Akil Marshall is no ordinary man. The deep thinker has always been on a mission to create a meaningful life for himself, his children, and his community. Marshall grew up in an era of America wherein Black men were not supposed to want much. And depending on who you talk to, Black men were given even less.
But Marshall has always moved to the beat of his own drum. His mentality, gifted to him by his strong ancestors, is the foundation that his integrity stands on. When you speak to Marshall, you quickly realize that he has a determination to elevate anything around him. A way of thinking that was seen as a threat to post slavery America.
“Growing up, I was always a very proud Black man. I studied history, and I studied American history. I also knew who I was based on world history,” Marshall explained. “So I have been able to feel very good about myself and not go for the propaganda.”
Marshall defines propaganda as the mantra that Black men are lazy and shiftless, that Black men are absent in their children’s lives, and that Black men have no motivation or drive.
Marshall’s education allowed him to escape a forced perception of what Black men are. He created his own definition of himself by working hard at his craft. That craft was everything and then some.
Marshall has had several careers. The father of six, he has never failed at anything he has attempted. Over his sixty-year career, he has been in athletics, entertainment, and education. His level of success in each career has given him the life he’s always expected and enjoyed.
Marshall’s first career was in sports. He was the first sports trainer in American sports, and he defined the category of sports training for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
He developed a program called “Winning in America,” becoming the first strength coach in the National Basketball Association (NBA) working with professional athletes to train and protect their bodies from injury.
Marshall understands that in order for young Black men to excel, they are going to have to work twice as hard just to get less than half of what their white counterparts are getting. The battle begins from within oneself. Marshall has written over twenty children’s books that teach and preach self-motivation and that guide his readers through the obstacles of Black life so they can get what they want. The books serve as a blueprint for young souls who desire more from themselves and those around them.
Marshall developed a series of pledges that he teaches from his “Winning in Life” program. Those pledges are:
- I will be successful.
- I will not be a loser.
- I will not give up because I care about my future.
- I will ask for help when needed.
“One of the things that hurts success the most is when people will not ask for help when they need it,” Marshall said. “We as Blacks try to be independent, but we need to create more unity and ask for help when we need it.”
Marshall also teaches the art of humility to those around him. He understands that pride can sometimes get in the way of progress. And in the Black community, young men and women can’t afford to stumble when attempting to do something positive.
Throughout Marshall’s professional career, he has learned the subtle differences that really create impact with his teachings and how people react to him when he’s attempting to share something new.
“For us to really get to the next stage of Black evolution, we need to bond with one another,” he said. “I always ask for permission when I’m talking to people, especially young people. That gives them the chance to trust me, so we can build on that relationship. Then the bonding can start.”
Marshall understands the mentality of today’s youth. With social media and how young people think, they may not want to hear what you have to say because you need to be somebody in order to get their attention.
What young people find out after meeting Marshall is that he’s an accomplished person. Career number two includes his dance company that performed all of the US, one hundred shows a year. Those shows added up to performing in front of over 1.4 million people over the decades that Marshall toured the country.
Marshall is credited with many things, but his proudest achievement is the twenty years he has spent as an educator. Today, Marshall still teaches and speaks to the public, when requested, to help bridge the gap between the old and new to those who desire a more accomplished life over a life of mere existence.
Marshall is a walking museum who still has many things to offer and lessons to teach. For him, competing is walking in his purpose and teaching people how to win in life. If winning means giving back, then Marshall has won!
