Nine years of postgraduate education have allowed me to interact with some incredibly inspirational and motivated people. Along the way, I have grown stronger and been pushed to success by my network. It is humbling to look around at the excellence and intelligence exuded by my friends and colleagues. When I first began my journey into healthcare, the only black male physician I was familiar with was Dr. Ben Carson. His book, “Gifted Hands” was a rite of passage for many black kids seeking inspiration. Dr. Carson overcame a rough childhood in the projects of Detroit to become a Pediatric Neurosurgeon, separating conjoined twins at John Hopkins in Baltimore. I remember my mother forcing me to read his autobiography and write a book report. I remember giving her a poorly-written book report, (because I had not read the entire book). She took one look at the half-filled paper, threw it away, and told me to go ACTUALLY read the book. It was this second attempt that allowed his story to take hold.
I am able to look to my left and to my right and see real-life examples of greatness in colleagues of black, African-American and Caribbean-American descent. My personal and social networks include some of the brightest minds our country has to offer. From Neurosurgeons to Entrepreneurs, Dermatologists to PhD Researchers, I am inspired by the people around me.
Over the month of February, I will be sharing these stories of greatness on my Instagram account. The brief blurbs will only tell small parts of these amazing stories. I hope you will follow along and be inspired by the dedication, perseverance and selflessness these stories portray. I want to impress upon readers that black history IS in fact American history. Black history is more than Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., George Washington Carver and Madame C.J. Walker. These legends paved a way for people who look like me to do great things. I am excited for what is to come as we continue to #MakeBlackHistory.