John Hope Bryant

Reflections: Friend Reflects on Anniversary of Rodney King Riots, Then and Now

 

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Photo of key leaders on the occasion of the April, 2007 (15th anniversary) recognition of the Rodney King riots, and a community's active recovery.  Amongst them, civil rights icon Ambassador Andrew Young

Below are deeply reflective thoughts from a dear friend who, in his own unique and important way, also led the way to the rebuilding and revitalization of "community" following the Rodney King Riots/Civil Unrest.  I think his words are best, so simply read below:

"John, I'm looking forward to our 20th Anniversary of the Operation Hope Bus Tour commemoration my friend. By the way, I've heard some folks reference the 20th Anniversary of the riots/civil unrest as some sort of "20th Anniversary Celebration."  

Over 50 people died that horrible week; and over 1000 buildings burned to the ground.  It's nothing to celebrate.  If there was anything positive about it, it was that the occasion caused the birth of a new beginning of consciousness and commitment among right-thinking men and women, to work hard to improve the lives of those less fortunate in our community.  It was a wake-up call like none other.

 

We should mark the occasion by remembering those who died, those who suffered so greatly, and rededicating ourselves to the work before us.  It's not a celebration; but a commemoration and remembrance and re-dedication.

 

Hope you are doing great - and we'll see you soon!  Look forward to the tour!

 

Warm regards,  Jonathan (Weedman)"

 

SPECIAL FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH: "A Dreamer's Dream" starring Tyrese Gibson, Blair Underwood & Jill Scott

I am so proud of my brother and friend, and 5MK Ambassador Tyrese Gibson.  Share with all your friends.

"A Dreamer's Dream" starring Tyrese Gibson, Blair Underwood & Jill Scott from Voltron Recordz on Vimeo.

TIME MAGAZINE ARCHIVES: The L.A. Riots: 15 Years After Rodney King

  

John Hope Bryant

By Madison Gray

People have said they expected the four officers involved in the Rodney King beating to be set free. What were you thinking at the time?

I was going with my girlfriend to Palm Springs that day. She said she thought there would be a not guilty verdict. I said nonsense, there is rule of law, there is evidence. Despite the change of venue, the tape (of the Rodney King beating) was the kiss of death. I thought there would be a guilty verdict, but the officers were acquitted. I felt fooled because I thought discrimination had been solved and there was justice.

Many remember where they were and what they were doing when the riot started. What was the situation for you?

Well, I'm standing in my office, the verdict comes in and at about 4 p.m. I start to see smoke breweing from the east side of my window view which was East L.A. Out of guilt I shut down my office and went to First A.M.E. Church. The gentleman who who spiritually raised me, Rev. (Cecil) Murray was there. As I walked in the door Pete Wilson was on one side of me and Jesse Jackson was on the other side.

So all this caught you off guard?

The only person that I knew who was surprised was me. I thought it would all work out. But many said the officers would get off, and said we'll have to do the best we can to keep everyone calm.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/la_riot/article/0,28804,1614117_1615206_1615136,00.html #ixzz1nY8rRUJA

 

NEWS ONE HONORS BRYANT FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH: CEO Inspires Financial Literacy In Young People

This Black History Month, we honor the GAME CHANGERS: Everyday heroes whose actions make life better for the people around them. SEE ALL OUR GAME CHANGERS HERE.

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John Hope Bryant

Age: 46

Place of Residence: Atlanta, Georgia. Los Angeles, California.

Why he is a local hero: Bryant, founder, chair, and CEO of Operation HOPE, is working on bringing financial literacy and hope to young people across the country.

RELATED: Senior Saves Kids From Gang Life

Bryant, who was recently named chairman of President Barack Obama‘s Subcommittee on the Underserved and Community Empowerment, is working to eliminate the shame associated with poverty and financial illiteracy.

Read the complete story here.

 

Factoid

Three billion people are now under the age of 30 -- 90% of them in the developing world.

John Hope Bryant "Silver Rights" Quote of the Day

"Folks say that poor folks somehow created, or are otherwise responsible for the global economic crisis. ...There was more than $20 trillion in asset value lost in the global economic crisis, in the U.S. alone. Poor folks don't have $20 trillion to lose.

....Respectfully, this was a middle class and upper middle class crisis. More middle class white men received subprime loans than all minorities combined."


John Hope Bryant is an entrepreneur, thought leader, founder, chairman and CEO of Operation HOPE and Bryant Group Companies, Inc. Magazine/CEO READ bestselling business author of LOVE LEADERSHIP: The New Way to Lead in a Fear-Based World (Jossey-Bass), the sole African-American bestselling business author in America, and a Member of the U.S. President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability for President Barack Obama.

Testimonial from HOPE Leader, in a Banking on Our Future Inner-City Classroom

I was literally moved to tears this morning.

A young man at Paul Robeson High School in Brooklyn, approximately 15 years of age when asked what he expects out of life or what he sees himself becoming replied, “I don’t see nothing”.  “Ain’t nothing out here for me”.

It both saddens and motivates me at the same time.

Thanks for letting me share in HOPE.

 

 

From the Global Dignity Archives: The DIGNITY Song

 

This song was written, sung and produced specifically for GLOBAL DIGNITY.

 

BLAST FROM THE PAST: First cell phone a true 'brick'

updated 4/11/2005 6:55:44 PM ET

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"The brick" weighed 2 pounds, offered just a half-hour of talk time for every recharging and sold for $3,995.

Clunky and overpriced?

Not in 1984, when consumers lined up in droves to buy the first cellular phone as soon as it hit the market. And certainly not to Rudy Krolopp, lead designer of the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X.

Krolopp, now 74 and retired, still gets a "warm fuzzy feeling" thinking about the DynaTAC and knowing that "a handful of us did something that was really significant."

This brick took over a decade to get to market.

Krolopp was assigned the project by Martin Cooper, who ran Motorola's research and development effort in wireless and was ultimately dubbed the father of the cell phone by then-CEO Robert Galvin. Both Cooper's and Krolopp's names are on the original patent along with that of John Mitchell, former head of the company's communications division.

"Marty called me to his office one day in December 1972 and said, 'We've got to build a portable cell phone,'" Krolopp recalled. "And I said 'What the hell's a portable cell phone?'"

Read the complete story here.

 

From Gallup.Com: Fewer Feel Safe in Several Arab Spring Countries

Residents in Egypt, Bahrain, and Tunisia feel less safe now than they did before the uprisings in their countries. Egyptians feel the least secure, with less than half (47%) saying they feel safe walking alone at night in their communities.

Read more at GALLUP.com.