We live in an era where negative media stories dominate our headlines – leading many to believe that positive actions rarely exist. This is particularly the case when it comes to African-American males.
However, in reality, more African-Americans are enrolled in college than in any previous time period. According to CNN Money, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2014 – 70.9% of black high school graduates enrolled in college – in comparison to those numbers being 59.3% in 2013 and 41.9% in 1976.
According to the Journal Of Blacks In Higher Education, the 2008 Census Bureau statistics state that over 4.5 million African-Americans have earned at least a Bachelor’s degree (2,670,000 females/1,909,000 males). That number has continued to rise annually.
On course to add to that overall total is Louisville, KY native William Britt. The senior at Louisville’s Dupont Manual High School plays three different sports, averages a 3.4 G.P.A., and scored a 30 on his ACT. The highest possible ACT score is 36 and according to prepscholar.com the national ACT average score is 20.
Britt is enrolled in Dupont Manual’s M.S.T. (Math, Science & Technology) program and has been an excellent student since kindergarten. He is the starting quarterback for the school’s football team, which currently boasts an 8-2 record.
Britt juggles playing football, basketball and baseball for Manual, in addition to remaining committed and focused to his academic responsibilities.
“IT’S CHALLENGING AT TIMES, BUT YOU JUST HAVE TO SQUEEZE STUFF IN WHEN YOU CAN AND NOT GET TOO UPSET ABOUT LOSING A LITTLE SLEEP.” – WILLIAM BRITT
With a full sports and academic schedule, one would think that there wouldn’t be enough hours in each day for any additional activities. Not the case for Britt. He’s also managed to become a member of the Black Student Union, the Steering Committee, as well as fulfilling his duties as a Class Officer.
In his limited spare time, he enjoys hanging out with friends or just relaxing. Surprising for his age – Britt is very conscious about his image and always doing the right thing. He particularly uses this logic when it comes to social media.
“AS FAR AS SOCIAL MEDIA GOES AND AS FAR AS WHAT YOU POST, YOU JUST HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IF YOU CARE IF YOUR PARENTS SAW IT, YOUR FUTURE KIDS SAW THAT OR IF YOU’D BE EMBARRASSED BY IT. WE SEEN IT HAPPEN WITH DONALD TRUMP. HE HAS TO TAKE BACK STUFF HE SAID YEARS AGO THAT HE TWEETED, POSTED OR SAID IN AN INTERVIEW. SO YOU CAN’T LET ALL THAT INFORMATION THAT YOU SEE OUT THERE CHANGE YOUR JUDGEMENT OR AFFECT HOW YOU ACT.” – WILLIAM BRITT
Britt’s mother, Mary Britt, says that her son has been a forward thinker since he was a small child. She says that she recalls him making a list of potential colleges that he considered attending when he was in elementary school.
“IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HE WAS ALREADY MAKING A LIST OF SCHOOLS THAT HE THOUGHT HE MAY WANT TO ATTEND WHEN HE WAS ELIGIBLE TO GO TO COLLEGE AND ONCE HE STARTED PLAYING SPORTS, I REMEMBER HIM ASKING IF THERE HAD EVER BEEN ANYBODY THAT HAD GONE FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL, STRAIGHT TO THE PROS.” – MARY BRITT.
Britt’s seemingly perfect world faced some major adversity on May 17, 2016. Dupont Manual was playing a “make-up” baseball game, due to it previously being rained out, when Britt was struck in the eye with a 70 m.p.h. fastball pitch.
The baseball struck his face with so much force that he suffered an orbital fracture in his left cheek bone. He was rushed into immediate surgery and faced a 2-3 month recovery period.
His father, Grand Britt, said that his level of respect for his son grew immensely during his son’s recovery, after witnessing his courage, strength and resilience to reunite with the rest of his teammates to help them win a playoff game. Of course Britt was unable to physically play but that didn’t stop him from hanging out in the dugout and cheering his teammates on.
“AFTER HIS INJURY, WHICH THEY DID IMMEDIATE SURGERY ON HIM, AS THEY ROLLED HIM INTO THE EMERGENCY ROOM TO RELIEVE PRESSURE ON HIS EYE… THE WHOLE TIME HE NEVER CRIED OUT, HE NEVER SAID ‘WHY ME?’… HE WAS RESPECTFUL TO THE NURSES AND DOCTORS (YES MA’AM… NO SIR)… AND THIS WAS AN INJURY WHERE THEY WERE GIVING HIM MORPHINE – AND WITH THAT – HE ONLY ASKED FOR A DOSE ONCE. HE’S STRONG MENTALLY, HE’S STRONG PHYSICALLY AND HE SHOWED ME THAT HE WAS STRONG SPIRITUALLY.” – GRAND BRITT
Britt has already begun taking tours of different colleges and universities throughout the nation, in preparation of his collegiate career. The city of Louisville looks forward to him adding to its tradition of producing home-grown excellence.
Brad Harrison is a journalist/motivational speaker/entrepreneur and on-air personality. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications with cum laude honors from the University of Louisville. In October 2015, he started UrbanMaxx Magazine to provide positive role models for Urban residents that reside in at-risk-communities and lack positive leadership in their lives.
For booking or advertising – contact Brad Harrison at bradharrison@urbanmaxx.com