‘Real talk’

Tuesday was Grambling State’s annual Constitution Day convocation, and a mysterious guest speaker embraced the campus with words of wisdom and motivation.

Dr. Brown disguised himself as a street thug lookalike, lurking through the aisles of T.H. Harris Auditorium trying to find a place to sit. 

In the beginning many people thought he was just lost, but in the end he transformed himself into a better human being, just to say “you should never judge a book by its cover.”   

KEION HAYES/The Gramblinite
Dr. Adolph Brown, the Constitution Day convocation speaker, as he first appeared (top) and after his unveiling.

Dr. Brown blends humorous stories with truisms or “REAL TALK” and research to challenge his audience to live and work more positively. 

Dr. Brown also interacted with GSU student Daryl Riley, calling the Monroe native up on stage. Towering over Dr. Brown, Riley, who is 6-foot-6 and 315 pounds, was asked to state his name. As he spoke into the mic, the crowd gasped at how deep Riley’s voice was, as did Dr. Brown, humorously. 

The speaker’s words were well received by students.

“Dr. Brown’s overall message was informative, from marriage to the way one should present themselves in a professional way,” said Donald Carral, a junior from Baton Rouge.

Dr. Brown gave important life lessons such as “spouses should hold each other to high standards in their relationship.” 

Also in his presentation, Dr. Brown gave an example of how his marriage ring represented a sex symbol and that a sex symbol does not always have to be inappropriate.

Lea Bryant, a senior from Gilbert, Arizona, said Dr. Brown had some valuable, quotable wisdom that stuck with her as she left the convocation. 

She said her favorites were “Leadership is the most powerful 10 letter word used in the urban dictionary” and “Don’t kill the seeds before they have an opportunity to grow.”