By Special to the Daily World
Drs. Randal Pinkett and Jeffrey Robinson will discuss their book, “Black Faces in White Places: 10-Game Changing Strategies to Achieve Success and Find Greatness,” with Philana Patterson on Saturday, March 12 at Georgia Tech at the Klaus Advance Computer Building.
The co-authors will host Redefine the Game National Town Hall at 2:45 p.m. The Town Hall is designed to detail how Black Americans can redefine the “corporate America” game by leveraging ethnic and cultural assets to not only be successful in any arena, but to reshape America and leave a powerful legacy.
The Town Hall participants include: DLA Piper LLP’s Associate, Anthony Webb, Esq.; Co-owner of ICON Studios, Stone Stafford; and Director of Title I of Fulton County Schools, Tawana D. Miller. The event is part of the Black Leadership Conference and ties in with Georgia Tech’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of the matriculation of Black Students.
Pinkett and Robinson believe every person of color has had a “moment;” a not quite “aha” moment, but rather, that “moment” when he or she is confronted with a challenge related to race.
They call this the “Black Faces in White Places Moment.”
Pinkett had “a moment” immediately after becoming the first Black winner on “The Apprentice,” when Donald Trump asked him to share his victory. He stood firm as the sole apprentice, backed by his unrivaled, undefeated, record on the show and Trump’s own rules for competing for a coveted executive position.
“It all came down to this moment. Onstage at New York’s Lincoln Center, on live television with millions of people watching the possibility of me, Randal Pinkett, being chosen as real estate mogul Donald Trump’s next Apprentice,” said Pinkett.
“African Americans represent 12 percent of the U.S. workforce. Yet, according to some sources, African Americans only hold between 3 percent and 4 percent of senior-level positions in Fortune 1000 companies today, a scant increase from 2.5 percent in 1995,” Pinkett continued. “I wrote this book with Dr. Jeffrey Robinson, to share strategies found to be most effective for African Americans to compete, win, and ultimately change for the better an ever-changing game.”
In addition to Pinkett’s “moment,” “Black Faces in White Places” interviews other game-changers who share their experiences — Don Thompson, president of McDonald’s USA; actor and social activist Hill Harper and television and radio personality Roland Martin.
“Plain and simple — to succeed at anything, you need a plan; a strategy for success; an outline of escalating accomplishments to reach your desired goal,” says Robinson. “Black Faces in White Places” provides a game plan uniquely tailored to the specific issues that affect African Americans and can be a critical tool for their success.”
Klaus Advance Computer Building is at 266 Ferst Drive. The keynote speech to the Black Leadership Conference will begin at 2 p.m.