Giana Froio
Staff Writer
The National Society of Leadership and Success in collaboration with the University of La Verne Black Student Union and Black Student Services hosted a Black Voices Broadcast Tuesday.
The broadcast featured Jamie Foxx.
The NSLS puts on yearly broadcasts with prominent public figures to share personal stories of leadership and success.
Students are given the opportunity to ask questions through pre-recorded video clips and comment through live tweets that are shown on the broadcast.
Past presenters include Jack Black and Terry Crews, and former U.S. Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.
The event started at 5:30 p.m. “Say My Name” by Destiny’s Child played while students made their way into the La Fetra Lecture Hall.
Naakoshi Imhotep, a senior legal studies major and NSLS chapter president gave a short welcome speech and encouraged the crowd to grab a snack before the broadcast started.
The broadcast began at 6 pm. and ran until 6:40 p.m.
Nina Foyabo, a junior sociology major, was invited to join the NSLS and has been an active member since April.
“I didn’t think my presence was known for advocating,” Foyabo said.
Foyabo spent her first two years at the University advocating for the safety of disabled students, especially those living on campus during natural disasters.
Fox talked about his grandmother.
“She never wanted me to limit myself,” Foxx said.
This is a sentiment that Foyabo took to heart.
“I know what I’m capable of and not capable of, with that mentality sometimes I do not try new things,” Foyabo said.
With the help of Foxx’s words, she intends to find new solutions for things she believes she cannot do.
“Trust in yourself, shut out all the chatter,” Foxx advised NSLS members watching from home.
Midway through the broadcast, the host introduced a segment called “Out Foxx Jamie Foxx.”
The segment was used to surprise Amadi White, a student at Spelman College, with the chance to speak directly to Foxx and win scholarship money.
Following the introduction, Foxx was presented with six movie posters and had to guess if the film was real or fake. For every correct answer, White received $250. Foxx answered all correctly, earning White $1,500.
Formerly the Vice President, Imhotep was appointed President during the Fall 2022 semester.
As President, Imhotep has been working to establish a better on-campus presence for the NSLS. Under her leadership, the NSLS organized information booths during club fairs on campus.
They have also started hosting social events as of last semester and are trying to gain traction with the student body.
“I liked his discussion on public speaking,” Imhotep said. “Especially because he is a comedian, so he really knows everything that goes into it.”
“Know it so well so you’ll never blow it,” Foxx said. He gave a comparison to being asked your own name.
“You can say your name even if there was a gun to your head.”
He told viewers that if they are as confident in their speaking as they are saying their own name, there is no chance that they can become confused and no reason to be nervous.
“There is nothing on the other side of fear,” Foxx said.
Junior information technology major and NSLS I.T. coordinator Sakara Anderson spoke on Foxx’s advice on internet trolls and bullies.
“Ignore the haters and do what you love,” Anderson said. “At the end of the day, you’re not focusing on the haters you’re focusing on yourself, so just live your life.”
Giana Froio can be at giana.froio@laverne.edu.
