Spring motivational series to end with Rackley

Dr. Reginald Rackley will be the final speaker for the 2002 spring Motivational Speaker Series.
Rackley’s speech will be held on Wednesday April 10 in the Cotillion Ballroom of the Smith-Brown Memorial Union at 7 p.m.
Rackley, who is an associate professor of Psychology at Southern University at Baton Rouge, said the focal point of his speak will fully express his theme: “If you try hard, You will always break the back of misfortune.”
“The purpose of my speech is to let students know that they should not be overwhelmed by obstacles placed in front of them and that despite our current condition in this country nothing should prevent us from obtaining our goals,” exclaimed Rackley.
According to Rackley African Americans should look for ways to start their own business rather work for someone else.
“I challenge my students every year to tell me a plan about how they can open a black owned business without using any resources from a white owned company. They tell me that it can not be done and that leads me to believe that blacks in this country don’t think about owning their own business and are satisfied with working for someone. That’s not how it should be, we should want to own our own businesses and make our own money,” said Rackley.
Rackley, who often refers to himself as “a country boy in the big city” is a native of Meridian, Mississippi. He is currently an Associate Professor of Psychology at Southern University.
He received his B.A. from Dillard University and the M.S. Degree in Community Psychology from Florida A&M University and a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Howard University.
He received the outstanding mentor of the year award from the SU Recognition Program in 2001. In 1988 he was awarded the Early Career Award by the Louisiana Psychology Association.
An author of several articles relative to psychology rehabilitation and disability issues, Rackley says he was extremely honored to be chosen as one of the speakers in the series.
“I am really honored by the opportunity to follow such wonderful speakers whom I admire and respect deeply,” said Rackley.
Previous speakers in the motivational speaker series includes, Spike Lee, Tavis Smiley, Suzanne Taylor, Johnetta Cole, Tony Brown, Faith Jenkins and Troy Allen.