View allAll Photos Tagged BlackLeadership
I had the distinct honor of photographing Andrew Young and Clark Atlanta Univ. President Carlton E. Brown.
It certainly feels good empowering our youth and communities with knowledge, resources, and mentorship. So, it was an honor showcasing the Chevy Blazer EV at an inner-city summer STEM program.
Titled "Community Action Agency's Summer Scholars Program," we discussed the power of reading as opposed to phone surfing, establishing networking relationships, communications approaches and of course, the auto industry's transition into e-mobility utilizing the electric Chevy SUV. The students were uber excited as they do not typically receive this level of product integrations at school.
WILLIE T CLAY: World-Renowed Author, civil rights activist, black leadership, professional speaker, advocate.
Author of The Big Walk
WEBSITE: thebigwalk.com
EMAIL: willietclay@gmail.com
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/willietclay
TWITTER: @Willietclay
Becoming a voice for Nashville’s black history
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My stomach rumbled.
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Within 5-minutes of arriving at my first group tour, the Impostor voice inside my head was screaming, “What have you gotten us into?”
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Leaving the education profession to start my own Nashville walking tour business seemed like my dumbest idea to date.
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As 3 of my tour guides surrounded me, I wiped my sweaty palms on my pants and waited with them for our group of 90 high school boys to arrive. Weird.
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Rain came out of the blue and they canceled the tour. Impostor reminded me that I could always go back home and start applying for education jobs. She didn’t win.
Over time, I learned to manage imposter syndrome by incorporating simple steps in my life. The first step is the 3-minute decision map. This helps me avoid spending days thinking about what Imposter thinks about the most horrific outcomes.
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The opportunity.
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When I got the call to be the voice for Nashville’s black history, Imposter whispered, “tuh, look at you trying to speak for all black people” and “you’re not even FROM Nashville.” Using my 3-step process, I defeated her and accepted the opportunity.
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The voice.
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I was invited to orally record the historical stories of my ancestors who experienced Nashville differently. I walked into the recording studio at Belmont University, and passionately honored the African American legacy in Nashville through storytelling.
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After the recording was over, I sat in my car filled with emotions. I felt their stories. I acknowledge their pain. I honor their legacy.
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Because I defeated Imposter, I get to tell their stories on tour every day. Although I don’t know EVERYTHING, what I do know, I’m happy to share.
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I am a voice for black history.
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#UnitedStreetTours #blackhistory #changingthenarrative #inclusion #love #antiracism #nashville #nashvillehistory #musiccity #united #walkunited #tours #nashvilleblackhistory #Socialjustice #Racialjustice #Racism #Antiracist #Whitefragility #BlackLeaders #BlackLeadership #WhiteAllies #WhiteAlly #Allyship #Progressive #400Years #DoBetter #blacklivesmatter #feminist #feminism
#Flashback I hesitantly reached out to the group we're touring today to call their attention to the weather in case they weren't aware that it’s going to rain. The group leader said, "we have rain ponchos for all the kids." I shouted.
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Last year, we had no idea who our target audience was so we simply tried to appeal to everyone. Big mistake! People would cancel at the last minute if there was a threat of rain, complain about prices being too high, and I even had people tell me “this should be free.”
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This tour season, we put in double the effort to figure out who are the folks who would value and appreciate the tours. One of the strategies we used to determine this was tripling the price to weed out people. This was by far the best decision we have made in this business to-date.
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Now, I get to work with people who are fired up about black history and racial justice. I’ve been able to form a community from customers who want nothing more than to pursue equity by any means for all people. I get to work with people who buy ponchos for a group of kids instead of canceling or rescheduling at the last minute.
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Today, 30+ people will be touring Fisk University and other HBCUs in Nashville with @UnitedStreetTours. From there we will patronize two black-owned businesses in the Jefferson Street Art Crawl community. We'll be stopping by Jefferson Street Sound and ending and eating at the black-owned restaurant, Kingdom Café & Grill.
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Every blue moon, a person who is not in our target, tours with us and that's okay too. Finding our target audience was not easy but it has helped us better serve the community and grow our small, woman-led, black-owned business. I just want to say thank you to all of our customers who are the backbone of United Street Tours. .
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#UnitedStreetTours #blackhistory #changingthenarrative #inclusion #love #antiracism #nashville #nashvillehistory #musiccity #united #walkunited #tours #nashvilleblackhistory #Socialjustice #Racialjustice #Racism #Antiracist #Whitefragility #BlackLeaders #BlackLeadership #WhiteAllies #WhiteAlly #Allyship
It certainly feels good empowering our youth and communities with knowledge, resources, and mentorship. So, it was an honor showcasing the Chevy Blazer EV at an inner-city summer STEM program.
Titled "Community Action Agency's Summer Scholars Program," we discussed the power of reading as opposed to phone surfing, establishing networking relationships, communications approaches and of course, the auto industry's transition into e-mobility utilizing the electric Chevy SUV. The students were uber excited as they do not typically receive this level of product integrations at school.
It certainly feels good empowering our youth and communities with knowledge, resources, and mentorship. So, it was an honor showcasing the Chevy Blazer EV at an inner-city summer STEM program.
Titled "Community Action Agency's Summer Scholars Program," we discussed the power of reading as opposed to phone surfing, establishing networking relationships, communications approaches and of course, the auto industry's transition into e-mobility utilizing the electric Chevy SUV. The students were uber excited as they do not typically receive this level of product integrations at school.
It certainly feels good empowering our youth and communities with knowledge, resources, and mentorship. So, it was an honor showcasing the Chevy Blazer EV at an inner-city summer STEM program.
Titled "Community Action Agency's Summer Scholars Program," we discussed the power of reading as opposed to phone surfing, establishing networking relationships, communications approaches and of course, the auto industry's transition into e-mobility utilizing the electric Chevy SUV. The students were uber excited as they do not typically receive this level of product integrations at school.
It certainly feels good empowering our youth and communities with knowledge, resources, and mentorship. So, it was an honor showcasing the Chevy Blazer EV at an inner-city summer STEM program.
Titled "Community Action Agency's Summer Scholars Program," we discussed the power of reading as opposed to phone surfing, establishing networking relationships, communications approaches and of course, the auto industry's transition into e-mobility utilizing the electric Chevy SUV. The students were uber excited as they do not typically receive this level of product integrations at school.
#flashback I admit it.
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Walking into the big empty room, I contemplated if I had enough guts to sit in the front row. But not for long. I wasn't gonna let imposter syndrome win!
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Even though my business was really new and no one knew who I was, I confidently strolled down each step and secured a seat in the middle of the very first row. “The hot seat!”
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As the room filled up, the conference attendees avoided the front row like it was the stinky pot. I asked myself, “did I make the wrong decision?” Sure didn't!
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Eventually, the presenters came and made their way to the front row beside me. So, I spent my time meeting and interacting with them before they went to the stage. “Power moves!”
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You see? Most people avoid the hot seat. It’s the place in the room that makes you feel the most uncomfortable. Typically, it’s a place where you feel like everyone will be judging you (and they probably will but so what). Or it’s next to someone who looks different.
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From today forward, instead of avoiding that spot, identify it. And then walk to it like it was specifically reserved for you.Why?
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Because that’s where the opportunity lies.
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#UnitedStreetTours #blackhistory #changingthenarrative #inclusion #love #antiracism #nashville #nashvillehistory #musiccity #united #walkunited #tours #nashvilleblackhistory #Socialjustice #Racialjustice #Racism #Antiracist #Whitefragility #BlackLeaders #BlackLeadership #WhiteAllies #WhiteAlly #Allyship #Progressive #400Years #DoBetter #blacklivesmatter #feminist #feminism
#Flashback Staring at my computer in complete shock, I had to reread the line to force myself back to reality. “Mayor David Briley is pleased to appoint Ms. Chakita Patterson to the Historical Commission.” Me!?
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This past year has been incredible. It’s amazing reflecting on how far I’ve come and realizing this is only the beginning. I believe in the power of manifestation and generational prayers. Hundreds of black people sacrificed so that I can have these opportunities. So every single day, I manifest success.
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Today, I woke up with tears in my eyes. I’m honored to use my strength of creating awareness of the historical impact of race on people of color to advance racial equity and to influence government. Over the next few posts, I’ll tell you how it happened.
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#UnitedStreetTours #blackhistory #changingthenarrative #inclusion #love #antiracism #nashville #nashvillehistory #musiccity #united #walkunited #tours #nashvilleblackhistory #Socialjustice #Racialjustice #Racism #Antiracist #Whitefragility #BlackLeaders #BlackLeadership #WhiteAllies #WhiteAlly #Allyship #Progressive #400Years #blacklivesmatter #feminist #feminism
It certainly feels good empowering our youth and communities with knowledge, resources, and mentorship. So, it was an honor showcasing the Chevy Blazer EV at an inner-city summer STEM program.
Titled "Community Action Agency's Summer Scholars Program," we discussed the power of reading as opposed to phone surfing, establishing networking relationships, communications approaches and of course, the auto industry's transition into e-mobility utilizing the electric Chevy SUV. The students were uber excited as they do not typically receive this level of product integrations at school.
It certainly feels good empowering our youth and communities with knowledge, resources, and mentorship. So, it was an honor showcasing the Chevy Blazer EV at an inner-city summer STEM program.
Titled "Community Action Agency's Summer Scholars Program," we discussed the power of reading as opposed to phone surfing, establishing networking relationships, communications approaches and of course, the auto industry's transition into e-mobility utilizing the electric Chevy SUV. The students were uber excited as they do not typically receive this level of product integrations at school.
It certainly feels good empowering our youth and communities with knowledge, resources, and mentorship. So, it was an honor showcasing the Chevy Blazer EV at an inner-city summer STEM program.
Titled "Community Action Agency's Summer Scholars Program," we discussed the power of reading as opposed to phone surfing, establishing networking relationships, communications approaches and of course, the auto industry's transition into e-mobility utilizing the electric Chevy SUV. The students were uber excited as they do not typically receive this level of product integrations at school.
It certainly feels good empowering our youth and communities with knowledge, resources, and mentorship. So, it was an honor showcasing the Chevy Blazer EV at an inner-city summer STEM program.
Titled "Community Action Agency's Summer Scholars Program," we discussed the power of reading as opposed to phone surfing, establishing networking relationships, communications approaches and of course, the auto industry's transition into e-mobility utilizing the electric Chevy SUV. The students were uber excited as they do not typically receive this level of product integrations at school.
It certainly feels good empowering our youth and communities with knowledge, resources, and mentorship. So, it was an honor showcasing the Chevy Blazer EV at an inner-city summer STEM program.
Titled "Community Action Agency's Summer Scholars Program," we discussed the power of reading as opposed to phone surfing, establishing networking relationships, communications approaches and of course, the auto industry's transition into e-mobility utilizing the electric Chevy SUV. The students were uber excited as they do not typically receive this level of product integrations at school.
#Flashback Securing a seat
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When I first started United Street Tours, I didn't fully understand the business world and tbh I'm forever learning.
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However, the most important thing I've learned along the way is to use my business as a tool to advocate for and advance my community.
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Through activism, I have been invited to serve as a board member for several organizations, speak at protests, and meet with the mayor multiple times to provide insight and knowledge. My area of expertise is transforming historical harms. We are a nation who is starving for truth, racial healing, and transformation. Together we can make a greater impact if we listen first then act.
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#UnitedStreetTours #blackhistory #changingthenarrative #inclusion #love #antiracism #nashville #nashvillehistory #musiccity #united #walkunited #tours #nashvilleblackhistory #Socialjustice #Racialjustice #Racism #Antiracist #Whitefragility #BlackLeaders #BlackLeadership #WhiteAllies #WhiteAlly #Allyship #Progressive #400Years #DoBetter #blacklivesmatter #feminist