#57- You Have To Be Delusional, feat. Jamal Richardson

In today's episode, Josiah brings on good friend and aspiring actor, Jamal Richardson. Hailing from the neighborhood of Oak Cliff in Dallas, Texas, Jamal has had to overcome a lot of trials to be where he is today, and this episode encapsulates his journey. Even at Howard University, Jamal's journey has been anything but easy, and in his first week at Howard, he nearly got canceled for saying something that the class and teacher didn't agree with. This set the tone for him that year, and this eventually led him down a different path in life.

During the pandemic, Jamal realized that he didn't want to be a Political Science Major anymore and that he wanted to pursue acting as a career, and although there has been much uncertainty for him after making this decision, Jamal has no regrets about changing his major and pursuing what has seemed impossible. That's where the title of this episode comes from, and when it comes to achieving your dreams and goals, there has to be a level of stubbornness about yourself that must be embodied. We over here at the Black Lotus agree with that philosophy wholeheartedly, and we know there is plenty of work that must be done to achieve our goals. If you want to hear motivation, this is the right episode for you. We appreciate the continued support of the podcast, it means the world to us. As long as you guys show love, we'll stay consistent, enjoy!

00:00 Intro

04:00 The Parenting Debate

08:01 First experience of Division

12:15 Different parent dynamics

19:00 Importance of two parents in the Black community

23:00 Understanding societal structures

30:18 Mentality when dealing with people

33:18 Growth mindset

35:45 Seeing red in an argument

38:19 Understanding women

43:29 You will never lose respect for speaking your truth

47:11 Lack of Male representation at Howard University

56:45 Read this book ASAP

59:30 What does killing black leaders do to the community?

1:02:14 Do political parties really support black people

1:08:10 Storytime

1:10:00 Stereotype central

1:16:20 Black-on-Black violence

1:17:18 New career path

1:22:00 Why Howard University

1:35:48 Dealing with hostile environments

1:39:45 perseverance when people tell you that you aren't good enough

1:43:00 Molding the next generation

1:50:40 dealing with haters

1:57:21 Always try to be the best you can be

2:04:00 self-esteem drives success

2:10:00 Closing