AT&T celebrates Black History Month with ‘Future Makers’ fireside chat series
16th March 2020 · 0 Comments
By Emeka Dibia
Contributing Writer
On February 27, at the corner of St. Charles Ave. and Martin Luther King Boulevard, just days after parades rolled by, a crowd of spectators gathered inside AT&T in anticipation of something more than beads, coconuts and doubloons.
Dream in Black, AT&T’s multi-city speaker series brought together an audience of individuals making positive change in their communities, for an intimate fireside discussion with famed rapper and entrepreneur Tip “T.I.” Harris, who was the featured speaker for the series’ stop in New Orleans.
“AT&T’s Dream in Black connects with the local community, especially around Black History Month,” said Michael Ruffin, regional director for AT&T Southeast Louisiana.
The intimate fireside chat series celebrates Black culture and the creators who shape it, and is hosted each year during Black History Month. The event aims to take a look at the world through a creative, afro-futuristic lens that is rooted in AT&T’s technology and entertainment.
Those in attendance were chosen through a social media contest using the hashtag #DreaminBlack along with a second hashtag specific to each of the participating cities – New Orleans, Chicago and Detroit. The contest required participants to tell how they are making history and empowering their communities.
“What’s important for us is [that] we engage key influencers who are nationally recognized who will be able to tell their story of how they ‘Dream in Black’ and support a community of budding entrepreneurs, business people and creatives alike,” Ruffin told The Louisiana Weekly.
The discussion was moderated by former middle school math teacher, now acclaimed rapper and New Orleans native Dee-1, who couldn’t contain his excitement to meet one of his rap idols, but nevertheless forged an interesting conversation with the mogul.
“This brother is a visionary, this brother came in the game on a mission, and stuck to his points, and never backed down y’all. This man opened doors for the South, he brought trap music to the mainstream, he just continues to evolve…which I’m so proud of,” Dee-1 said. “A brother who personally means a whole lot to me, as well as the city of New Orleans, and the country of the United States of America.“
Aside from T.I’s countless accolades in entertainment, including 10 hit albums, multiple Grammy’s, BET Billboard and American Music Awards as well as several blockbuster movies, Harris continues to manage a successful business empire. Throughout the night he dropped gems about the lessons that helped him get where he is today.
“The first person through the door takes the most bullets,” T.I said. “If you’re going to be the first to do something, if you’re going to kick a door down and bust in…expect to get hit the most. Everybody else behind you, [will] reap the benefits of the sacrifice that you made.
“You gotta be fearless if you really believe in yourself…and you really think what you got on your mind is valid. You gotta be fearless and move without fear,” T.I said.
Sharita Cenac, an attendee of the event and the founder and owner of Sharita’s World LLC, a live event and festival production company in New Orleans, says T.I.’s words hit close to home.
“I really admire and respect his authenticity; despite him being famous, his spirit and his words resonated with everyday people. He was down-to-earth and relatable,” Cenac said.
T.I. also expressed the importance of giving back.
“When you reach a certain level of success in life, there’s only so much you can do for yourself. You will not [be] remembered for the car you bought…or what kind of ring you had on,” T.I said. “They care about the things that those legends sacrificed of themselves for the sake of others.”
Each February, AT&T honors Black History Month with a Dream in Black Future Makers list – a celebration of creators who are paving the way in the Black community as they shape the now, the new and the next. Among the group of 2020 Future Makers is T.I., who was featured in New Orleans; Angela Simmons, who was featured in Detroit on February 24; and Wale, who was featured in Chicago on February 28.
“New Orleans is a city that breeds entrepreneurs through our culture, food, music and art. ‘Dream in Black’ is an event set to propel our dreamers even further toward their goals,” said Ruffin.
This article originally published in the March 16, 2020 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
