I am a bookworm, non-fiction genre. There must be a touch of reality for a book to grab my attention. None of that make believe stuff, and certainly no romance. I love reading memoirs from legends of the Civil Rights Era, especially stories about the obscure and lesser-known heroes. In addition, if one were to inventory my home bookshelves, they’d find an abundance of books on leadership principles, both personal and organizational. They’d find a variety of motivational publications, several on sports psychology, how the human mind thinks and solves problems. My wife often teases me for reading “self-help” books. Who knows, maybe I got issues?
Most of the books I read choose me, rather than the other way around. I say they choose me because I seldom shop bookstores searching for a specific title. Instead, I look for a title to jump out at me. I enjoy reading the back cover to see who endorses the work and why. Then the inside cover to learn more about the author and further insight on what to expect. I quickly turn to the table of contents to see if anything is unique. And then the publication date. I like current editions.
I do have a few favorite authors though. I am a big Daniel Pink fan. His books are thought provoking and intriguing. The same for Malcolm Gladwell and Dr. Eric Michael Dyson. Tracie McMillan is good, and so is Wayne Dyer. Jim Collins is good and so is Stephen Covey. And give me anything by the late great Toni Morrison! That’s just to name a few.
Recently I stumbled upon an inspiring book written by James Kerr. The title is: Legacy. What the All-Blacks can teach us about the business of life. All-Blacks in this book refers to the legendary New Zealand rugby team. But in the context of this article it has a double meaning, for I could not stop comparing the lessons from this book to the basic principles I’ve tried to pattern my lifelong work to as it relates to Black golf and our community leaders.
The lessons of the All-Blacks promote character, integrity, humility, and personal responsibility. Personal responsibility to your team and teammates. Do what you say you’re going to do, by when you say you’re going to do it. It teaches to be responsible family men. Be a role model of the highest character and integrity. That doesn’t mean be perfect. Nobody is. But conduct your life authentically. Be yourself, lead by example with honesty and humility. And above all, the All-Blacks are taught to ‘add to the legacy’!
I found add to the legacy to be such an intriguing concept. In fact, the more I think about my life and my work, all I’ve ever wanted to do was add to the legacy. Add to my family legacy. Add to the legacy of fatherhood. Add to the legacy of education. And add to the legacy of Black golf. The last one might catch a few people by surprise. So let me explain…
I have loved the game of golf since I was about twelve years old. As I grow older, I recognize that I love golf for many reasons. Yes, the usual stuff like the challenge, being outdoors, fresh air. All the normal stuff. But my golf origins at Pipe O’ Peace Golf Course gave me a deeper love of golf; specifically Black golf and what it does for people in our community.
The golfers and people I looked up to never told me to add to the legacy. But as I look back with fond memories, I see how they instilled the principles in me to do just that. For some reason they chose me, surrounded me with love and resources, and lifted me up. Not in words but through their examples. They showed me how to add to the legacy, and that has shaped my life. I never looked at it or perceived it that way until I read Legacy, the book.
So many pages in the book teach lessons applicable to today. One is to “hand down knowledge across generations.” That applies to family history, occupations, and hobbies. The author says: “Be a good ancestor! Be a custodian for the future, an architect of tomorrow, a Stewart of society.”
My elders told stories of the old United Golfers Association, the Black golf league that formed in 1925, nearly 100 years ago. They spoke to fallen legends like Teddy Rhodes, Bill Spiller, and others. There were countless living legends, at that time, who occasionally played Pipe O’ Peace. Legends like Renee Powell, Joe Louis, Althea Gibson, Ann Gregory, Pete Brown, James Black, and many, many more.
My personal mentor, back then, was Cliff Brown, another UGA legend. He made a point to share stories with me, and to introduce me to great contributors to our sport. I realize now that he did that to add to the legacy. I’m now aware that my reasons and motivations for golf are to do the same thing: Add to the Legacy!
That means to help introduce more people to the game. It means to help get more people jobs within the golf industry. Representation matters! And it means to help as many young, talented like-minded people add to the legacy in their own unique ways.
It warms my heart to see so many good things happening in our golfing community right now. From the magnanimous efforts of the Underrated and APGA Tour’s, the Southwest Showcase and I AM A Golfer, to smaller and lesser-known community sheroes and heroes, I commend you all, and ask that you continue to add to the legacy.
Our assignment is not just a light-hearted passion. It’s a duty!
