What would you do
if you were labeled
00:00:00.96\00:00:02.33
a functional
illiterate in Grade School
00:00:02.36\00:00:04.33
and you took five years
to graduate from High School?
00:00:04.37\00:00:07.17
Would you give
up... or would you
00:00:07.20\00:00:09.04
dare to dream of
something better?
00:00:09.07\00:00:11.14
Stay tuned to
meet our special guest
00:00:11.17\00:00:13.17
and find out what he did...
00:00:13.21\00:00:14.78
My name is Yvonne
Lewis and you're watching
00:00:14.81\00:00:17.15
Urban Report...
00:00:17.18\00:00:18.48
Hello and
welcome to Urban Report
00:00:41.30\00:00:43.37
my guest today
is Dr. Marco Clark
00:00:43.41\00:00:46.31
CEO and Founder of the
Richard Wright Public Charter
00:00:46.34\00:00:50.05
School of Journalism and
Media Arts in Washington, D.C.
00:00:50.08\00:00:53.75
Welcome to Urban
Report Dr. Clark...
00:00:53.78\00:00:56.79
Hi... how are you?
I'm fine... I'm so glad
00:00:56.82\00:00:59.69
you are here... it's
wonderful to have you...
00:00:59.72\00:01:02.29
I am blessed to be here...
very glad to be on your show...
00:01:02.32\00:01:06.16
Thank you... thank
you... first of all...
00:01:06.19\00:01:08.86
I want to say,
Happy Birthday to you...
00:01:08.90\00:01:11.57
How did you know?
Ah... you see... you see...
00:01:11.60\00:01:13.77
we find out things
here at Urban Report...
00:01:13.80\00:01:15.37
Ah man... so this
is a very blessed day
00:01:15.40\00:01:18.71
I tell you... I was
greeted with my entire
00:01:18.74\00:01:21.98
staff and my students
today... they sang to me...
00:01:22.01\00:01:24.38
made a cake for me...
it's just been an awesome day
00:01:24.41\00:01:27.32
and now I get an
opportunity to talk with you
00:01:27.35\00:01:29.62
about what I love...
which is children and education
00:01:29.65\00:01:33.02
and learning... so
I'm just so excited
00:01:33.05\00:01:34.92
I thank God for this
privilege. Praise the Lord...
00:01:34.96\00:01:37.83
you know... in talking to you...
00:01:37.86\00:01:39.29
and I've had the
opportunity to talk to you...
00:01:39.33\00:01:42.23
on a few occasions...
and I just love your
00:01:42.26\00:01:46.23
passion for the students...
you have such a passion...
00:01:46.27\00:01:50.17
you... you... it's like you eat,
sleep and drink your students...
00:01:50.21\00:01:54.34
and this is what we
need... this is so important...
00:01:54.38\00:01:58.05
I want our viewers to
know about your journey...
00:01:58.08\00:02:01.68
I think that...
that plays into...
00:02:01.72\00:02:03.89
why you have such
passion for these students...
00:02:03.92\00:02:06.49
tell us about your
journey... Well, first of all,
00:02:06.52\00:02:08.89
I want to say is...
it was a journey that was
00:02:08.92\00:02:11.23
very heartfelt...
something that took me
00:02:11.26\00:02:14.30
a long time to want to share...
and so, I always start out
00:02:14.30\00:02:17.73
by saying...
individuals that share the
00:02:17.77\00:02:19.83
same story that I'm
going to tell you guys...
00:02:19.87\00:02:21.67
I want them to be able
to tell other folks as well
00:02:21.70\00:02:24.64
because it's going to
be able to help them...
00:02:24.67\00:02:26.81
I was ashamed...
for a long time...
00:02:26.84\00:02:29.38
to tell folks
that I was labeled as a
00:02:29.41\00:02:31.91
functional
illiterate... at 11-years-old...
00:02:31.95\00:02:34.98
I was ashamed to tell
folks that it took five years
00:02:35.02\00:02:38.02
to graduate from
High School, and you know
00:02:38.05\00:02:40.32
that journey in
itself took a while...
00:02:40.36\00:02:42.52
so that's something that
I really had to pray over
00:02:42.56\00:02:44.49
so, I wanted to put that out
there and really challenge folks
00:02:44.53\00:02:48.73
that had
challenges like I've overcome
00:02:48.76\00:02:51.17
and be able to share this,
so.. to share a little bit about
00:02:51.20\00:02:54.27
my journey... at 11-years-old...
00:02:54.30\00:02:56.77
I was brought into a
Guidance Counselor's Office
00:02:56.81\00:03:00.08
and I was asked, you
know, to just sit still...
00:03:00.11\00:03:03.38
and for that moment I
worked really diligently
00:03:03.41\00:03:06.28
to be a good student...
I was excited about words
00:03:06.31\00:03:11.09
I could spell but
I had a problem with
00:03:11.12\00:03:13.76
comprehension and I didn't
know that... at that time...
00:03:13.79\00:03:16.42
but... 11-years-old... I
was brought into this office
00:03:16.46\00:03:19.03
and the Guidance
Counselor didn't mumble a word
00:03:19.06\00:03:22.23
she just asked me to
sit down and to be still and
00:03:22.26\00:03:25.47
called my mom...
and it was interesting
00:03:25.50\00:03:28.87
because I was looking
for something positive
00:03:28.90\00:03:31.84
to happen for
me... and then my mom
00:03:31.87\00:03:33.88
came to the School
and inside of that moment
00:03:33.91\00:03:36.78
I saw this look on my mom's
face and I'd never seen that
00:03:36.81\00:03:41.08
and I started to
wonder what did I do wrong...
00:03:41.12\00:03:43.42
you know... what was going
on when I initially thought
00:03:43.45\00:03:46.62
they were talking to me about
something that was going to be
00:03:46.65\00:03:49.29
very
positive... I took that same
00:03:49.32\00:03:52.49
feeling home that evening
and my mom didn't talk to me
00:03:52.53\00:03:55.80
it was interesting that
she didn't fuss at me...
00:03:55.83\00:03:58.67
so, it was like...
I was still wondering
00:03:58.70\00:04:00.97
what did I do... the
Guidance Counselor really
00:04:01.00\00:04:04.14
didn't say anything...
but they gave me this long
00:04:04.17\00:04:07.21
word that said, "You
are a functional illiterate"
00:04:07.24\00:04:10.25
and at 11-years-old... I
had no idea what that meant
00:04:10.28\00:04:13.42
it wasn't until
dinner time at night
00:04:13.45\00:04:16.65
my mom... waited
on my dad to get home
00:04:16.69\00:04:19.79
and they sat me
down and explained what
00:04:19.82\00:04:21.32
functional
illiteracy was and in that...
00:04:21.36\00:04:24.63
it sort of took my
high-note about School
00:04:24.66\00:04:27.83
to a very negative
low... and that negative low
00:04:27.86\00:04:30.87
carried me... all the
way through High School
00:04:30.90\00:04:33.90
and that negative
low pushed me until
00:04:33.94\00:04:36.91
when I was about 15-years-old
I started to steal cars
00:04:36.94\00:04:41.01
I was... on those
corners... because that label
00:04:41.04\00:04:44.15
made me feel as though... I was
different than everybody else
00:04:44.18\00:04:47.85
that label... made me
feel like I could not achieve
00:04:47.88\00:04:51.49
what others...
would achieve... and so..
00:04:51.52\00:04:53.52
with that... I carried
the burden of never, ever
00:04:53.56\00:04:57.59
receiving an
award... outside of sports...
00:04:57.63\00:05:01.26
never receiving
another certificate for doing
00:05:01.30\00:05:04.43
anything academically...
I can honestly say that I
00:05:04.47\00:05:07.44
finished High School
without ever receiving an award
00:05:07.47\00:05:10.37
for doing anything
academically well...
00:05:10.41\00:05:12.61
that label did something
to my life and I carried it
00:05:12.64\00:05:16.24
honestly for...
since 11-years-old up until
00:05:16.28\00:05:19.61
now when I'm 43-years-old...
Wow, OK, Oh, Dr. Clark...
00:05:19.65\00:05:24.22
you just said such
rich such rich things...
00:05:24.25\00:05:26.69
the fact that...
that you lived up to..
00:05:26.72\00:05:31.33
the label... the thing that
00:05:31.36\00:05:34.30
they gave you.. they labeled
you functionally illiterate...
00:05:34.36\00:05:37.70
and so... that did
something to your head...
00:05:37.73\00:05:41.04
that made you feel like
"Well, I can't dare to dream,
00:05:41.07\00:05:44.51
I can't break through anything
00:05:44.54\00:05:47.01
because I'm basically illiterate
I'm functionally illiterate...
00:05:47.04\00:05:51.05
so... let me go out
here and steal cars and
00:05:51.08\00:05:54.02
let me go out here
and not try... because
00:05:54.05\00:05:56.95
I'm functionally illiterate...
" by putting that label on you
00:05:56.99\00:06:00.66
it actually pulled
you down into a place of
00:06:00.69\00:06:05.13
negative self-esteem,
of feeling as though...
00:06:05.16\00:06:09.50
you can't achieve... and
so... why try... why try...
00:06:09.53\00:06:14.17
I had the feeling, you know,
every child wants their parents
00:06:14.20\00:06:17.84
to be proud of them... Yes...
00:06:17.87\00:06:19.17
and being the
youngest child in my family...
00:06:19.21\00:06:22.54
it really did something to
my feeling towards academics
00:06:22.58\00:06:26.75
at that moment,
00:06:26.78\00:06:28.62
having to have my parents
00:06:28.65\00:06:30.35
explain what
functional illiteracy was...
00:06:30.39\00:06:32.39
I began to blame myself
I didn't blame anyone else
00:06:32.42\00:06:36.29
I started to
question whether or not
00:06:36.32\00:06:38.83
I put all of my
energy into academics
00:06:38.86\00:06:41.26
whether I did, you know,
the work like I was supposed to
00:06:41.30\00:06:44.87
did I listen in class...
and I really, really became
00:06:44.90\00:06:48.40
very hard on
myself... my own worst critic
00:06:48.44\00:06:51.14
that label itself really
did a lot for my self-esteem
00:06:51.17\00:06:55.71
and when I say... a
lot... it hurt the self-esteem
00:06:55.74\00:06:59.88
that I had... a
person who, you know,
00:06:59.91\00:07:01.98
you got to
understand... I thought I was
00:07:02.02\00:07:03.72
the bark in the dog,
and the cat's meow...
00:07:03.75\00:07:05.42
you got to understand...
00:07:05.45\00:07:09.66
you couldn't tell me
that I was not a winner
00:07:09.69\00:07:13.50
and at that moment I
felt a real low... and so...
00:07:13.53\00:07:16.56
what I started to
do was... to excel...
00:07:16.60\00:07:19.40
and what I've learned
you know, now, looking back
00:07:19.43\00:07:22.97
is that... a
child will be successful
00:07:23.00\00:07:25.37
whether it's a
positive or a negative...
00:07:25.41\00:07:27.68
they are going to find something
that's going to allow them
00:07:27.71\00:07:30.81
to have a winning opportunity...
and that's what I did...
00:07:30.85\00:07:33.58
and so I turned to the negative
side because it seemed like
00:07:33.62\00:07:36.35
that I can have a
very positive outcome...
00:07:36.38\00:07:39.25
I got praise from my
friends I got praise from people
00:07:39.29\00:07:42.99
in the
Community... I was being praised
00:07:43.02\00:07:44.99
for doing things... but...
doing things that were wrong
00:07:45.03\00:07:47.66
by individuals that were
a part of that... and so...
00:07:47.73\00:07:50.27
so that made me
happy... Yes... look at that...
00:07:50.30\00:07:54.27
you just said something
else... that was really deep...
00:07:54.30\00:07:57.24
that basically... a
child is going to seek
00:07:57.27\00:08:01.48
some kind of positive outcome...
something that's going to make
00:08:01.51\00:08:05.48
him or her feel
better about themselves...
00:08:05.51\00:08:08.42
even... if it's
within a negative context...
00:08:08.45\00:08:11.49
so... that's what
you were trying to do...
00:08:11.52\00:08:14.52
you were trying to
find something to hold on to
00:08:14.56\00:08:17.79
that would make you feel
better about who you were...
00:08:17.83\00:08:20.60
because at that
point... you felt so low...
00:08:20.63\00:08:23.47
as though you had
let your folks down
00:08:23.50\00:08:26.80
I think that's what I'm
hearing, that you feel as though
00:08:26.84\00:08:30.04
you had let them
down... and that... well...
00:08:30.07\00:08:32.77
you might as well get...
some kind of positive accolades
00:08:32.81\00:08:35.21
from your friends...
because you're parents
00:08:35.24\00:08:37.71
were let down now...
disappointed in you...
00:08:37.75\00:08:40.18
Absolutely... absolutely...
and I was trying to figure out
00:08:40.22\00:08:44.22
some way to compensate for
that which I didn't do in School
00:08:44.25\00:08:48.22
and it was really,
really... that your peers
00:08:48.26\00:08:52.09
will give you that... you
know, that help in the direction
00:08:52.13\00:08:56.80
that you're looking
for in a positive direction
00:08:56.83\00:08:59.43
if the adults that you
see everyday don't do it...
00:08:59.47\00:09:02.00
Yes... yes... now... did you
come from a spiritual background
00:09:02.04\00:09:05.77
were your parents
Christian people...
00:09:05.81\00:09:07.88
You know what's interesting...
I grew up as a Pastor's son...
00:09:07.91\00:09:11.51
so I'm a PK... Pastor's
Kid You're a PK... what...
00:09:11.55\00:09:13.85
Oh... see... I didn't know
that. I am a PK and you know...
00:09:13.88\00:09:19.05
they all... and so... I had that
label to deal with as well...
00:09:19.09\00:09:21.99
you know... you're a PK
00:09:22.02\00:09:23.73
which they all say...
you're the worst children
00:09:23.76\00:09:26.23
and so... you know... with
that that was a label that I had
00:09:26.26\00:09:31.03
so... it was me feeling that
you know, here was a guy... that
00:09:31.07\00:09:34.57
I had to go to Church...
we were at Church every week
00:09:34.60\00:09:38.31
and... but... there were
all the kids that were getting
00:09:38.34\00:09:42.01
accolades even in Church.. so...
I didn't get accolades at School
00:09:42.04\00:09:45.61
I didn't get accolades at
Church it was embarrassing
00:09:45.65\00:09:48.85
to have a father
that was the Pastor
00:09:48.88\00:09:50.55
and his son... never got
an accolade for doing academic
00:09:50.59\00:09:53.86
things well... so
it was really, really
00:09:53.89\00:09:56.22
a challenging
situation and I could not wait
00:09:56.26\00:09:59.26
until my parents
said, "You don't have to go
00:09:59.29\00:10:01.50
every Sunday...
just every other Sunday"
00:10:01.53\00:10:03.60
so at least I could
plan out my strategy
00:10:03.63\00:10:05.60
not to be there when
the awards came out...
00:10:05.63\00:10:07.54
Oh... bless your heart...
how heavy that must have been
00:10:07.57\00:10:10.97
for you... to carry that...
00:10:11.01\00:10:12.61
It was a very heavy load
and just to give you a few
00:10:12.64\00:10:17.95
items of things that I endured,
you know... 15-years-old...
00:10:17.98\00:10:22.48
school really didn't
mean much, I played football
00:10:22.52\00:10:25.72
did well in football, and
after the season, you know,
00:10:25.75\00:10:28.76
I went back to the streets...
00:10:28.79\00:10:29.99
I realized there were some
things that I'm thankful for...
00:10:30.03\00:10:33.90
blessed about...
is that I had parents
00:10:33.93\00:10:36.30
that I was accountable
to... but during the time
00:10:36.33\00:10:39.03
that I was out... they
didn't know what was going on
00:10:39.07\00:10:41.94
so, in that freedom that
I had, I was doing things
00:10:41.97\00:10:44.77
that I wasn't supposed to...
and with that.. I got in trouble
00:10:44.81\00:10:49.44
for, you know, lifting a car...
and got caught and, you know,
00:10:49.48\00:10:53.88
got in trouble inside of School,
and got put out of School
00:10:53.92\00:10:58.29
for actually
drinking a beer, you know,
00:10:58.32\00:11:02.12
I was caught drinking a beer...
just to be with my friends,
00:11:02.16\00:11:07.76
you know, and got
expelled from School...
00:11:07.83\00:11:10.20
I had to go to
Night School for a year
00:11:10.23\00:11:12.53
which caused me to have to be
in High School... an extra year
00:11:12.57\00:11:15.47
so it took 5 years to
graduate from High School
00:11:15.50\00:11:18.94
and I was just doing any
and everything that I could
00:11:18.97\00:11:22.31
to try to find some peace
and happiness within myself
00:11:22.34\00:11:25.75
and everything that I did
seemed to turn into a dead-end
00:11:25.78\00:11:29.12
a dead-end... no matter
which direction I was going
00:11:29.15\00:11:32.75
my grades clearly weren't
there, 5 years in High School
00:11:32.79\00:11:36.93
and I wind up graduating
with a 1.6 grade average
00:11:36.96\00:11:40.76
and so I had... no
grades... I took the SAT
00:11:40.80\00:11:43.26
I scored 480 on the SAT
and they give you 200 points
00:11:43.30\00:11:48.27
at that time for
signing your name
00:11:48.30\00:11:49.80
so, you're talking about
a kid that really, really
00:11:49.84\00:11:52.64
was challenged by
Public School so much that
00:11:52.67\00:11:55.74
when I graduated...
and I finally got a diploma
00:11:55.78\00:11:58.78
I burned the diploma...
Oh, yeah, that had to have been
00:11:58.81\00:12:04.72
so painful for you to carry
00:12:04.75\00:12:07.86
that load in your heart
00:12:07.89\00:12:10.96
of under-achievement...
in your heart of hearts
00:12:10.99\00:12:15.43
you probably
knew... "Hey, I'm not slow,
00:12:15.46\00:12:18.43
I have a good sense
of the world around me...
00:12:18.47\00:12:23.41
I'm not slow... so why is
it that I'm not achieving...
00:12:23.44\00:12:27.38
that had to be...
so hard for you...
00:12:27.41\00:12:29.58
So... at what point did
things turn around for you?
00:12:29.61\00:12:32.75
What happened was...
00:12:32.78\00:12:34.65
after I graduated
00:12:34.68\00:12:36.48
from High School... you
know... in the midst of that
00:12:36.52\00:12:38.22
I met a
Counselor... the last year...
00:12:38.25\00:12:40.79
so, you know, this is
where it is a great thing
00:12:40.82\00:12:43.86
God steps in and puts you
in places and times and spaces
00:12:43.89\00:12:47.03
when it needs to happen...
and now... looking back
00:12:47.10\00:12:49.70
I recognize that the
5th year was necessary...
00:12:49.73\00:12:52.27
I was there for that 5th year so
that I could meet that Counselor
00:12:52.30\00:12:55.84
because she wasn't
there during the four years
00:12:55.87\00:12:57.97
that I was in High School...
that 5th year... she came...
00:12:58.01\00:13:00.84
new to the School and
she said there's something
00:13:00.88\00:13:02.84
about you...
that... I'm going to help...
00:13:02.88\00:13:05.45
you know... and I
said... well... whatever...
00:13:05.48\00:13:07.98
if you could perform miracles...
then let's just do it...
00:13:08.02\00:13:10.35
she said... "No matter what
happens... we're going to find
00:13:10.39\00:13:12.65
a way to get you in College...
and we're going to work together
00:13:12.69\00:13:15.02
and make it
happen... " so... I tell you...
00:13:15.06\00:13:17.69
I had a 150 rejections
from Colleges and Universities
00:13:17.73\00:13:21.00
all across this Nation
that I was trying to get in...
00:13:21.03\00:13:24.27
and there was a Dean at
Clark Atlanta University
00:13:24.30\00:13:28.27
that I contacted over
and over and over again
00:13:28.30\00:13:31.57
about trying to get
into Clark Atlanta University
00:13:31.61\00:13:34.81
and he finally talked with
me and I was able to give him
00:13:34.84\00:13:38.68
my story...
well, his response was
00:13:38.71\00:13:41.88
"This story sounds great...
I've heard a lot of these
00:13:41.92\00:13:44.15
kinds of stories...
but I need you to write it
00:13:44.19\00:13:46.52
and if you can write this
story, let me read over it...
00:13:46.55\00:13:49.29
and I'll think about it and I'll
see what I can do for you... "
00:13:49.32\00:13:52.83
well, I wrote him a letter...
I got help from my Counselor
00:13:52.86\00:13:55.43
we wrote a letter... and
I was able to really talk
00:13:55.46\00:13:59.67
about my
challenges very explicitly
00:13:59.70\00:14:02.17
and talk about where the pain
and issues were happening...
00:14:02.20\00:14:05.27
from age 11 and
how I got to this point
00:14:05.31\00:14:08.11
and I sent him a letter...
and that wasn't good enough...
00:14:08.14\00:14:11.65
it took some
perseverance as well because
00:14:11.68\00:14:13.68
I called him...
religiously... every Friday...
00:14:13.72\00:14:17.42
until I finally got
him on the phone again...
00:14:17.45\00:14:21.22
and it was just happenstance
00:14:21.26\00:14:24.09
that, you know, he picked up
the phone... trying to dial out
00:14:24.13\00:14:27.00
to call someone else... and
I happened to be on the line
00:14:27.03\00:14:30.77
within that whole dialogue
00:14:30.80\00:14:37.24
I was able to say...
"Listen... this is Marco Clark
00:14:37.27\00:14:39.91
I'm really trying to get
in... if you would just give me
00:14:39.94\00:14:43.11
an
opportunity... I promise you...
00:14:43.14\00:14:45.18
I will not let you
down... I promise you that...
00:14:45.21\00:14:47.68
he said... "Well,
I read your story...
00:14:47.72\00:14:49.58
it was very
compelling... " and he said...
00:14:49.62\00:14:51.45
"You have been faithful
enough to call me over and over
00:14:51.49\00:14:54.79
and over again... and actually
I wasn't planning to talk to you
00:14:54.82\00:14:58.09
right now but there has to
be a reason that we're talking
00:14:58.13\00:15:00.93
so I'm going to
give you an opportunity
00:15:00.96\00:15:02.66
and I'm going to
put you on probation,
00:15:02.70\00:15:04.37
and I'm going to check on
you and you're going to check in
00:15:04.40\00:15:07.20
with me every two weeks
to let me know your progress
00:15:07.24\00:15:09.74
and I'm going to give you one
Semester to ship up or ship out"
00:15:09.77\00:15:12.84
and... you know...
we were able to do that
00:15:12.87\00:15:15.74
he aligned me with an Advisor
that was really, really great...
00:15:15.78\00:15:19.98
Dr. Johnny L. Wilson
and I would just have to say
00:15:20.02\00:15:23.05
that one teacher, you
know, pretty much saved my life
00:15:23.08\00:15:25.99
it wasn't until I
got to College that
00:15:26.02\00:15:28.82
I had a teacher that
00:15:28.86\00:15:30.76
really stepped in and
said, "Listen... we're going to
00:15:30.79\00:15:32.56
make something happen for you"
that was my Advisor, Dr. Wilson
00:15:32.59\00:15:35.76
at Clark Atlanta University...
You know... Dr. Clark...
00:15:35.80\00:15:40.64
look at how God...
works things through...
00:15:40.67\00:15:43.77
God had... His plan for
you... and, you know, of course,
00:15:43.81\00:15:48.24
the enemy had his
plan... the enemy wanted you to
00:15:48.28\00:15:50.78
spiral downward...
and just be destroyed...
00:15:50.81\00:15:54.55
but God's plan was for you
00:15:54.58\00:15:56.75
to continue... to persevere...
and you pushed through...
00:15:56.79\00:16:00.46
you pushed through that
label, you pushed through
00:16:00.49\00:16:04.26
by every week...
calling... this Professor...
00:16:04.29\00:16:07.96
over and over and letting
him know that you were motivated
00:16:07.96\00:16:11.80
some kids... quit before
they have reached their goal
00:16:11.83\00:16:17.81
because they just
don't push through...
00:16:17.84\00:16:20.48
but you did... and what do
you think, besides, of course
00:16:20.51\00:16:24.48
the Lord... because the Lord's
hand was obviously on you...
00:16:24.51\00:16:28.45
What do you think you
did by pushing through?
00:16:28.48\00:16:31.62
Well, I think... one
of the things I proved
00:16:31.65\00:16:34.49
something to
myself... first of all...
00:16:34.52\00:16:36.09
that I can get in the
door if I was very persistent
00:16:36.12\00:16:39.89
prayed and stayed
faithful about it... that...
00:16:39.93\00:16:42.06
that would
happen... and first of all...
00:16:42.10\00:16:43.70
I had to be honest also
with the challenges that I had
00:16:43.73\00:16:47.87
and honest with the
things that I did wrong...
00:16:47.90\00:16:50.24
you know... you have to
own up to some of the things
00:16:50.27\00:16:53.31
that I probably
could have done better...
00:16:53.34\00:16:54.88
I couldn't blame everybody
about my shortcomings...
00:16:54.91\00:16:58.11
I couldn't say that it was
just, you know, I had a poor
00:16:58.15\00:17:01.15
Public School experience...
but what part did I play
00:17:01.18\00:17:04.12
and I think onus of
that... but even with that...
00:17:04.15\00:17:07.06
perseverance
still... became a story for me
00:17:07.09\00:17:09.36
because even when I
got on the campus...
00:17:09.39\00:17:12.13
I had a class that was a
00:17:12.16\00:17:13.90
Biology class and I had
never been in a classroom
00:17:13.93\00:17:17.23
a lecture hall with
150 kids and you know,
00:17:17.27\00:17:20.57
with that we had this gentleman
Dr. Amron... and I remember
00:17:20.60\00:17:23.57
it like yesterday that his
class was so intimidating to me
00:17:23.61\00:17:28.54
that you walk in and
here were like 10 chalk boards
00:17:28.58\00:17:31.21
that would go up and
down... and it seemed like
00:17:31.25\00:17:33.82
he had them all filled up
every time you came in and so...
00:17:33.85\00:17:37.15
it was very intimidating...
this Biology class...
00:17:37.19\00:17:39.79
that I began to play games...
you know... tick tack toe...
00:17:39.82\00:17:43.02
and moved over one side...
so on Monday I sat on this side
00:17:43.06\00:17:46.06
of the classroom and on
Wednesday... I sat in the middle
00:17:46.09\00:17:49.00
on Friday... a different side...
and I did that as a strategy
00:17:49.03\00:17:52.87
trying to get around
his class hoping that
00:17:52.90\00:17:56.40
he wouldn't call on me
because I saw what happened
00:17:56.44\00:17:59.74
when he called
kids up to the board...
00:17:59.77\00:18:01.38
and they didn't know the answer
and it was really... oh man...
00:18:01.41\00:18:06.28
it was a major
piece of work for me...
00:18:06.31\00:18:08.58
I thought that I was smart
but God stepped in and made
00:18:08.62\00:18:12.29
me realize
something... that basically...
00:18:12.32\00:18:14.36
that's what I had been
trying to do a long time...
00:18:14.39\00:18:17.29
get around an issue
rather than meeting it head on
00:18:17.33\00:18:20.16
in order to make things happen
so... I finally got caught
00:18:20.20\00:18:24.63
and I was called to that board
and, you know, what happened
00:18:24.67\00:18:28.17
I got to the board and I
had stayed up... trying to study
00:18:28.20\00:18:31.71
all night but for some reason
I just couldn't comprehend
00:18:31.74\00:18:35.21
the work... and so
I stood at that board
00:18:35.24\00:18:37.58
and while my back to my peers,
they were snickering and making
00:18:37.61\00:18:41.82
you know... smart gestures but
what they didn't know was that
00:18:41.85\00:18:45.72
on the other side of that board
where I was staring at the board
00:18:45.75\00:18:49.62
faking like I was going
to try to answer the question
00:18:49.66\00:18:53.29
I was really crying...
it's what I was doing...
00:18:53.33\00:18:56.30
I was really crying because...
I was getting that feeling again
00:18:56.33\00:19:01.04
that I had at 11-years-old
when I was told that I was a
00:19:01.07\00:19:03.87
functional illiterate...
and I found myself again
00:19:03.91\00:19:07.01
at 18-years-old...
standing at a board
00:19:07.04\00:19:10.25
not understanding why
I'm being ridiculed...
00:19:10.28\00:19:12.78
so I had no other
recourse but to cry...
00:19:12.81\00:19:15.22
and so after that particular
day and I was able to...
00:19:15.25\00:19:19.92
and he finally said...
you know "You can leave"
00:19:19.95\00:19:21.69
and I ran to my advisor and
I said, "You know, I'm finished
00:19:21.72\00:19:25.49
with this College mess...
maybe the folks that told me
00:19:25.53\00:19:29.20
I was a functional
illiterate at 11-years-old...
00:19:29.23\00:19:31.10
maybe they were right... "
you know... "I think that...
00:19:31.13\00:19:33.87
I don't know what I'm
going to do with myself
00:19:33.90\00:19:36.07
but I think... I
was accomplishing things
00:19:36.10\00:19:38.17
in the streets... so why should
I stay here and be ridiculed
00:19:38.21\00:19:42.21
for trying to do my best...
" and he said, "You know Son,
00:19:42.24\00:19:46.08
it's not the fact
that you are not trying...
00:19:46.11\00:19:48.15
it's not that you
don't have perseverance...
00:19:48.18\00:19:50.22
it's not that you
don't have the will...
00:19:50.25\00:19:52.25
what you have an
issue with is reading...
00:19:52.29\00:19:55.32
you have problems with
reading comprehension... "
00:19:55.36\00:19:58.73
and the challenge for
me... and it clicked that day
00:19:58.76\00:20:02.03
that I had gone
my... all of this time...
00:20:02.06\00:20:04.80
and made it all the
way to College and realized
00:20:04.83\00:20:07.50
that I could not read...
and so because that Professor
00:20:07.54\00:20:11.51
got with me and got a
tutor for every class that I had
00:20:11.54\00:20:15.48
you know... and they
gave me strategies...
00:20:15.51\00:20:18.85
taught me strategies... on
how to be able to break down
00:20:18.88\00:20:22.08
large passages into
smaller chunks and to make note
00:20:22.12\00:20:25.32
to make me get
better academically
00:20:25.35\00:20:28.02
and because I had
that perseverance...
00:20:28.06\00:20:30.86
I was able to move forward... so
once that green light jumped on
00:20:30.89\00:20:34.20
I took off and after that
time, I had graduated from
00:20:34.20\00:20:37.90
High School with
a 1.6 grade average
00:20:37.93\00:20:40.47
scoring 460 on the
SAT... to graduating with
00:20:40.50\00:20:44.47
3.3 Undergrad... 3.5 Masters...
00:20:44.51\00:20:48.68
3.9 Doctoral
Level... Come on... come on...
00:20:48.71\00:20:51.95
because... those
days... the light turned on...
00:20:51.98\00:20:55.12
and it was about being
faithful... having perseverance
00:20:55.15\00:20:58.69
and having someone that stood
right in the clutch with me
00:20:58.72\00:21:02.19
got in the clutch
with me... and said...
00:21:02.22\00:21:04.23
"I refuse to allow you to fail,
and you're not going back home
00:21:04.26\00:21:07.73
we are not going
to let that happen...
00:21:07.76\00:21:09.00
we are going to get
you to where you should go
00:21:09.03\00:21:10.90
so that you can be successful.
" That is so rich Dr. Clark...
00:21:10.93\00:21:15.40
that is so rich...
you had a crisis at that
00:21:15.44\00:21:18.97
black board... and had
you not had a caring Counselor
00:21:19.01\00:21:25.38
a mentor... that...
kind of took you by the hand
00:21:25.41\00:21:29.18
and said... "You're
not going to quit. "
00:21:29.22\00:21:30.55
and he identified the problem...
the problem was reading...
00:21:30.59\00:21:34.66
and once that
problem was addressed...
00:21:34.69\00:21:37.23
God just... you know...
God opened that up to you
00:21:37.26\00:21:40.33
so that you saw what the
problem was... and then you
00:21:40.36\00:21:43.33
just soared... and
praise God for that...
00:21:43.37\00:21:46.80
because... you went from
that 1 point something GPA
00:21:46.84\00:21:51.61
to a 3.9... which
is just about a 4.0...
00:21:51.64\00:21:55.81
which is tremendous
00:21:55.84\00:21:58.15
praise the Lord for that...
and so now... here you are...
00:21:58.18\00:22:02.38
as the Head of this
School and I know that
00:22:02.42\00:22:06.69
you see
children who are like you
00:22:06.72\00:22:09.69
tell us about that...
tell us about your School.
00:22:09.72\00:22:12.89
My School is Richard
Wright Public Charter School
00:22:12.93\00:22:15.96
for Journalism and Media
Arts and I see... basically 80%
00:22:16.00\00:22:20.07
of my kids are just like
me... 80% of these kids are
00:22:20.10\00:22:23.94
coming in reading 3-
and-4-grade levels behind
00:22:23.97\00:22:26.94
by the time we get them...
80% of these kids come there
00:22:26.98\00:22:31.35
with, you know, in areas
of the city that are known
00:22:31.38\00:22:35.28
for poor Public School
education many of these kids
00:22:35.32\00:22:39.15
are just striving to
have something positive
00:22:39.19\00:22:42.49
happen for them... and so...
I am able to relate to them
00:22:42.52\00:22:47.13
and I don't hide the
story... that's why I said...
00:22:47.13\00:22:51.23
it's a blessing...
and sometimes folks don't
00:22:51.27\00:22:54.00
understand that...
like when you miss a step
00:22:54.04\00:22:56.50
and you remain
somewhere for an extra year...
00:22:56.54\00:22:58.97
your time is being ordered...
that verse in Proverbs
00:22:59.01\00:23:02.41
which I love...
"My steps are ordered"
00:23:02.44\00:23:03.98
so, I know the fact that,
you know, sometimes your steps
00:23:04.01\00:23:08.02
are there for you to go through
00:23:08.05\00:23:09.68
so you can arrive at
the place that you need to
00:23:09.72\00:23:11.92
and so I share my
story with my kids so
00:23:11.95\00:23:14.59
I've been able to
help many kids because
00:23:14.62\00:23:16.83
I'm sharing my
story because they say,
00:23:16.86\00:23:18.96
"Hey, you know
Doc... I didn't know that...
00:23:18.99\00:23:21.33
that was your
story... I didn't know that
00:23:21.36\00:23:23.63
that's what happened
with you, that's how I feel
00:23:23.67\00:23:26.07
how can we work...
what are you going to do?"
00:23:26.10\00:23:28.44
and I'm saying to those
kids just like that Counselor
00:23:28.47\00:23:30.61
said to me... "I
will get you to College
00:23:30.64\00:23:32.97
if you listen... I
will get you to College
00:23:33.01\00:23:35.28
if you're willing to work
hard, I will get you to College
00:23:35.31\00:23:38.31
if you would do
what I'm telling you
00:23:38.35\00:23:40.55
like Dr. Wilson told me
and if I give you a tutor
00:23:40.58\00:23:43.12
you go see that tutor...
if I give you extra work...
00:23:43.15\00:23:45.69
you do the extra work
and we'll work together
00:23:45.72\00:23:48.39
to get you to a
place... my kids are phenomenal
00:23:48.42\00:23:51.03
and so... we created journalism
and media arts as our theme
00:23:51.06\00:23:54.83
because one... I could address
the issue with reading...
00:23:54.86\00:23:58.60
which was a major thing for
me because if you can't read...
00:23:58.63\00:24:01.27
you can't do anything...
the second thing is...
00:24:01.30\00:24:04.01
if we did journalism...
I would make you write...
00:24:04.04\00:24:06.74
so you would have to
use your reading skills
00:24:06.78\00:24:09.24
to research in order
to be able to find out
00:24:09.28\00:24:11.68
what you're going
to put on paper...
00:24:11.71\00:24:13.35
and learn how to
write... so if you can read...
00:24:13.38\00:24:15.58
and you can write...
the next thing you will be
00:24:15.62\00:24:17.79
able to do... we
work on your speaking
00:24:17.82\00:24:19.29
because if you can
read, write and speak...
00:24:19.32\00:24:21.42
then you can
advocate for yourself...
00:24:21.46\00:24:23.26
and you could actually do
what the African proverb says
00:24:23.29\00:24:26.73
"It takes a whole
village... to raise a child... "
00:24:26.76\00:24:28.16
so that means you
will be reaching back...
00:24:28.20\00:24:30.27
to grab individuals
to put them in a place
00:24:30.30\00:24:32.33
that is... is great... and
that you're going to change
00:24:32.37\00:24:35.00
the Community one
student at a time...
00:24:35.04\00:24:37.27
and so... this Media Arts
thing, we put that on a twist
00:24:37.31\00:24:41.48
because all the kids
are excited about Media...
00:24:41.51\00:24:43.55
so if I can wrap
you around with that
00:24:43.58\00:24:45.68
and put in some reading
and writing... ah man...
00:24:45.71\00:24:48.38
I got a student
that is... a bomb...
00:24:48.42\00:24:51.79
I mean this kid's
going to change the Community
00:24:51.82\00:24:53.72
there's nothing you are going
to be able to say to my kids
00:24:53.76\00:24:56.29
because they're going
to be armed and dangerous
00:24:56.32\00:24:58.69
in a positive manner...
their minds are going to be set
00:24:58.73\00:25:01.70
that energy
level is going to be up
00:25:01.73\00:25:04.23
and there's nothing
that you're going to be...
00:25:04.27\00:25:05.93
you're not going to
ever be able to out-work them
00:25:05.97\00:25:07.50
I tell my staff...
you can't out-work me...
00:25:07.54\00:25:09.27
I get up at 3:30 in the
morning and I don't leave work
00:25:09.30\00:25:12.04
till 7 at night...
you can't outwork me...
00:25:12.07\00:25:14.11
and that's what I want
our kids to be able to do...
00:25:14.14\00:25:17.28
That's tremendous Dr.
Clark... you are the poster boy
00:25:17.31\00:25:20.42
for Dare to
Dream... you know that right?
00:25:20.45\00:25:23.45
you are the... You
know... and I appreciate
00:25:23.49\00:25:26.42
the compliment... you know...
but what I just want to be
00:25:26.45\00:25:29.59
is a blessing to everybody
that has the same challenge
00:25:29.62\00:25:32.69
what I really want
is my story to change
00:25:32.73\00:25:35.56
someone else's
life... I am thankful that
00:25:35.60\00:25:38.37
I made it through this journey,
so that I can be able to help
00:25:38.40\00:25:42.54
others make it through the
same journey that I, you know,
00:25:42.57\00:25:45.91
trudged my way through...
because it was very difficult
00:25:45.94\00:25:49.21
and there were a
lot of tears that I shed
00:25:49.24\00:25:51.11
to get to this moment...
Yes, I'm sure... I'm sure...
00:25:51.15\00:25:55.12
and I'm so thankful that
you persevered and that now
00:25:55.15\00:25:59.09
you can reach back...
and help other young people
00:25:59.12\00:26:03.02
who are going
through what you went through
00:26:03.06\00:26:05.59
and you can give them a
safe environment in the School
00:26:05.63\00:26:08.76
and they can blossom
there and they can understand
00:26:08.80\00:26:11.63
who they are... and I
know it's a Public School
00:26:11.67\00:26:14.47
so you can't do
religious instruction
00:26:14.50\00:26:16.77
but I know that you
too... you have that assembly
00:26:16.81\00:26:20.44
tell us about that
assembly that you have...
00:26:20.48\00:26:22.58
Hey, listen... I smile when
you said, "No we can't do... "
00:26:22.61\00:26:24.68
you know... there's
a separation between
00:26:24.71\00:26:27.98
Church and State... but
what I will say is this...
00:26:28.02\00:26:31.22
when you come in our
building and we serve kids
00:26:31.25\00:26:34.16
from the most impoverished
wards in the district...
00:26:34.19\00:26:37.13
most schools in the
District... High Schools have
00:26:37.16\00:26:39.96
metal detectors...
they have police officers...
00:26:40.00\00:26:42.73
security guards...
we don't have that...
00:26:42.76\00:26:44.27
what we have is...
when you check in...
00:26:44.30\00:26:46.47
we don't wand you in
the morning with a wand
00:26:46.50\00:26:49.00
to see whether or
not you have a weapon...
00:26:49.04\00:26:51.31
what we do is... we
wand you to make sure
00:26:51.34\00:26:53.54
that you got that homework...
so you got to turn your homework
00:26:53.58\00:26:55.94
when you come in this building..
you line up.. with your homework
00:26:55.98\00:26:59.51
that's your pass entry and
your uniform is appropriate
00:26:59.55\00:27:02.78
that's how we do
it... the next thing is...
00:27:02.82\00:27:04.22
that we have a lot of
expectations for our kids
00:27:04.25\00:27:06.72
but not only do I teach the
kids that we have expectations
00:27:06.76\00:27:10.13
for them... but they
should have expectations for us
00:27:10.16\00:27:13.46
and so... it's about
them holding us accountable
00:27:13.50\00:27:16.50
just like we're
holding them accountable...
00:27:16.53\00:27:18.60
also, when you come into our...
we have a Community Meeting
00:27:18.63\00:27:22.17
every morning... because
I recognize that kids come
00:27:22.20\00:27:25.24
from some challenged situations,
and they need a moment
00:27:25.27\00:27:28.28
to transition... so
during our morning assembly...
00:27:28.31\00:27:31.88
we call it... Family Matters...
Dr. Clark, I want to hear more
00:27:31.91\00:27:35.98
about Family Matters and I
can't because our time is up...
00:27:36.02\00:27:40.02
you got to come
back... I will come back...
00:27:40.06\00:27:42.89
I'll be more than happy
to... Praise the Lord...
00:27:42.92\00:27:45.89
Thank you so much for everything
we really appreciate you
00:27:45.93\00:27:49.30
and all that you're
doing... Thank you too.
00:27:49.33\00:27:52.17
God bless you... I
don't know where our time
00:27:52.20\00:27:55.00
is gone... but... I
just want you to know
00:27:55.04\00:27:57.74
we appreciate your tuning
in... Join us next time...
00:27:57.77\00:28:00.61
It just wouldn't be
the same without you...
00:28:00.64\00:28:03.11