Daniel Jefferson is the founder of Black Brook roughly 19 years ago, which continues to function as Cranbrook's answer to a black alumni association He also served as a former Cranbrook African-American Awareness Association President.

Now a days, Daniel lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is an IT director at Charter Communications, specializing in database management. He also runs an entertainment business called Got Jokes.

He sits down with host Robert Li to talk about finding his place at Cranbrook, their shared experiences of finding and exploring identity on campus, and how Daniel learned to advocate for himself and others. 

Aim High is a production of Cranbrook Kingswood School and is produced by University FM.

Daniel Jefferson is the founder of Black Brook roughly 19 years ago, which continues to function as Cranbrook's answer to a black alumni association He also served as a former Cranbrook African-American Awareness Association President.

Nowadays, Daniel lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is an IT director at Charter Communications, specializing in database management. He also runs an entertainment business called Got Jokes.

motownpride@gmail.com

On learning to appreciate differences rather than trying to act like they don't exist

11:49 - When I talk about my Cranbrook experience, it evolved over time. You know, it was innocence, then anger, then some empathy, where I started to get better at understanding a little bit more of where we come to the middle, and my junior and senior years were probably the biggest for me because, living in the dorms, I eventually became head RA. I had conversations with people from all over the world; (12:34) I did a lot of listening, and then I realized the commonalities, and then my anger started to subside a bit. And then, it became more about understanding that there is power in being able to figure out what connects us, and even then, I had a stronger feeling of where diversity fits. Because it's not about saying that people are different, it's more so about appreciating differences than trying to act like they don't exist.

Opening Cranbrook’s door to more people of color

27:25 - One of the things that became very important to me, especially when talking to other students, and one of the reasons why I started Black Brook, is I wanted people of color who went through Cranbrook's door to feel like they had citizen ownership and that this was their place.

From uncertainties to building an effective community

29:05 - Building an effective community is to make sure that everybody has a voice. Under no situations, I felt like I didn't have control. I think the reason why I haven't done much after that is for those particular, is because they don't control me anymore. They don't defy me. There is something that I took, and I use it as power, and I use it to help people. So the outcome is great.