Promoter and entertainer Anthony Butler invited Dr. Charles Mambula and me to an event on a Saturday night at a local entertainment center, starting at 9 p.m.—possibly later than Dr. Mambula and I would have imagined. We found ourselves surrounded by 20-year-olds in a festival-like atmosphere. Never in a million years did I think that at 58 years old, I would be at a nightclub at 10 p.m. with a group of young adults. But God has a way of landing you in unexpected places.
My wife came to support me, as always. This entertainment promoter invited me and another professor to see his world of HIP-HOP ARTISTS. We felt out of place with the group, their attire, and the explicit lyrics. However, the promoter kept giving shout-outs to Langston University and mentioning us Langston professors over the mic. We received applause. We were in a space filled with young people—our target audience. It felt awkward, but we got through it. God will put you in situations where you need to figure it out.
Last night, God taught me a valuable lesson: I need to reach students where they are, even if it makes me uncomfortable. Hang in there! Life isn’t easy, but it is full of opportunities to grow and connect.
