From Dade to Doctor
I was born and raised in Dade County. From the neighborhoods, the schools, and the streets that shaped me, the journey from Dade to Doctor is more than a personal milestone; it is a love letter to my city. This is for the friends who cheered me on, and to the family that pushed me forward. I especially celebrate my grandfather, Sy Baker, a man whose strength and love have guided my life.
I know that not every young Black man from Miami finds this path or has this opportunity. In our county, youth arrests remain disproportionately high; although Black youth aged 10 to 17 represent about 17 to 18 percent of that population, they account for roughly 58 percent of youth arrests. Across the nation, Black youth are incarcerated at rates more than four times higher than their white peers.
When I look at how rare the doctorate is, I am reminded of what this moment means. Only about 1.8 percent of people in the United States hold a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. In Miami-Dade, only about 3 to 4 percent of adults aged 25 and older hold a professional or doctoral degree. These numbers remind me that this accomplishment is not just mine; it belongs to everyone who believed that someone from “The Crib” could make it.
With gratitude and humility, I dedicate this moment to those whose stories were cut short, whose dreams were buried too soon, and whose spirits remain alive in memory. This Doctor of Ministry degree is for those behind bars, for those lost in the streets, and for every brother who still dares to dream beyond the odds.
Poppy, this one is for you. Your faith, resilience, and love for our family established my foundation. To my teachers (except the lady that said I was jail bound), my friends, and my family, thank you for believing when I did not always see it myself.
To my city, I say: it’s up from here. May this be a reminder that with God, perseverance, and purpose, there is no ceiling on what is possible.
Live Steaming
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