Courageous and Smart
Keep Your Eye on Rushkoff and Pitts
Leonard Pitts tackles ticklish topics with reckless audacity and elegant grace. Three years ago I said to Princess Pennie, “This guy is one of America's greatest living writers. Sooner or later he's going to become a very big name.” That was on July 12, 2001.
I had been reading Pitts' review of the just-released movie, Baby Boy, in which he ridicules his fellow blacks for using racism as an excuse for every failure. “Everybody should have a white man. Even white men should have a white man. Because when you have a white man, nothing is ever your fault. You're never required to account for your own failings or take the reins of your own destiny. The boss says, 'Why haven't you finished those reports, Bob?' and you say, 'Because of the white man, sir.'”
About the same time I made my prediction to Princess Pennie, Leonard Pitts received the 2001 ASNE Award for Commentary Writing from the American Society of Newspaper Editors. Then he was named 2002 Columnist of the Year by the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. This year he won a Pulitzer Prize.
Can I pick'em or what?
But this time, rather than waiting until my instincts look like 20/20 hindsight, I'm going to tell you early: keep your eye on Douglas Rushkoff (above.) I believe he will someday be recognized as one of the most insightful investigative reporters in the history of television. His insights into marketing are bull's-eye.
Like Pitts, Rushkoff first came to my attention in 2001 when I found his documentary, Merchants of Cool, to be the most objective, in-depth look at youth culture I had ever seen. With his new 90-minute documentary, The Persuaders, Rushkoff has raised the bar for investigative reporters worldwide. (The hyperlinks let you view each of the shows in streaming video at no charge. Definitely worth the time if you've got it. Or you can get them on VHS or DVD)
I share these things with you for a very simple reason: hardly a day goes by without someone calling or emailing me to ask for “a list of books to read.” Sadly, the books I read contain mostly raw data rather than condensed conclusions, so they wouldn't do you much good. But if you're looking for names of people I admire, two that come quickly to mind are Douglas Rushkoff and Leonard Pitts. They'll definitely stretch your head.
Next week I'm hoping to take you on a journey.
If you're prepared to come along.
We'll see.
Roy H. Williams