Can Women Inspire Man?

Can a woman inspire all of mankind? Can a woman motivate others to overcome their past, their pain, and their fears to live a successful and productive life?

Traditionally, men have played a dominant role as inspirational figures in our society. The mass majority of world leaders, civil rights leaders, CEO’s, and even religious leaders have been male dominated figures. However, there is a shift taking place in todays culture where women are rising up, finding their voice, leading the way, and sharing their stories to change a generation of people.

I would like to share a true story of a little black girl named Shree. Shree grew up in Watts, Los Angeles, California during the 1980’s -1990’s. What was Watts like? Well picture a two-mile city block that consisted of mostly low-income public housing with the population of 34,830 people. During this time period gang violence, police brutality, and the crack epidemic was at its peak in America. Not to mention the Rodney King verdict and the 1992 Watts Riots was a modern day reality for little Shree.

Shree’s mother was fifteen years old when she was born. When her mother was eighteen years old there was three children in the household. By the time her mother was thirty years old there was a total of six children in their household. Can you see it? Single mother with six kids living in an environment shaped by gang violence, drug wars, and poverty. The odds were stacked up against little Shree from the very beginning.

It’s very easy for little girls and boys to get taken advantage of in environments such as this. Like many other children in her situation, Shree was forced to live a nomadic lifestyle which was void of certain necessities at times such as: electricity, proper clothing, a consistent place to call home, consistent meals, and more.

Not only was poverty an issue for little Shree, she also fell victim to sexual abuse. Her stepfather sexually abused Shree when she was five years old. Her female neighbor abused her when she was ten years old. Her grandfather inappropriately touched her when she was sixteen years old, and she was raped at the age of nineteen. Shree was a silent victim. This little kid from Watts was a victim of circumstance, a victim of poverty, and a victim of abuse. Her innocence was stolen from her and so was her voice.

One would think that after going through all of that adversity little Shree would end up in prison, in the streets, on drugs, or worse. Did she make it? Did she survive? What was her saving grace? The answers to these questions are not simple or absolute. The solutions require you to embark upon a journey of healing and resiliency.

Shree gravitated toward school, education, and spirituality as an escape from her traumatic environment. While in school, Shree received meals, could read books, participate in extracurricular activities, and make friends. School allowed her to use her imagination to escape her painful reality. Education was figuratively and literally her way out of the hood.

After graduating high school Shree attended Junior college in Los Angeles, California. Shree later got accepted to Fisk University located in Nashville, Tennessee. It was in Nashville where the heavy lifting truly began. The shock of being away from home, being exposed to different cultures, and being isolated away from family forced Shree to deal with her past encounters of sexual abuse. This new reality caused disruption in her mental, emotional, and spiritual being. Even still, this truth did not stop her from growing. Somehow these new challenges pushed Shree to achieve higher heights.

After receiving a Bachelor of Arts and History degree from Fisk University, Shree continued her educational journey. She received a Masters of Special Education from Lipscomb University, an Education Specialist of Administration and Supervision from Tennessee State University, Doctorate of Curriculum and Instruction from Tennessee State University, and Dr. Walker also participated in a Public Education Leadership Project with Harvard University.

Dr. Walker is the current Director of Section 504 and Special Populations for Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools in Nashville, Tennessee. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Belmont University and serves on the leadership committee for the Sexual Assault Center, Nashville Tennessee. Dr. Walker utilizes practical resolutions to support diverse learners and develops policies and procedures to ensure students have improved educational outcomes, educational stability, minimal disruptions and endless possibilities. She found a way to use her experiences to give others hope and inspiration that they too can overcome their circumstances and become successful.

Through counseling and higher education this little kid from Watts found the voice that was once stolen from her. Dr. Shree Walker now shares her story of resiliency with the rest of the world as an author, educator, and motivational speaker. She also wrote a memoir tilted, Resilient Walker that documents her journey through life.

As her event photographer, I’ve had the opportunity to capture her impact on the human spirit first hand. I’ve witness men, women, and children of different races, religions, and socioeconomic backgrounds be inspired and motivated by Dr. Walker’s story. I’ve captured her while speaking to a room filled with those in executive leadership. I’ve captured her while speaking to an auditorium filled with over six hundred private school girls. She’s also been captured speaking in a woman’s prison and juvenile detention center.

On the surface, these audiences seemed to be very different. Initially, I asked myself, “Why would she share here? Would they be able to relate? What does this little black girl from Watts have to offer this crowd? While capturing her live presentation, I was quickly reminded of her truth, their truth, and my truth. The truth is this, “We all spell STRUGGLE the same way.”-Dr. Shree Walker

Imagine witnessing a room filled with hundreds in executive leadership, an auditorium filled with six hundred private school girls, how about an entire woman’s detention center having to spell out the word STRUGGLE at the same time. All audiences, all though very different in many ways, spelled STRUGGLE the same way.

I had to process both hearing and seeing this impact. What was this unique way that Dr. Walker shifted the atmosphere in the room? The unique way she shifted my thinking and shared her story reminded me that, I too had some very personal battles and challengers to overcome. Challenges like: being a black male, being the first and only person in my family to receive a college degree, being raised in a single parent home, experiencing poverty as a child, having drug and alcohol abusers for parents, and yet I am driven to do great things.

I realized that her story was mine and that her story was theirs too. It was a story of survival. This was a story of overcoming, growing resilient, and speaking out.

I celebrate Dr. Walker for having the courage to share her truth. She’s openly shared her story of abuse and broken relationships to thousands of people. As she mentions in her presentation, “The hard part wasn’t escaping the poverty, the projects, or the violence. The hard part was facing the past, the pain, and the fear.”

I’ve witnessed first hand Dr. Walker share her journey of facing and enduring the hard parts of life. Her voice, her message, and her walk reminded me that I could also overcome and fulfill my purpose. I too can overcome the hard parts of life.

Can a woman inspire all of mankind? Can a woman motivate others to overcome their past, their pain, and their fears to live a successful and productive life? I know how I would answer these questions.

I’m inspired and motivated. Are you?