by Jean Peaslee
Daily Lobo
Steve Birdine spoke to about 75 people in the SUB Ballroom Saturday, urging them to change their lives and put his affirmative words into action, as part of the first UNM Black Cultural Conference.
Birdine is the president and chief executive officer of Affirmations in Action, a diversity-consulting firm in Indianapolis. He presents talks and workshops on diversity at colleges and universities nationwide.
The Black Student Union and African American Student Services sponsored the conference.
Birdine began by telling everyone, "Life is a gift."
"You don't get but one, please nurture it and take care of it," he said. "It doesn't take but one foolish moment to mess it up - ask Kobe Bryant right now."
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In his presentation "I'm Black and I'm Proud," Birdine used issues such as the Kobe Bryant trial to relate to students.
Birdine spoke as he walked freely among the tables in the SUB Ballroom. He mixed the talk with jokes on white and black communities.
"See, white people think we all know each other because we say 'How ya doing?' in public," Birdine said. "They don't know it's because that (black) person is an oasis in the crowd; you don't know when you're going to see another one, depending on where you're at."
While Birdine used cultural stereotypes to make jokes, he also pointed out that these stereotypes are not the norms for every black person and called on the young men and women present to rise above society's expectations.
"You were born with greatness in you," he said. "All the negativity comes from outside."
Birdine also spoke to black men and women separately.
"Let me talk to the young black men for a moment, because gentlemen, society needs you," Birdine said. "You all have a responsibility to go home and show that little black boy that it's OK to be a scholar."
After an activity involving writing stereotypes on an index card, he pointed out that women had called men "dogs" on some of their cards.
"Have you ever seen a dog with a cat?" Birdine asked. "Or a bird? What do you see dogs with? Other dogs. Ladies, nobody makes you get with a dog, and nobody makes you stay."
Birdine said his statements may be controversial to some, but others may be able to relate to them. Angela Green, conference committee chairwoman, said Birdine's style fit the conference's theme and tone.
"A few of us heard him speak at another conference in February, and knew right away we wanted him for our event," Green said.
The reaction from some of the students showed Birdine's ability to make an impression.
"I've seen him twice before," UNM junior Celeste Sims said. "He is just wonderful. His energy is always the same."
Birdine closed with a challenge to those in attendance.
"There are 1,440 minutes in a day," he said. "It's up to you what you do with them."
