As I have grown older, I realize that success should not be a measurement based on the accumulation of material objects or a particular station in the world of business. Rather, my success is determined by the value I add to the lives of family & friends, the servant-leadership I provide to the community, and the quality of life I help provide for my family.

Humility. The act of possessing a modest opinion of one’s importance, understanding the complex context of life, and respecting the reality that other individuals may be better at some things than you. Gentlemen, please don’t be mislead by the boisterous musings of silly folk; so enamored by their own greatness that they cannot recognize their own shortcomings. Sometimes a man must recognize his faults and limitations. There is no shame in that. One must understand that embracing humility does not make a gentleman weak, actually, humility strengthens you. It keeps you grounded. It keeps you focused – on the important things in life.

It is brazen arrogance that renders a gentleman vulnerable. Trust this: Keep living and life will eventually happen to you. And life can be the greatest administrator of humility. Recognize your position in life, and even if your station ranks well above others, discipline yourself in humility, as the folly of vanity can ultimately become your undoing. You don’t want to discover this bit of wisdom the hard way, but I am sure that you won’t. Maintain the standard my friends; catch you later.

Wisdom is not always indicative of age. Wisdom is forged through years of procuring knowledge and understanding how to utilize it accordingly. If you have gleaned nothing purposeful over years of living life; you are no wiser in your advanced years compared to your earlier ones.

“We cannot have perfection. We have few saints. But we must have honest men or we die. We must have unselfish, far-seeing leadership or we fail.”

– W.E.B. DuBois

These words were spoken so many decades ago. Nevertheless, these wise words ring with an unmistakable truth and resounding clarity today. Because, unfortunately in these turbulent times, the scarcity of leadership is at once hopelessly disappointing and terribly frightening. At its core, leadership demands honest, decisive action in the service and best interests of a people. The naked, bombastic machismo we witness today – delivered with unflinching dishonest selfishness – fosters a maddening, toxic environment with aimless direction. Today, we stand shakily on the precipice of outright moral anarchy. To be sure, the fallibility of man is an unavoidable consequence of being human. No one can escape being marked with some form of moral blemish. Nevertheless, conscientious ignorance emboldened with manipulative deceit is an enthusiastic embrace of corruption. Leadership begs transparent forthrightness based upon principles and honesty. A leader comprehends and differentiates between right and wrong. His actions are guided by truth, justice, integrity, empathy, and humility. A leader empowers others. A leader communicates clearly and directly. A leader practices gratitude. Certainly we need more leaders today. Time to step up.

Many, many years ago during the maturation of my personal style, Sperry became my preferred shoe brand for warm weather, as boat shoes became progressively heavy in my shoe rotation. Stylish, very comfortable, and available in a myriad of playful hues; Sperry offered great diversity that complemented my wardrobe. To be honest, I never thought about wearing Sperry shoes beyond the summer months. And I never imagined any other Sperry selection beyond my boat shoes. So when presented with an opportunity to choose a pair from Sperry’s collection for review, I decided to select a boot. Given the cold weather on the horizon, it was the perfect time to test some Sperry boots here in Michigan.

The pair I selected is but one of many choices from a special curated, must-have collection of Sperry favorites from none other than John Legend. The awarding winning (Grammy, Emmy, Oscar, Tony), multi-platinum artist, and now 2020 Sperry Global Ambassador John Legend – yes him. It is very ironic that I selected a pair of Sperry boots from his collection of curated favorites. Perhaps we share the same refined taste in style. Okay – I’m wildly speculating here. Nevertheless, the Sperry Lug Chukka was soon express shipped to me for examination and opinion. First impressions right out the box: These boots appeared more than ready to handle the increasingly chilly terrain of Michigan. So, without further delay, lets dive into the intimate details of the Sperry Lug Chukka.

Specifications

• Waterproof leather uppers
• Handsewn moccasin construction with a fully impermeable protective layer for dryness in any condition
• EVA cushioning
• Non-marking rubber lug outsole with molded Wave-Siping™ provides no-slip traction

Sperry boasts a proprietary line of shoe technology branded Techwave. Touted as a fleet of technology for your feet, it encompasses the following components: Plushwave, Rainwave, Stormwave, and Icewave. The Original Lug Chukka is equipped with Stormwave – meaning it promises a no-slip grip, thermal lining, and waterproofing. The lug chukka itself conveys an old-school, tough aesthetic that aims squarely for rugged good looks. The chukka sports 6 traditional punched eyelets with metal grommets (Sperry engraved on each) for added reinforcement. There are two metal hook eyelets at the very top for secure fastening. Four metal eyelets are also horizontally positioned on each side with the signature squared Sperry shoelaces threaded through each hole.

Now, I would not describe the boot as lightweight, but it definitely isn’t heavy as well. The hard rubber sole is relatively thick with a moderate tread that should stomp through snow and handle slippery terrain fairly well. Stitched inside the leather upper is a warm, flannel-like material that covers all of the inside. Warning: Thick socks may make for a tight fit, so a gentleman may want to choose the appropriate hosiery wisely. The layered, protective cloth covering (in a red/black check pattern) is stitched on top of the insole to shield against moisture and water. Regarding exterior waterproofing, the outer seams and stitching appeared clean and tight. The Original Lug Chukka is a relatively comfortable boot with handsewn moccasin construction. However, I must reiterate, a thick sock may make the boot unpleasantly constrictive. The waterproof leather upper is sufficiently supple and soft. The amaretto color (a burgundy-brown hue) responds well to a good polish.

Pro

• Robust design with thick rubber sole that should handle snow and slush sufficiently
• Supple and soft leather that readily absorbs quality polish
• Handsome design constructed for rugged outdoor commutes
• Comfortable fit and feel that does not require breaking in; springy, removable insert for added comfort

Con

• The flannel-like cloth lining inside the boot may cause a tighter than expected fit if worn with thick socks
• Squared shoe laces sometimes have the habit of frequently becoming untied
• Strictly constructed for casual environments, this chukka cannot perform double duty and migrate into the boardroom

The Sperry Original Lug Chukka is designed for the gentleman that favors a rugged, outdoorsy aesthetic. To be sure, this boot certainly has a casual feel and is not built for purposes of a boardroom. This chukka should be paired with denim jeans, khaki pants, and corduroy slacks. The lug chukka is competitively priced at $149.95 along with other boots within the same market. The Gentlemen’s Standard considers this a great investment for a quality, everyday boot when faced with cold temperatures and moderate snow.

For more information, please visit SPERRY for details. For specific ordering details about the Original Lug Chukka, please visit HERE.

My fellow black Americans, please stop grading blackness as if it is a badge of honor to determine whose ancestral lineage experienced the most inhumane suffering. To be sure, trust, there aren’t any trophies for whose black pain is the greatest and most traumatic.

Stubbornly, I awkwardly stumbled my way down the driveway to my Ford Fusion and plopped down in the driver’s seat. I placed the key in the ignition to start the engine, shifted into reverse, looked over my right shoulder to confirm clearance – nothing. I looked over my left shoulder – nothing. I shifted the car back into park, removed my keys from the ignition, stumbled to my porch bench and sat there defeated. Nothing. As I had previously peered over my shoulders to perform the ritual of ensuring clearance of stray objects or pedestrians, the nothingness wasn’t the absence of things I may run over, rather it was my vision. I could not clearly make out anything. And so, I sat on my porch bench, defeated, and phoned my wife inside the house to verify if she was going to pick up our son from school. Stubbornly, I was trying to perform the role of Superman, but I failed.

My health issues started the day before on August 2, 2020. I remember that day because I was driving to the polls to vote. As I made a left turn on Evergreen Road, I noticed my vision momentarily blurred as I entered the turn. As I made a mental note of the occurrence, I figured it perhaps a consequence of motion sickness as I sometimes suffer from time to time. However, this time was different because I was the driver and not the passenger. I noted the strange occurrence and continued on to vote with no problems. However, later that evening, I suffered a dizzy spell as I was bringing dinner to the table for the kids. It stopped me dead in my tracks and I had to find my bearings.

I’ve had momentary dizziness in the past, so I really did not dedicate any focus to the matter – not wise. The next morning I was struggling to read work e-mails – really, really struggling. A coworker suggested I just take the day off. I did, but my condition began to worsen. I began to seriously worry, so I immediately contacted my physician and scheduled an appointment. My sister-in-law drove me to the office. I stumbled across the parking lot to the building. I got lost in the hallway because I could not read the signage on the doors. I found myself desperately clinging to the walls in an attempt to read the signage to figure out where the doctor’s office was located. I was eventually successful. After an examination; the preliminary diagnosis was vertigo. My blood pressure was also elevated. I had a bout of vertigo approximately three years ago, but it was not THIS bad.

I was prescribed meclizine and provided some exercises to perform to assuage the symptoms. What followed was a weekend of dizziness, nausea, sweats, and vomiting. Honest to God, in 44 years I have never experienced any traumatic health events. I barely get a cold. So when collapsed onto the bed drenched in sweat after throwing up in the bathroom; I am sure I scared the crap out of my wife. She wanted to take me to the ER. I was so fatigued, all I wanted to do was lay there curled up in a fetal position. I was miserable. Every instance that required me to look object to object, it felt like someone shook the living hell out of me.

My vision was seriously scrambled. I could not interact with my children for nearly over a week. My daughter asked my wife if I was blind. If you know how I feel about my role as a father; you will know that I was devastated. I sincerely pride myself on being an active participant in my children’s lives. I could no longer pick up my son from school and listen to the GAP Band in the car. I had started cooking with the kids and jamming to old school R&B music; that was no more. I struggled as I prepared them for showers and bedtime. I could barely help with homework. I could not go to the grocery store and restock shelves with the kid’s favorite foods.

Hell, my once immaculate lawn was overgrown and developing brown spots because I could not provide it the proper attention. My wife eventually asked the young man next door to mow our lawn. I began to feel utterly useless and burdensome to those around me. I had to be driven to doctor appointments. I began to order groceries online just to feel like a contributor to the household. Many days I just stared at the ceiling because it was a blank continuous image that didn’t move. Solitude was the only thing that offered quiet comfort. I probably cried a little every other day. Frustration. Worry. Anxiety. My mind was constantly racing. Diabetes? Brain tumor? Stroke? Early onset of multiple sclerosis? I had to get an MRI.

Now, my condition started early August. With the medication, my primary care physician advised my vertigo would resolve itself within a week. My eye doctor concluded I had good eye health. It was now the end of August. The nausea, dizziness, sweats, and vomiting disappeared. However, my vision was still distorted. By this time I began to see double. I remember exactly the moment it happened. Strange how weird events become memorable. One day, I looked across the room at my wife and saw two of her. I blinked a few times. Nothing. Everything was double. What was going on inside my head? I was filled with trepidation before I went sleep. What if I check out before I wake? I privately told my next oldest brother to make sure they have a good male role model in him if things went sideways with me. Slyly, I asked what was his shoe size. I lied and said I found some shoes on sale for him. In reality, I was planning on leaving all my shoes and neckties to him. I was overreacting for sure. But the unknown was frightening me and the doctors were not offering anything conclusive after a battery of tests and bloodwork. My mind was wandering.

It was now September. I had began to wear an eye patch just to see one image. My kids began to call me a pirate, referred to me as “matey”, and asked about buried treasure. That made me smile. My Webex calls at work were a little embarrassing. I show up one day looking like Nick Fury and you know everyone is burning to ask what the hell happened. Fast-forward, my MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) results revealed nothing problematic. I didn’t have a stroke, brain tumor, diabetes, or early onset multiple sclerosis. Both my primary care physician and eye doctor were still stumped. Now it was off to see a neuro ophthalmologist. I swear have never had my eyes poked and prodded in my life. And we’re in the middle of a pandemic no less! He could not pinpoint the problem either. He was confident the issue would eventually resolve itself in another month or so. Until then, it was time to schedule an MRA (magnetic resonance angiography) to rule out one last possibility – aneurysm. However, that appointment was canceled as the insurance provider reviews whether an MRA is “medically necessary” for my condition. That is another story.

By now, I had concluded that life as Nick Fury was the way it had to be for the foreseeable future. The young man next door attempted to mow my lawn again. I heard the mower outside, grabbed my eye patch, and ran outside to stop him. I graciously thanked him, but I needed to feel useful – even with one eye. Slowly I was able to interact with the kids again – helping with homework definitely improved. I gave my son a haircut and didn’t butcher it. Defiantly, I emptied a large duffle bag and walked to the grocery store to shop. Thankfully no one called the cops on the suspicious black guy with an eye patch loading groceries into a duffle bag in the parking lot. My sister-in-law gave me a lift when she spotted me trudging home (damn I made that bag too heavy) as she happened to fortuitously drive by me on the road. This was all an attempt to reclaim some sense of usefulness. I am not a man that vainly attempts to be macho, but I do have pride.

It is now the middle of October, and my vision is slowly starting to correct itself. I have never experienced any serious health issues in all of my 44 years on Earth. As with any tribulation, I attempt to glean some wisdom and thankfulness from the experience. I am thankful I am able to work remote during a pandemic that has taken so much from so many. I am so thankful I have a network of family and friends for support. Tuwanda, my old high school/college friend that messaged me vertigo exercises on Facebook to get my head straight. Michael, my brother that checks on me weekly to see how I am progressing. Reverend Mack, my pastor that called me each week to pray for healing. Brandi, my sister-in-law that drove me to my doctor’s appointments and helped with childcare. Stephanie, my wife that has held down the household and more while I have been out of full commission. My mom, my coworkers, close friends, and even social media friends that I’ve never met face to face; your prayers and well wishes are so greatly appreciated. I constantly think of those people that have neither the network of family/friends or the financial means to survive an unsuspected life event. I feel extremely blessed. And I have learned that it is okay to be mortal and lean on others in times of adversity. There is no shame with being human. Focus on the good things, live, and enjoy life.

The choice should not be between principled enforcement of law & order and the righteous outcry for social justice. In a rational, civil society; both can be achieved concurrently.

It has been quite a long time since I owned a pair of Hush Puppies footwear. Decades ago, looking for an appropriate shoe for the office, I purchased a pair at a local DSW. A dark brown cap toe blucher, it immediately became my preferred business casual shoe for work and social settings. Extremely comfortable, I thoroughly ran those poor shoes into the ground. They did, however, provide many years of incredible service until we had to go our separate ways. I desperately searched for another pair that was similar in style, but my attempts were unsuccessful. Thereafter, admittedly, the Hush Puppies brand quietly dropped from my radar over the years. And then, approximately a month ago, I was offered the opportunity to reunite with the brand and review one of their newest arrivals – the Bennet.

Like other contemporary shoe brands nowadays, Hush Puppies are offering a selection of dress/sneaker hybrids for the consumer. The Bennet combines dressier aesthetics of a standard dress shoe (particularly the upper) with the sole of an athletic sneaker. The Bennet is touted as comfortable footwear that offers stretch, flexibility, and all day wear. Generally I would photograph the shoe myself and capture as much detail as possible for the reader. However, over the past month or so, I am in the middle of a health event that has rendered me down to essentially one eye. I am learning to adjust, but it is challenging. Nevertheless, please check out my findings below and decide if the Bennet is a shoe that can be incorporated into your lifestyle.

Specifications

• Bounce™ technology footbed provides energy rebound with every step and retains its cushioning for all-day comfort. With this technology, every shoe retains 97% of its footbed cushioning after 250,000 steps
• Soft, five-pod outsole provides superior underfoot support and cushioning
• Made with fewer irritating seams
• Flexible outer cage locks in its five-pod outsole for all-day stability

Pros

• While not designed for the corporate boardroom, the Bennet Wingtip is perfectly suited for casual terrain in the office. Office life can be quite sedentary, so the occasional walk around the building can be beneficial to a gentleman’s health. The Bennet eliminates the need to switch from traditional dress shoes to sneakers – thus removing the requirement of buying two separate pairs of footwear.
• The Bennet is lightweight and flexible. The footbed is very springy, soft and pliable. However, there is a raised piece of material near the heal – oval in shape – that while not painful, it is a little distracting when walking.
• Retailing at $139.95, the Bennet is a very affordable option for a gentleman that needs a business casual shoe, but also wants to stay relatively active in office with intermittent walks.
• The Bennet presents a sturdy feel, and historically speaking, the Hush Puppies brand generally constructs shoes that display good longevity.

Cons

• As previously mentioned above, this shoe is not designed for wear in the corporate environment, as its presentation is quite casual in appearance. The fashion forward aesthetic may be unappealing for some gentlemen.
• Specifications of the Bennet indicate it is crafted with full grain leather, however, the look and feel leans more toward genuine leather. The feel is lower than what a gentleman is accustomed to with high-end footwear makers. The Bennet’s flexibility may render it vulnerable to increased creasing, as I was able to discern a few wrinkles after initial usage.

The Bennet is designed for the health conscious gentleman that works in a business casual environment and likes to walk around the office. The Bennet is also suitable for casual, social settings. It offers comfort with a fashion forward design, and is heartily constructed with a hard, foamy sole for continuous wear. The sole is definitely reminiscent of a sneaker. The Bennet has a stretchy sheath of material that is stitched inside the upper that is unique, but definitely pushes the Bennet into casual territory. The shoe laces are really thick so lacing is not an issue. The Bennet offers increased flexibility, so it may be susceptible to considerable creasing. Retailing at $139.95, the Bennet is offered in three styles: plain toe slip-on, plain toe, and wingtip. Please visit HUSH PUPPIES for more information.

The current national climate of uncertainty has undoubtedly reinforced an absolute certainty; power openly divulges intimate details of an individual’s character through a stark magnification of personal attributes. Power is influence and authority. Power absent good ethics and accountability will most certainly lead to unfortunate, perhaps even dangerous consequences. Furnished with said power; how does a man commence to abuse it? The answer begs an exploration of a man’s origins. What becomes of a child not reared to become a man?

Skillfully schooled to subjugate by a superficial sense of superiority and supremacy; relieved of responsibility and rectitude. Insulated from individual ineptitude and inadequacy; absolved of arrogance and amorality. Deprived of necessary growth and development opportunities, this child physically matures as an adult but lacks the emotional and mental intelligence to function as one. Mock manhood molded in magnificent mediocrity and manufactured masculinity. What becomes of a child not reared to become a man, yet now is imbued with power?

What stands is a man that abdicates any modicum of morality, decency, responsibility, and empathy. He consistently constructs imaginary slights as motivation to humiliate and demean individuals. He accumulates and consolidates power for selfish benefit and gain. Yet shrouded beneath a flimsy veneer of authority is a gross overestimation of ability and overcompensation of might to mask his own deficiencies. Isolated within a self-imposed power vacuum, he gradually suffocates from the lack of respect, love, and confidence. Thrashing about, starved of those key human necessities, he hurts people either directly or indirectly.

And so I say to the audience, to those of us still grounded with integrity, righteousness and dignity: We must use our platform, our voice, our power to speak against such dangers to society. Such naked displays of corrupt power must be fervently opposed and defeated –  for our collective humanity demands it. It cries out for it. Corrupt power cannot be rewarded with indifference or silence because that is tantamount to complicity. Do not be complicit in your society’s demise. I implore you to embrace the mantle of righteous leadership in a time where there are far too many voids. Righteous leadership begs the ability to appeal to the intelligence, emotion and resolve of people – absent manipulative agitation and fear. So, what becomes of a child properly reared through adolescence to adulthood? Hopefully, they become the person I am speaking to now. Rise up!