The theme for Grambling State University’s Evening With Soledad O’Brien April 11, 2010 at 6:00 PM was “Pioneers Paving The Way For Tomorrow’s Leaders.” Mrs. O’Brien’s 45 minute speech began and ended quite graciously by her saying she didn’t feel like a pioneer, and that the real pioneers for change were in her student audience.
She spoke about persevering in the face of opposition, her coverage of the tsunami in Asia, the earthquake in Haiti and Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. She also spoke about diversity in the workplace and her transition from a pre-med student at Harvard to becoming a journalist with NBC and eventually CNN.
During the Question & Answer segment, many students asked questions about her career and for some advice on various issues. When Mrs. O’Brien was asked why she chose journalism, she answered by letting the audience know how important it is to love what you do, to do well where ever your passions lie and for her, telling stories was her passion.
When asked what disadvantaged Blacks who are seeking a premium “Ivy League education” should do, Soledad said that whatever it is that anybody wants to do, they have to be willing to work and work harder than others to obtain their goal. She asked “How badly do you want it?”
When it comes to opposition, the CNN reporter challenged the audience by asking if we cry about it or do we do something about it? She emphasized the importance of knowing what defines us and what does not define us, and the need to push forward by doing the very best we can do at whatever our job is in spite of the opposition.
When asked what she thought about President Obama’s job performance, she stated that she doesn’t believe in giving grades on such matters so early in the game and that for her, it’s better to look at the long term results of his legacy 5 to 10 years down the line.
She also said that the hardest part of her career has been bringing everybody to being considered equal without labels. She said “Different voices are more valuable to a company as a whole.” As far as the television coverage CNN offers when compared to Fox, she stated her belief that CNN is more straight down the middle than most.
And finally, when asked about the potential impact of the current Tea Party movement, Soledad O’Brien stated her belief to the GSU audience that the Tea Party movement is not as big as it might appear on television. In her opinion the great television coverage that the Tea Party movement has in the media is not matching the relatively small number of participants involved in that movement.
At the end of the evening’s event, the students, faculty and honored guests seemed very motivated, energized and thankful for Soledad O’Brien having graced their presence!
—The Fount
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