Mother’s Wisdom

Kelly Rowland is a Grammy-award winning singer/songwriter, actress, model, TV host and philanthropist. Kelly was one of the founding members of the famed singing group Destiny’s Child.

As a kid, I thought this was so corny, but now I get it. My mom told me to always be true to you. She would see me hanging around all these different kids, first when we lived in Atlanta and then we moved to Houston. Everywhere I went I wanted to fit in with whoever I was with at the time. My mom would tell me, “You don’t have to be like everybody else, you don’t have to agree with what everyone else says. Have your own opinions, be proud to be a young black woman.”

Sylvia Rhone is a music industry icon and business executive.

Before I went out with friends, my Mom would always give me some money and say, “This is your mad money… if anything happens, you can always get home on your own.”

She did that because she wanted me to be independent, able to take care of myself, and not reliant on anyone else. From buying a movie ticket or something to eat, or having enough bus fare to get back home, mad money gave me a sense of security that I was always prepared in good times and bad.

I’ve learned that mad money is priceless.

Education is mad money. Working hard is mad money. Finding the courage to follow your passion is mad money. Having a strong family is mad money. Good friends are mad money. Good health is mad money. Staying in shape is mad money. Traveling is mad money.

Mad money is the currency of life and my Mother’s wisdom has worked for me throughout my years.

Stephanie Phillipps is the founder of Beccastone and a practicing lawyer in Washington, D.C. My Mother always said to live by the Golden Rule, and treat others as you would want to be treated. Respect other people, regardless of who you think they are. You are not better than anybody else, and if you go around with an attitude that you are, you will have a much more difficult path. My Mother also taught me that part of respect is to be a good listener, and that you can learn more by listening than talking and being the center of attention.

Charlayne Hunter-Gault is an award-winning journalist with more than 40 years in the industry, extending her work at various times to all media.

During those years of growing up in a segregated society, where whites tried in every way possible to make a Black person feel inferior, my Mother told me that I should always behave like the Queen I was in my heart, which was, in effect, to hold my head high as if I were wearing a tiara. And when I was walking through a rioting crowd shouting racial epithets as I integrated the University of Georgia, I remembered who my Mother said I was: a Queen. It was instructions like these that created a suit of armour that helped me withstand many a challenge in life during and beyond the racist hatred at UG.

Jasmine Guy is a dancer, actor, singer, director and writer who performs in many mediums.

My mother gave me truth. She spoke and led her life as she believed. My mother was not a hypocrite. And it takes courage to live in your truth. That is what I want to model for my daughter. I want her to know who I really am, so she can be free to be who she really is.

Dr. Jessica Harris is a noted author, journalist, professor, and culinary historian.

My mother lived the saying that it’s never too late. My mother was a trained dietician who became a master jeweler at age 65. She taught me to always keep on growing. She used to say she was “a divine work in progress.”

Kem is a musician and philanthropist. He was nominated for two Grammys this year.

My mother always encouraged me to be true to myself. The older I get, the more I appreciate and understand the value of her advice. Do not be ashamed to be who you are and do not worry about what other people think. The only way to have success, happiness and peace is to be true to yourself. You can’t do that without honoring yourself.

Dr. Maya Angelou was a true literary giant and an artistic treasure of our time.

My grandmother gave me one order that was two pronged: When you get, give. When you learn, teach. It was very important to her that I learn. That was true with both my mother and grandmother. By reading, you learn. Anything that is worthwhile, learn it and teach it. To your brothers and sisters. Each one of us teaches whether we like to claim the title or not. This means a lot to me today.

Dyana Williams is an award-winning veteran broadcaster, print journalist, lecturer, and mother to three adult children.

Anything the mind can conceive, and believe, you can achieve! This one has served me well all my life.
Be considerate and caring… do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Sex gets better after 40 (I am approaching 60, and my mama didn’t lie!)

Valerie Jarrett is senior advisor to President Obama and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement.

“Life is not fair.” My mother told me that throughout my childhood. She said I should be prepared to work twice as hard as anyone else and not to fret or complain; just work hard and good things will follow. Don’t worry about what someone else is doing. Embrace hard work and the rewards will come. She also said the higher you go, the harder you have to work. She really tried to impress on me that a strong work ethic is important and life is not easy.

Dr. Freeman Hrabowski is President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. President Hrabowski´s research and publications focus on science and math education, with special emphasis on minority participation and performance. President Hrabowski has introduced many programs at UMBC, which have become national models for boosting minority achievement in math and science. Time magazine recently named Dr. Hrabowski to its 2012 list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

My mother encouraged me to read as much as possible. She always told me not to let anybody else define who I am. She told me I could do anything I was willing to work and reach any goal I set my mind on, if I worked hard enough.

Sheila Johnson is Vice Chairman of Monumental Sports & Entertainment and President and Managing Partner of the WNBA’s Washington Mystics.

My mother has given me so much but one thing that rings in my ear. I’d say, “Mom, I’m working so hard but it’s not happening,” and she would respond, “Then you’re not working hard enough.” She would tell me not to settle for mediocrity — always do your best. When you do good things, good things will happen.

Ms. Debra Martin Chase is a successful motion picture and television producer and a Harvard educated lawyer by training.

The first thing that comes to mind from my mom was a sense that I needed to be able to take care of myself. You need to take care of yourself emotionally and financially so that you don’t have to be dependent on someone else. This is what my mother and her friends learned. My mother married young, her friends married young; they were the pre-women’s lib generation. She wanted me to have the ability to make life choices from a position of strength.