Black In Business

I am at the point in life where I can say with out doubt; college for most of us is worth the investment in time and money. I graduated from the University of Vermont in Burlington Vermont. In my first off campus housing I lived with 3 other brothers. Zack Ramsey, Arthur Newcome and Lawrence Only, 3 of us played football and Artie looked like actor Ryan O’Neal, of the Movie Super Fly fame. Our crib was a party palace. All of the blacks in this community were extended family and even the brothers in their late 30’s and early 40’s hung with us. We had fun but also learned from each other. If some one was screwing up too bad we would take each other to task. One semester we decided to focus on studies and the 4 of us averaged a 3.25 out of 4 GPA. It was an example of group dynamics used in a positive way.
Our landlord was an Italian gentleman with grown kids. He use come and get the rent on the first of the month. One month he sent 2 of his sons. They told us Dad only come here to get the rent so he could see all of the girls. My other 3 roommates were lady killers. Artie would walk across campus and the girls would hang out the window and yell super fly. Larry was 6 ft 3 with a huge afro and a gold tooth. Zack was so cool, when he had me drive to Montreal for a Stevie Wonder concert he had 3 dates. There was me Zack and he 3 dates. One cried all the way up and back because Zack never informed her that the date was for 4.
Zack and I were business partners and we did well. It was no problem for him to afford 3 dates. This pass weekend in Maryland Zack and I got together for the first time in 20 years. He is an economist and a director for state and local government Unions. He negotiates union contracts all over the US. I am very proud of him. Larry is a plant manager with IBM and Artie is a retired New York City detective. He collared a part of the Russian Mob. I never knew pretty boy Artie was such a bad ass.
Zach the player player now talked about his grand kids and his business. He looked good and happy.
The point is in college you can learn much more outside the classroom than inside. My roommates have all done well and this is in a society where black men are an endangered species. I have been on such a high over spending a short period with my roommate and brother after 20 years. Oh how things change, we both were rushed for time due to family obligations. In the old days it would have been a not stop party. My youngest son came with me to see Zack, he is 18. I was that age when Zack and I first met. Now we both have grey hair but also some great memories and a bright future thanks to going to college.