New organization features 'top 10 percent' of WSSU male students

The Talented Tenth, a new male organization comprised of student leaders, inducted its first class: The 13 Cornerstones of Talented Tenth. The event took place Oct. 7 in the Thompson Center.

The Genesis class members are James Cherry; Delante Hatchett; Dejon Holland; Jonathan Jackson; Joshua Lockhart; Anthony Travis McGhee; Derwin Montgomery; Brandon Murphy; Brandon Murray; Shaun Trotter; Bradley Williams; Kevin Wilson; and, Theophilus Linwood Woodley.

The "Tenth" refers to the top 10 percent of the talented males on campus. 

The Talented Tenth's mission is to mentor, interact and guide their fellow male peers. 

"It's a gateway for the improvement of the male figure in the Black community," said  Trotter, senior, exercise science major.

 "We want to embody the positive characteristics of the male leaders that have come before us."

The Associate Director of Student Activities Steve Stephens had the idea to form a talented tenth group while he was working at Coppin State in Baltimore.   "It is a combination of brotherhood and mentoring in order to reach out to Black males to keep them in school," Stephens said. 

"It also sparked from a brother-to-brother session we had at a civility conference. This was my solution to some of the issues that were raised in the session."

Stephens hand selected the members based on their criteria of organization involvement, GPA, leadership development and student testimony. 

"The intent was to get the best gentlemen on campus no matter where they came from," Stephens said. 

"I did want to get guys who had ties to other organizations." 

 T-ten members represent a host of organizations including Black Men for Change; SGA; Real Men Teach; Royal Court; Ram football; and Greek letter organizations. 

Part of T-ten's mission is for each member to mentor two males. The mentor's role is to groom his mentee to take his place in the organization. 

Clayton Williams, junior, music education major, is a mentee to  Lockhart. 

"I would like to be in the Talented Tenth next year," Clayton Williams said.   "I think they will have a large impact on the campus. These males are influencing people, and they don't even know it. 

"They are focused, and you actually see them doing things on campus. I hope that the brotherhood can raise the bar and set a new standard, leading by example, because black males need more positive role models to look to."

 Trotter said that men at WSSU need a push and inspiration.

 "I can remember looking up to the juniors and seniors, when I was a freshman, so I understand the benefits of having someone to look up to.  I want to be that for others," Trotter said.

The organization will have an informational open to all males next year.