,” said Brown.
“We are so busy trying to relive the past that we are not taking the time to assess our own self worth,” he added.
According to Brown, empowerment is the antidote to erase doubt and distrust about one’s self.
“The moment you accept yourself as you are, you will be happy. No degree, amount of money, fortune or fame can provide that,” said Brown.
Brown encouraged students to take advantage of the changes that are taking place in our society.
“The world is filled with new rules and people are creating new systems. This is your chance to become apart of the change,” said Brown.
The self-help advocate, radio talk show host, and media entrepreneur also dispelled many of the myths about race that plagues Blacks.
Brown used the parable of the Prodigal Son to dispel the myths about our race–especially affirmative action.
“We don’t have what they (Whites) have because we don’t see ourselves the way they see themselves,” said Brown.
“We can not strengthen the chain until we strengthen the weakest link,” he added.
Brown stated that we could not become self empowered until we become a community.
“We can’t be the tenth richest nation in the world, give four percent of our income to our (Blacks) community, 96 percent our income to them (Whites) and blame them for 100 percent of our problems,” said Brown.
According to Brown we must start with a firm foundation in affirmative action to reach true freedom. Following affirmative action, wealth, power, and ultimately freedom completes the pyramid.
Born in Charleston, West Virginia, Brown received a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in psychiatric social work from Wayne State in Detroit.
Brown was the founding dean of the School of Communications at Howard University, where he established a distinguished academic and professional record.
Tony brown is also the commentator of the PBS series Tony Brown’s Journal, the longest-running public-affairs series on PBS and the second longest running of all PBS series.