The day my mom left me at New Student Orientation, all of the freshman were herded to the gym and required to do an activity titled "Hype man." We were paired with other incoming freshman and instructed to hype up whatever they said. For an example, my partner could say "I like to wear flip flops" and I would go behind her saying "not only does she wear them, this wonderful woman OWNs those flip flops! No one wears flip flops like SHE wears flip flops!" I now appreciate that activity more than ever.On Tuesday February 16, 2016, I went to a “Feel the Bern” rally for presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders. I told myself that this year I would be more involved with politics and the things happening in our country. Being obedient to my goal, I figured the Bernie Sanders rally right here in the Atlanta University Center was the perfect opportunity.
It was encouraging to see that I wasn't the only person taking advantage of this opportunity. The lines were longer than the wait for the homecoming concert and they were filled with people of different races; from different schools and age groups. During the wait for Mr. Sanders, we were encouraged to put on our free t-shirts, sign up to volunteer for future campaigning, buy some concessions, and listen to the Morehouse band and DJ alternate between the oldest and latest hits. It felt like everyone in the room was bonding. It was great.
As the wait continued, we were all ready to Feel the 'Bern.' Preceding his arrival to the stage, Bernie Sander’s advocates came out to give their spiel. But it wasn’t until Killer Mike spoke that the spirit of unity filled the room and the gymnasium went from church during the reading of the scripture to church during praise and worship.
You may be wondering exactly what I was at that moment, “Who is Killer Mike?” Killer Mike "Michael Render" is a hip hop activist and artist from Atlanta, Ga. His activism focuses primarily on social equality, police brutality, and systematic racism. He uses his activism as a motivator for his music, addressing the issues in his songs. When Killer Mike spoke at Tuesday’s rally, he turned heads, lifted hands, and changed minds. It felt like church. I'm pretty sure I heard an Amen or two. Killer Mike took his time to explain why he chose to endorse Bernie Sanders. He was so genuine and transparent. The crowd sat, waiting for his next words like it was elementary school story time. He spoke with passion and belief. He tied in history, personal experiences and future dreams to support his assertion that "Bernie Sanders is a man for all of us." Mike wrapped up his sermon by charging us to vote because "if you give your vote, dammit it means something."
I am confident when I say that Killer Mike encouraged someone to vote that day and that the majority of them will be voting for Bernie Sanders. After his impactful speech, I was sold. Killer Mike set the mood for the remainder of the event. Of course I wanted to hear what Bernie Sanders had to say, but Killer Mike did about 90 percent of the convincing.
I once read that you are the average of the five people closest to you in your life. These people have a great impact on you, determining how you act and think, and ultimately determine how successful you can be. This can either be a very scary thought, or a reassuring one. If it scares you, I suggest a group reevaluation. People's elevation is often hindered strictly because of the fear to change their surroundings. We get so comfortable in mediocracy because that is all we have exposed ourselves to. We have also been conditioned to believe that all friends fall out and that their is a negative to every positive. I want to shed light and let you know that the people you surround yourself with should be motivators, teachers, and most of all supporters. You should surround yourself with people that celebrate you, even if what you are celebrating does not involve them.
What people say and how they say it has such a huge impact on other people's perceptions and opinions about that person. It is imparative to make sure you have good seeds on your team. Killer Mike was a perfect example. It is so common for us to wait until it is too late to tell people how they’ve impacted us. It is also common for us to keep people around just because it is comfortable. We wait until the funeral to give flowers or wait until we’ve already sunk to get rid of the shackle. In this very moment, what can people say about you? Who are the people speaking up for you while you are alive? Do you trust them to say great things about you? I guess my ultimate question is, Who is your hype man?
