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‘What is my mission?’ Omar Tyree kicks off Black History Month

Omar Tyree spoke to UIS students about his struggles in college and how they pushed him to achieve success.  Tyree kicked off a series of events celebrating Black history in the month of February.
Omar Tyree spoke to UIS students about his struggles in college and how they pushed him to achieve success. Tyree kicked off a series of events celebrating Black history in the month of February.

What is my Mission? Omar Tyree spat out at the audience as he started his speech. Everyone knows what a mission is. But in order to attain success, you have to have a mission. A mission is nothing like a goal, he said. “A mission is much bigger.”

Tyree is a renowned novelist and a Philadelphia native. Throughout his younger years Tyree described himself as being a determined person.  Even in his early years he said he was “always after something.”

When he first started college he said he attended a predominantly “white campus.” He went to the University of Pittsburgh. Initially he did well but then he saw his grades begin to drop because his heart was not into the school; his sophomore year he dropped out and began to write a book.

Before he finished his book he realized he needed to finish school and get his degree, not only for himself, but also for his family. He was the eldest of his siblings and served as a role model, and if he had done anything else besides getting a degree form Howard University, his little brother may not have gotten his degree.

He refers to himself as the chief of his family and said he knew that what he did directly affected his family and in order to encourage his younger brothers and cousins to do well he had to show them how.

While in school he wrote his first book, Colored on a White Campus, which later got changed to College Boy. After he wrote this book he went on to write several more, including: Flyy Girl, Pecking Order, and Single Moms.

Tyree’s speech was a great way to start off Black History Month. He got the audience thinking about what they were doing with their lives and how they could change for the greater good. Tyree was down to earth and understood the struggle of trying to be the best person you can with pressures all around.

Guest speaker, Tyree, kicked off Black History Month last weekend along with the Diversity Center’s Soup and Conversation event.  The Black Student Union and Black Male Collegiate Society also held a Barber and Beauty Shop and followed up with the Ebony Ball.

Upcoming events include the Heritage Bowl, which will be held on Saturday, Feb. 9 from 2 to 5 p.m. and A Celebration of Gospel will be held on Sunday, Feb. 10 from 6 to 9 p.m. Both events will be held in Brookens Auditorium.  There will be a plethora of events this month that the entire campus is invited to.

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