Educator uses The Breakfast Club to aid in Academic Success of Black Students
Challenges
Chris Sain Jr. an athlete turned educator who happens to love the Lord, hip hop, investing and entrepreneurship was able to avoid death and prison but nevertheless still faced many challenges as a young, black man in America. The message he and so many of his peers received growing up was that they'd be dead or in jail by by 25. So driven by those words and the low expectations others placed on his life, Chris brought back both a bachelors and Masters degree to the hood by the age of 24. Chris spent his childhood in prisons, the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) visiting his older brother and knew early on he would not end up their despite what the media and data suggested when it came to young, black inner-city kids.
What Chris deemed as an unsuccessful athletic career, the former Division I athlete would not accept failure, nor defeat and instead dedicated his life to helping others; Young Black Men to be specific. If you talk to anyone in education, those that actually know him and his work, they deem Chris as a rockstar, especially the students he mentors and pours into on a regular. A colleague said it best, "Chris has a presence! Not everyone in education has a presence. In fact, very few have presence. He has that "It-Factor" that quality you cannot teach.
The Breakfast Club
As a first generation student and as a student-athlete, Chris remembers vividly not having anyone that looked like him in education to talk to about his personal challenges and academic challenges as a student. After failing to make it as a professional athlete (NFL) he vowed to work in education to be to other students, especially the few black students that are enrolled in college, what he wish he had when he was in school. "I understand that for most black students, I am the most consistent black man many of them have ever seen" said Chris. He fills a void that absent fathers created. He is part mentor, big brother, coach and father-figure to the majority of the young men he serves. He does not accept students being mediocre in anything, especially the classroom nor does he accept excuses. "Everything bad they've gone through, every challenge they have, I had too. Be great or go home!!!" says Chris. He sets the bar extremely high for his students, especially the ones he mentors and demand that they exceed his expectations.
Chris admits that sometimes being the only person of color or one of few people of color in education can be challenging some days. At times he feels he is looked at by his colleagues to represent the "entire black population" and other times he feels he needs a clone, someone else, other images of black excellence that can inspire and motivate students the way he can. Unable to shake away from students, Chris has embraced that wherever he is present, so will students be, which is why years ago he started making his students watch The Breakfast Club. "For me, I needed them (students) to see other images and examples of success. I am like LeBron James or Step Curry or Lil Wayne, Jay-Z or Nas to students. Black students are often times so happy to be connected to someone positive, that actually looks like them, that, although rewarding, it can be very draining. "When young black men can see themselves in you or who they can aspire to be in you, its very motivating for them and they become relentless and draw to you even more," says Chris.
Chris is aware that the world is filled with tons of successful people, successful black people as well. He co-founded Grand C.I.T.Y. Sports, Inc. a 501c(3) nonprofit organization geared toward youth that focuses on education and sports and is also a founding member of Alpha Beta Omega (ABO) which is a leadership development program aimed at students of color attending community college. As a entrepreneur and community leader, he is highly visible in the community. Through his many relationships, he is able to not only help black men academically but he helps them with gainful employment and the ability to provide for themselves as well. A few years ago now, he turned his students on to The Breakfast Club where they can see, Charlamagne Tha God, Angela Yee and DJ Envy, three examples of success everyday and more times than not, they are going to interview another successful black person, whether an artist, actor, scholar or entertainer which helps students begin to see the possibilities that exist as well as hopefully themselves in similar positions one day.
Chris uses the segments and the guest who appear on The Breakfast Club as an opportunity to allow students to critically think and breakdown things discussed on the nationally syndicated morning radio show. "It is important to understand what motivates young men. A lot of things discussed on the morning show resonates with young people and its even more powerful when they hear and see their favorite artist, athlete or actor sharing valuable advice" says Chris. There are many challenges for people of color in education, Chris is thankful that at least one show exist that features three successful people of color that can also serve as motivation to black students. He is grateful for The Breakfast Club and the entire crew and each of their individual stories of success that serves as inspiration to countless people all over the world.
Chris Sain Jr. is Founder & CEO of Chris Inc., a best-selling author and a renowned motivational speaker. Check out his latest book Finding Real Love in the Love & Hip Hop Era.
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