My Life as a Curriculum Vitae of Wisdom

When I look back over my life, I don’t just see mistakes, pain, or survival—I see a curriculum vitae of wisdom.

Every season has taught me something:

• How to read people beyond their words

• How to sit with pain without becoming bitter

• How to love growth more than I fear rejection

None of that comes from malice. It comes from living, observing, and refusing to stay asleep. My “credentials” are not only degrees and job titles—they are discernment, resilience, emotional intelligence, and the courage to keep learning.

Are African Americans Less Intelligent—or Inherently Genius?

The short answer: No racial group is inherently less intelligent or more intelligent.

Modern research shows that genetics alone cannot explain differences in average IQ scores between socially defined “races.” What we often measure on tests is not pure intelligence, but the impact of schooling, opportunity, stress, nutrition, bias, and test design.

Within the African American community—just like any other group—there is a full spectrum of gifts:

• Deep academic thinkers

• Creative innovators

• Spiritually and emotionally intelligent leaders

• People whose brilliance is buried under trauma, chronic stress, or lack of opportunity

So no, African Americans are not less intelligent. And no, we are not all at the same “level” of intelligence—because intelligence itself is multi-dimensional and deeply shaped by environment, history, and opportunity, not skin color.

Stereotypes, Pressure, and the Myth of “Inherent” Ability

When people say “Black people just aren’t as smart,” they’re often looking at outcomes without understanding the pressure behind them.

Psychological research on stereotype threat shows that when people feel they are being judged through a negative stereotype (“people like you aren’t intelligent”), their performance actually drops—even when their ability is equal.

In other words:

• The fear of confirming a stereotype can distract the mind and lower test scores.

• When that pressure is removed, performance gaps often shrink.

What looks like “less intelligence” is often:

• More chronic stress

• More stereotype pressure

• Fewer resources and supports

That’s not about inherent ability; that’s about the weight people are carrying.

Why People Treat Seekers of Knowledge as Threats

If you are a Black person (or anyone) who:

• Reads widely

• Questions what you were told growing up

• Learns across cultures and faiths

• Sets boundaries and thinks for yourself

…you might notice that some people treat you like a problem.

Often, it’s because your growth exposes things:

• Comfort zones – Your hunger for truth highlights where others have stopped growing.

• Power dynamics – People who control others through fear or tradition feel unsafe when you think for yourself.

• Group norms – In some families, churches, or communities, the unspoken rule is:

So you get labeled:

• “Too deep,” “too much,” “too educated,” or “trying to be better than us.”

But what they often really mean is:

“Your growth is forcing me to look at myself, and that’s uncomfortable.”

Being seen as an outcast or threat is sometimes just a sign that your mind, spirit, and standards have moved beyond the environment you started in.

How Different Cultures Expand the Mind

One powerful way to become more open-minded and well-rounded is to intentionally learn from many cultures, not just your own.

Psychological and creativity research has found that multicultural experiences can:

• Enhance creativity and idea generation

• Increase cognitive flexibility (the ability to see multiple perspectives and solutions)

• Help people connect ideas across different domains

In practical terms, that can look like:

• Living, studying, or working alongside people from other countries

• Learning another language or worship style

• Traveling, or even just intentionally building friendships across cultures

These experiences stretch the mind. They teach you there is more than one “normal,” more than one way to express respect, love, leadership, or spirituality. Over time, your thinking becomes less rigid and more creative, adaptive, and compassionate.

How Different Faith Traditions Make Us More Whole

The same is true for religion and spirituality.

Interfaith and cross-faith dialogue—Christians learning from Muslims and Jews, Buddhists learning from Indigenous traditions, and beyond—has been shown to:

• Reduce prejudice and correct misconceptions

• Increase empathy and respect for others

• Build social cohesion and trust between communities

This doesn’t mean you abandon your faith. It means you:

• See how other people experience the Divine

• Recognize shared values like justice, compassion, humility, and care for the vulnerable

• Let your faith mature from “we are the only ones with truth” to “God is bigger than my upbringing”

For someone with the gift of discernment, this is powerful. You begin to:

• Separate human culture from spiritual truth

• Respect difference without losing your convictions

• Build bridges instead of walls—while still honoring your own boundaries

From “Outcast” to Asset

When you put it all together, your life becomes more than a series of painful chapters—it becomes a living curriculum:

• Your experiences with racism, rejection, and misunderstanding become case studies in resilience and emotional intelligence.

• Your curiosity about different cultures and religions becomes training in creativity, empathy, and cognitive flexibility.

• Your decision to keep learning, even when people call you “too much,” becomes a testament to your courage and integrity.

You are not an outcast because you seek knowledge. You are an asset in any room that’s serious about growth, inclusion, and truth.

Selected References

• Greenspan, N. S. (2022). Genes, heritability, “race,” and intelligence. Frontiers in Psychology.

• “Race and intelligence.” Summary of the scientific consensus on race and IQ. Wikipedia.

• Steele, C. M., & Aronson, J. (1995). Stereotype threat and the intellectual test performance of African Americans. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

• Leung, A. K. Y., Maddux, W. W., Galinsky, A. D., & Chiu, C. (2008). Multicultural experience enhances creativity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

• Maddux, W. W., & Galinsky, A. D. (2010). Multicultural learning and creativity: Can multicultural experiences produce creative benefits? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

• Fürst, G., Grinsten, E., & Avineri, N. (2023). Multilingualism, multicultural experience, and creativity. Frontiers in Psychology.

• Hartford International University for Religion and Peace. (2024). The importance of interfaith dialogue.

• Studies on interfaith dialogue and social tolerance in multicultural communities (various authors, 2010–2024).