The idea for the film “…The Harder They Fall” was inspired by the time Daoud and I spent volunteering at a day camp up in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. We believe strongly in working with youth in our communities, both in Brooklyn and abroad, for the sake of expanding their horizons and helping them recognize new possibilities. Last weekend we had the opportunity to do exactly this, right at home.
We were invited to speak at the 5th annual “Visions For Tomorrow Workshop”, organized by Zora Hardamon (What About The Children, Inc.). We met in a courtroom at Cadman Plaza in downtown Brooklyn and spoke on a panel with four other accomplished individuals at different stages in their careers, to a room of about 60 middle and high school students and their parents.
Our moderator, Jeanine Gordon, was smart and impressive, and asked great questions about all of our journeys. Elder-statesman Michael T. Holmes, especially, reflected on his broad life experiences, and shared insight that caused me to re-evaluate where I want to go in my own life! But by far it was the younger men on the panel—Roland Cody, Jr. and Chef Kwame Onwuachi—who inspired us the most that day, right on the spot.
Like I said before, inspiration comes from so many different sources, and from so many different walks of life. First, Roland shared his journey of being (in his own words) an “uninspired” drifter who took a chance by joining a program that landed an internship at JPMorgan Chase, which in turn led to him now attending our alma mater (Syracuse University). Then Chef Kwame got up and told his story which, coincidentally (I implore you to look up the meaning of that word!) included being sent to Nigeria as a child to stay with his grandparents and get straightened out —very similar to the plotline of “…The Harder They Fall”! By the time both Roland and Kwame were done, Daoud and I had both been hit with the inspiration for how to share their stories with the wider public.
In the end, Michael Holmes was so moved by our work that he pledged a large donation to our Kickstarter campaign right then and there. By day’s end, Roland and I connected about his experience at Syracuse, and I had the pleasure to attend Chef Kwame’s food tasting this past Friday (believe me, that brother is destined for fame!)
The sweet irony of it all came when Zora and her crew thanked us for coming to inspire these youth, but it was Daoud and I who gave thanks for having the opportunity to be around such inspirational people!
Please, follow these inspiring minds!
Chef Kwame – www.chefkwame.com – @chefkwame (twitter)
Michael Holmes – www.terex.com
Peace
Dahkil Hausif
Sunshowah Films
