Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everybody
May 19, 2010
A message to you wisdom seeker:
If you know hip hop then you have heard of KRS-ONE. This old school cat had one thing right and he locked it into his name. Knowledge (does in fact) Reign Supreme Over Nearly Everybody (KRS-ONE). The things we are aware of and ignorant of have helped us to shape our world.
Think about it, where did you invest your funds last week, last month, last year or for the last decade for that matter. You invested it where you knew you could invest it. If your wardrobe grew you invested it in clothes. If you know technology, you invested it in an ipod or droid or a computer of some sort. If your library grew, well then you invested in information (books, cd's etc.). If you know stocks and bonds then you invested it there. Or maybe you handed over your hard earned curreny to someone who invested it for you. Either way what you knew and know drove your actions. Also what you did not or do not know also is a driver.
Therefore, it is imperative that you expand your knowledge base and not wonder through life on mental autopilot. The newspaper is a source for knowledge. Pick your paper and pick your info flow. The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Amsterdam News, Chicago Defender, LA Times, Boston Globe, Washington Post or the Washington Informer are all credible sources for certain types of information from certain perspectives. If you need more specificity then read Magazines directed to your field of interest. Forbes, Black Enterprise, Barron's, Fortune and Inc. can provide you financial insight. The Chronicle of Higher Education and the Journal of Black's In Higher Education can provide you with insight about the faculty, staff, students, administartors and Board of Trustees of America's colleges and universities. The web is a great source of information. I encourage you to seek out qualitative, referenced sources on the web not merely anything that pops up at you.
Another great source are books written by credible informed authors. Most authors have done some degree of research whether oral research or written research. Oral researchers engage in conversations and inquire of others to derive insight and information that they pass along in a written form. Written researchers, more commonly known for their reference to written materials, review the works of others and interrogate this knowledge to add on to the marketplace of ideas. Great researchers and writers add value to the marketplace of ideas. These researchers may agree or disagree with other books, you must read inorder to know for yourself.
The oral tradition can be a great source for information. When you see a speaker conveying information you are witnessing the oral tradition. The spoken word has the power to inform and move people emotionally. As a listener one should be careful to exercise critical thinking while listening to speakers. I find it helpful to take notes or at the least make mental notes of things you agree and disagree with inorder to follow up with questions of the speaker or inquiry of others you deem credible on the subject matter.
In the words of a motivational master Zig Ziglar, "You are where you are, you are who you are because of what has gone into your mind. You can change where you are and who you are if you change what goes into your mind." Zig also likes to say that a message can go around the world in a nanosecond and yet sometimes it can take years to get through that last quarter of an inch.
When I was in undergraduate school I worked with the Southwestern Company. One of our favorite sayings was "the difference between you now and five years from now are the books you read and the people you spend time with." I challenge you to read books and seek out speakers of wisdom, knowledge and understanding. I gaurantee you it will change your life.
This is Dr. Dennis Rogers encouraging you to be more aware of what you know and what you need to know to get to where you need to and to get what you want out of life. For believe me time is moving right along.
Be Well, Be Prosperous & Be Your Best Self!
A message to you wisdom seeker:
If you know hip hop then you have heard of KRS-ONE. This old school cat had one thing right and he locked it into his name. Knowledge (does in fact) Reign Supreme Over Nearly Everybody (KRS-ONE). The things we are aware of and ignorant of have helped us to shape our world.
Think about it, where did you invest your funds last week, last month, last year or for the last decade for that matter. You invested it where you knew you could invest it. If your wardrobe grew you invested it in clothes. If you know technology, you invested it in an ipod or droid or a computer of some sort. If your library grew, well then you invested in information (books, cd's etc.). If you know stocks and bonds then you invested it there. Or maybe you handed over your hard earned curreny to someone who invested it for you. Either way what you knew and know drove your actions. Also what you did not or do not know also is a driver.
Therefore, it is imperative that you expand your knowledge base and not wonder through life on mental autopilot. The newspaper is a source for knowledge. Pick your paper and pick your info flow. The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Amsterdam News, Chicago Defender, LA Times, Boston Globe, Washington Post or the Washington Informer are all credible sources for certain types of information from certain perspectives. If you need more specificity then read Magazines directed to your field of interest. Forbes, Black Enterprise, Barron's, Fortune and Inc. can provide you financial insight. The Chronicle of Higher Education and the Journal of Black's In Higher Education can provide you with insight about the faculty, staff, students, administartors and Board of Trustees of America's colleges and universities. The web is a great source of information. I encourage you to seek out qualitative, referenced sources on the web not merely anything that pops up at you.
Another great source are books written by credible informed authors. Most authors have done some degree of research whether oral research or written research. Oral researchers engage in conversations and inquire of others to derive insight and information that they pass along in a written form. Written researchers, more commonly known for their reference to written materials, review the works of others and interrogate this knowledge to add on to the marketplace of ideas. Great researchers and writers add value to the marketplace of ideas. These researchers may agree or disagree with other books, you must read inorder to know for yourself.
The oral tradition can be a great source for information. When you see a speaker conveying information you are witnessing the oral tradition. The spoken word has the power to inform and move people emotionally. As a listener one should be careful to exercise critical thinking while listening to speakers. I find it helpful to take notes or at the least make mental notes of things you agree and disagree with inorder to follow up with questions of the speaker or inquiry of others you deem credible on the subject matter.
In the words of a motivational master Zig Ziglar, "You are where you are, you are who you are because of what has gone into your mind. You can change where you are and who you are if you change what goes into your mind." Zig also likes to say that a message can go around the world in a nanosecond and yet sometimes it can take years to get through that last quarter of an inch.
When I was in undergraduate school I worked with the Southwestern Company. One of our favorite sayings was "the difference between you now and five years from now are the books you read and the people you spend time with." I challenge you to read books and seek out speakers of wisdom, knowledge and understanding. I gaurantee you it will change your life.
This is Dr. Dennis Rogers encouraging you to be more aware of what you know and what you need to know to get to where you need to and to get what you want out of life. For believe me time is moving right along.
Be Well, Be Prosperous & Be Your Best Self!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Spring 2010 ....New Beginnings
Greetings and thank you for viewing the blog of Wisdom Speakers.
In 2000 I had an ephiphany. If there were people on the planet who had a thirst for wisdom, knowledge and understanding and there were people who had wisdom, knowledge and understanding...why not put them together! Wisdom Speakers Bureau was born...at least in my mind. You see, I was in graduate school at the time.
While at Howard University in Washington, DC from 2000 - 2008, I invested the majority of my time studying and thinking about the challenges and solutions facing humanity. More specifically the African American community and people of color. While earning a Masters and Doctorate in Political Science, with concentrations in Political Theory and African American Politics and a minor in International Relations, I searched for an understanding of how people faced daunting challenges and sought solutions that would improve the quality of life for themselves and others on the planet.
In the terms of jazz... I looked at the heavy cats. I looked at cats from Imhotep to PtahHotep, from Socrates to Plato to Arostotle, from Sun Tzu to Buddha, from Frederick Douglass to Edward Said, from Leo Strauss to Hannah Ardent, from David Walker to Sojourner Truth to Nat Turner. I found favor in the library and collected some decent stuff, a couple of first editions and signed copies of works dating back to the 1800s. I can truly say that the investment was in the mind. As Derrick Humphries, Esq once stated, "I spent my money on books and with the rest I bought food and paid rent." Throughout that time, some friends shared sustenance and encouragement...Ray C., Brian Y., Fred W., Ray H! Had a few distractions and a lot of get back on track guidance from Dr. Flax, Dr. Harris and in the words of Denzel Washington..."my man" Dr. Michael Frazier. Through a collective effort, i got a little understanding and i graduated with a few honors.
Wow did that dime or nickel and three years get by quickly!!! Along the way, met a beautiful soul sistah who could tolerate the books and the sometimes prickly personality. Here i am married and awaiting the arrival of a son, living and homeowning in Takoma Park and loving Washington, DC. While not as chocolate anymore 54% down from 85% back in the day, the city still has a lot to offer the eager and the willing to work. In the words of Booker T. "cast down your buckets where you are!" In the words of W.E.B. "yeah it matters that a man can build a house, but it matters more what type of man lives in a house."
Ahhhhh New Beginnings.
I'm a professor so teaching and writing are my thang. Must admit, more writing is required...and of course more editing. Wisdom Speakers Blogspot is an outlet for both the creative musings and the critical analytical application of knowledge in the pursuit of truth. In the words of Miyamoto Musashi, "Pen and sword in one accord!"
Back on the horse as they say. The original intent was to offer Speakers of Wisdom to Colleges and Universities in the US and around the world. So here we go again, to begin at the beginning again. We need your prayers and support. In the words of the Southwest flying philosopher and advertising executives..."pack your bags, it's on!"
We are selecting among the best minds available to bring them to you. If you are looking for the origins of the term "Best and Brightest" check out the book by that title written by David Halberstam. As the saying goes in the movie Sankofa....spirits ...arise and take your rightful place. In refrain, Speakers of Wisdom Arise and Take your rightful place among the Baobab trees, Griots Arise come and Share your stories with us who seek and need to know.
So come, may we partake of Wisdom and Share, in the words of John Coltrane- my man, A LOVE SUPREME!!!!
In 2000 I had an ephiphany. If there were people on the planet who had a thirst for wisdom, knowledge and understanding and there were people who had wisdom, knowledge and understanding...why not put them together! Wisdom Speakers Bureau was born...at least in my mind. You see, I was in graduate school at the time.
While at Howard University in Washington, DC from 2000 - 2008, I invested the majority of my time studying and thinking about the challenges and solutions facing humanity. More specifically the African American community and people of color. While earning a Masters and Doctorate in Political Science, with concentrations in Political Theory and African American Politics and a minor in International Relations, I searched for an understanding of how people faced daunting challenges and sought solutions that would improve the quality of life for themselves and others on the planet.
In the terms of jazz... I looked at the heavy cats. I looked at cats from Imhotep to PtahHotep, from Socrates to Plato to Arostotle, from Sun Tzu to Buddha, from Frederick Douglass to Edward Said, from Leo Strauss to Hannah Ardent, from David Walker to Sojourner Truth to Nat Turner. I found favor in the library and collected some decent stuff, a couple of first editions and signed copies of works dating back to the 1800s. I can truly say that the investment was in the mind. As Derrick Humphries, Esq once stated, "I spent my money on books and with the rest I bought food and paid rent." Throughout that time, some friends shared sustenance and encouragement...Ray C., Brian Y., Fred W., Ray H! Had a few distractions and a lot of get back on track guidance from Dr. Flax, Dr. Harris and in the words of Denzel Washington..."my man" Dr. Michael Frazier. Through a collective effort, i got a little understanding and i graduated with a few honors.
Wow did that dime or nickel and three years get by quickly!!! Along the way, met a beautiful soul sistah who could tolerate the books and the sometimes prickly personality. Here i am married and awaiting the arrival of a son, living and homeowning in Takoma Park and loving Washington, DC. While not as chocolate anymore 54% down from 85% back in the day, the city still has a lot to offer the eager and the willing to work. In the words of Booker T. "cast down your buckets where you are!" In the words of W.E.B. "yeah it matters that a man can build a house, but it matters more what type of man lives in a house."
Ahhhhh New Beginnings.
I'm a professor so teaching and writing are my thang. Must admit, more writing is required...and of course more editing. Wisdom Speakers Blogspot is an outlet for both the creative musings and the critical analytical application of knowledge in the pursuit of truth. In the words of Miyamoto Musashi, "Pen and sword in one accord!"
Back on the horse as they say. The original intent was to offer Speakers of Wisdom to Colleges and Universities in the US and around the world. So here we go again, to begin at the beginning again. We need your prayers and support. In the words of the Southwest flying philosopher and advertising executives..."pack your bags, it's on!"
We are selecting among the best minds available to bring them to you. If you are looking for the origins of the term "Best and Brightest" check out the book by that title written by David Halberstam. As the saying goes in the movie Sankofa....spirits ...arise and take your rightful place. In refrain, Speakers of Wisdom Arise and Take your rightful place among the Baobab trees, Griots Arise come and Share your stories with us who seek and need to know.
So come, may we partake of Wisdom and Share, in the words of John Coltrane- my man, A LOVE SUPREME!!!!
Sunday, July 15, 2007
WSB is Now Accepting New Speakers
We are currently increasing our roster of speakers for the bureau. If you are a dynamic speaker with something to say to our leaders of tomorrow on college campuses, just send us the following information:
- Your Bio
- A headshot photo
- Your topics
- Books Published
- References from previous speaking engagements
- And of course - email address, telephone number, and physical location.
Send your information to: info AT wisdomspeakers DOT com
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