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December 15, 2005

Randal Pinkett: Overachiever du Jour

Randal Pinkett is the new Apprentice. If I watched more network television, I would have been aware of this gent some time ago. Alas. Still it's never too late to give props to a fellow NSBE alum. With any luck his high profile will give more visibility to the class of African Americans I tend to favor, those who tend to be a bit more conservative than the average bear. Yet I know nothing of Pinkett's politics, I gather that the millions of viewers of The Apprentice know more than I and can give some flavor. Considering that he won this week within days of the execution of some other butthead who shall remain nameless, I think it does show the true diversity of African America. For those of you who are as clueless as I was 15 minutes ago, here's his bio:

Randal, 34, is the founder, president and CEO of his fifth venture "BCT Partners," a multi-million dollar management, technology and policy consulting firm based in Newark, N.J., that works with corporations, government agencies, philanthropic and nonprofit organizations. Born in Philadelphia and raised in Hightstown, N.J., he holds five academic degrees in engineering, business and technology including a B.S. from Rutgers University, an M.S. from the University of Oxford in England as a Rhodes Scholar, and an M.S., M.B.A. and Ph.D. from MIT. A former college championship track and field athlete, he has received numerous awards for his accomplishments as an entrepreneur and technologist including the National Society of Black Engineers "National Member of the Year." A Leadership New Jersey Fellow and Next Generation Leadership Fellow, Randal has been featured by Black Enterprise magazine and Ebony magazine in their "30 Leaders of the Future" issue. He is a proud member of First Baptist Church in Somerset, N.J., where he resides and is happily married to his wife Zahara.

This is the kind of exposure that people in my generation worried our heads about in the 80s as we entered the corporate white collar workforce in larger numbers than ever before. In those days when Bill Cosby was chided for being 'unrealistic', we struggle in relative anonymity. Today, Pinkett should raise few eyebrows in a nation who has been schooled. His educational achievements in reality far outstrip that of the fictional Huxtable and I think it is extra cool that such a story makes for entertainment.

I realize that the traffic has subsided on my website since the fathead Crip bit the dust, but I would hope there are some straggling defenders who might perhaps recognize that there are alternative role models. Not that I am big on the role-monkey business, I think achievement and excellence ought to speak for itself, but for every loser that makes the news, there is a winner somewhere unsung. Today is Randall Pinkett's day. Let's try not to forget that. He didn't just pop out of nowhere. He came from people. Might I be so bold to suggest that they are my kind of people, and I think they're your kind of people too.

More on Pinkett (an interview, pre-TV stardom) can be found over at Ed Batista's blog.

Posted by mbowen at December 15, 2005 09:10 PM

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Comments

I am sorry Randall is a sorry excuse for a winner. Instead of adding to the prestige of being a winner and bringing on Rebecca he totally lost my faith in him. What a shame. He is all image and no substance. Shame on him!

Posted by: AlmostGirl [TypeKey Profile Page] at December 15, 2005 09:37 PM

I think Randal had every right to do what he did regarding giving Rebecca a job. There has always been 1 apprentice and why should that change now. Why should he have to share a spotlight that he worked so hard to get? He deserves the spolight and should not have to share it with someone else who has not as qualified. If Trump wants to hire her... he will.

Posted by: Chach at December 16, 2005 06:10 AM

Last night was tacky, tacky, tacky. I feel for Randall but he'll be alright. It is bad enough the man had to be 100 times more qualified than all three predecessors combined. Trump yammered on about his education all night as if attempting to justify the hiring to America. Then in the middle of Randall's celebration he through the wrench and suggested hiring Rebecca as well. When Randall declined, Trump expressed his displeasure and the crowd booed Randall. Disgusting.

Posted by: Caren Campbell at December 16, 2005 07:30 AM

www.manifestoapparel.com

Wins 3
Losses 0

Money Raised $11,000

Successful business!

He deserved to win

www.manifestoapparel.com

Posted by: Mr. Manifesto at December 16, 2005 08:36 AM

I am appalled at Caren Campbell's comment. "Trump yammered on about his education all night as if attempting to justify the hiring to America." A person with great SCHOLARLY education PLUS PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS EXPERIENCE, is very qualified for Trump's Multi-Billionaire Business Enterprises. Rebecca has a great education as well too. But come on...Mr. Manifesto spelled it out for everyone:



Wins:3 (AS PROJECT MANAGER SOMETHING THAT HAS NEVER BEEN DONE ON THE APPRENTICE)



Money Raised $11,000 (REBECCA RAISED NONE MIND YOU!)



Successful business! (HE RUNS 5 BUSINESS!.)



LIKE RANDALL SAID, "I RUN BUSINESS...REBECCA WRITES BUSINESS".

Posted by: DA REAL DEAL at December 16, 2005 10:29 AM

Trump is a chump for what he did last night. If he wanted to hire both of them he should have just did it. Instead he put the heat on his new employee all of 10 sec. What a boss. I hope Randell gets a better job offer before he starts work with Chump Enterprise.

Posted by: val at December 16, 2005 01:55 PM

randall is the man and has been the man for a minute. for him to outshine all the others all season long on top of his personal accomplishments prior to the show, it was just plain disrespectful of trump to suggest it. and of course, look at how the reaction is predominantly split across the web. it ain't the boll weevil, but it's sabotage nonetheless.

Posted by: PoPs [TypeKey Profile Page] at December 17, 2005 08:53 AM

Some feel that Rebecca would have politely done the same as Randall did, if Trumph had tapped her to do so. Both were fine, highly professional choices, perhaps the best Trumph has had throughout all four seasons. I think both would have chosen to eliminate strong competition when winning high profile leadership is at hand.

Posted by: Tidewateralive at December 18, 2005 02:10 PM

I think Randal did the right thing. Mr Trump had no right to put him on the spot. He earned the right to the spotlight ALONE! Mr. Trump can hire Rebecca anytime, no problem, but not on the night that belong to Randal. If he wanted to hire them both, then he should have done that! Afterall he fired 2 all at once! He did not ask!

Posted by: Brampton Canada at December 19, 2005 11:58 AM

This is the first season I did NOT follow the "Apprentice." I learned of the new winner on Larry King's Live. Like the other Apprentices, I was just as happy for the newest, Mr. Pinkett. I could not believe the controversy surrounding his win, and I'm equally suprised that so many people out there are so full of themselves that he did not agree to being a co-apprentice. It never fails that when an African American is given an awesome responsibility they are somewhat forced to "quiet' their achievements or "dumbed down." We are contantly made to be seen as bad people with hope for nothing; uneducated; compared to other races we are lagging behind in many gifts and talents, except when we get a little bit of money we spend it on clothing, to name a few things. Mr. Trump ignited this fire by his suggestion to Mr. Pinkett. Why not give the same opportunity to the other apprentices? To all those concerned, Rebecca would have turned down the offer of co-apprenticeship, in her own words, during the interview on Larry King's Show. Therefore, let us be aware she would NOT have given Randall co-partnership had she been the winner!

Posted by: babyvest at December 22, 2005 05:05 AM

Randall has every right to do what he did. Like other previous comments, Mr Trump had no right in putting Randall on the spotlight like that. He thoroughly deserved it and its winner gets all.

Posted by: Jojo at December 28, 2005 03:45 AM

Wow, I can't believe the controversey surronding this. If I went to work tomorrow and my boss said I'm giving you a new job, oh and by the way Sally is great can you share your job with her? WEll folks, I'd have to think it out, she could perhaps cut down on some of my work, or perhaps in the end she'd end up acting like my boss, but it's not a competition, when you win you win. Since when does Survivor, or roadrules or any of these other shows have runner ups. When Richard won first season of survivor who asked him to share the spotlite and perhaps split his money. You all out there in blog land probably would have called him stupid, and that's putting it nicely. King Kong is out now, no damsils in distress ova hea... The Mighty Kong left her butt in the tall building and went about building his own empire... Perhaps if that were a white dude with a black chick to consider, would I be responding to anything now???? NOT!

Posted by: Gail at January 3, 2006 05:57 PM