By: Robert Barrington, Advertising Editor
In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. day, Saint Leo University invited Al Duncan, motivational speaker and tireless advocate for youth empowerment, to speak about his personal experiences, and how Martin Luther King, Jr’s philosophy on servant leadership has changed his life and helped him shape the lives of others. On Monday, Jan. 16, Father Stephan Brown welcomed everyone and started the program with an invocation prayer. Guest speaker Al Duncan was introduced and took the stage.
Duncan was born and raised in the north part of Philadelphia, considered one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the country. At age five he was molested by a male friend of the family, and at the age of 15, he found out that his childhood hero, his father, who was also a preacher, was addicted to crack cocaine. Although emotionally traumatized, Duncan refused to allow his personal problems stop him from succeeding, and went on to become a professional saxophone player.
At age 24, Duncan walked away from a successful music career, sold his saxophone, travelled to Philadelphia to pick up his 12 year old brother, and took him to Atlanta in order to start a new life together. With no saxophone, and no high paying profession, Duncan took a job as a busboy at the Olive Garden. Three years later Duncan became an executive chef and was managing three locations. “Many times you will be confronted with stressful situations, and you have two choices: you can either be a cupcake or you can be a diamond. Cupcakes crumble under pressure, and diamonds are made under pressure,” said Duncan. “Live your life in the service of someone else. It starts with the seed, and continue planting seeds. When given the choice, do what is the right thing, not what is easy.” said Duncan.
Duncan recalls the Montgomery Bus Boycott involving Rosa Parks, and how Dr. King was not the organizer, but was asked to be one of the leaders. At the time Dr. King was graduating with his Ph.D, and was starting a family. “People would have understood if he said no and concentrated on starting his own life, but he did not do what would have been the easier thing to do, instead he did what was the right thing to do, and led the boycott. If you are determined to exhibit exceptional service to others, you need to make time,” said Duncan.
