dr. anthony burrow

i'm not supposed to be here: the black man's reality?

i'm not supposed to be here: the black man's reality?

"I'm not supposed to be here"

I've been thinking about these words a lot lately. Recently, I've noticed this curious phrase (or something close to it) as it has been uttered by notable and extremely successful men. Three Black men, at the height of their careers: LeBron James, Jay-Z, and most recently Kevin Durant have all adopted this perspective. These men, who are essentially the best at what they do, have felt compelled to recognize the unique odds they've beaten en route to their achievements by saying, "I'm not supposed to be here". It's both rare and refreshing to hear successful people speak about themselves in the absence of entitlement.