Conscious Brother: The Autobiography of Robert J. Hicks

By Jonathan Walters

An inside look at a man who grew up in New York City, who did not allow his environment to shape who he was going to be.  Rather it was his insight, self-esteem, and authentic personality that lead Robert Hicks to living a life different from others.  The way he became the individual you see today was forged by the skills he formed as well as developing his mind to overcome obstacles to become a standout and not a statistic.  This book allows you to understand his journey in life, and let's you realize that this portion of his life is only the beginning.  Conscious Brother also provides ways for the reader to develop their own path in life, to avoid common pitfalls and turn them into sensational accomplishments with just the right amount of planning, persistance, and perseverance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jonathan Walters
• Release date: Dec 21, 2019
• ISBN: 9781675682456

Book preview

Chapter 1: Birth (1974-1979)

Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.

-Job 14:1

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Wednesday, April 3, 1974 was my world premiere on this third planet from the sun, at 6:33 am in the best city in the world. The Bronx, New York.  I have to say it because the Bronx is a part of me!  Deal with it!  I don't know the exact details of this date; however, it is more important that I was born, with a gift inside me to bring something into this world, and to be used in the right manner to make a difference. 

Just like you, when you were born you have a gift that is within you.  We are all precious, Black, White, Asian, Latino, Pacific Islander, Native American, immigrant, and we ALL have something to do, and a story to tell. 

During this time, my father worked for IBM, and my mother decided to stay home in order to raise me, while Dad did the work.  In this era, it was more common one salary, one job, one career worker was enough or more than enough. Even though my father's and mother's family were from the South, Virginia and South Carolina, respectively, I don't believe I have gained a smidgen of a Southern personality. 

Growing up in New York was not easy.  In the 1970's, the area I lived in Queens, New York was rough.  Some communities were not welcoming of Black people.  You would think the city that had Ellis Island, and welcomed many groups and races of immigrants into this country, that this would happen. 

Nevertheless, my parents were somewhat light skinned, so that they could pass for White and sophisticated; however, they knew who they were, and what challenges they were up against. 

Although we lived in two apartments in Jamaica, Queens, New York during the 1970s, my Mom and Dad took a leap of faith and moved to the Bronx, New York for good in 1978.  God bless them, as they have lived there in the Bronx ever since that move.  It was one of the first times that I ever saw two people who cared enough for the good of the family to set a goal, know what they wanted, stuck with it, and pressed on until the goal was finally accomplished. 

By the time I was five years old, I went to school at Public School 68 in the Bronx.  The school was very easy to walk to.  I guess from the time I was in school, I knew I was advanced because I never wanted to be average or to just think of myself as less as what I was, even that this age. 

The idea is it never too early to make the decision to become better than what you are now.  Some people make the decision early in life, and some people make it later in life; however, some people will not make it at all.  The environment around you is a great indicator of how you should move and what you should become. 

However, environment is just external.  What is it in you that makes you want to become better?  As Earl Nightingale quoted, We become what we think about!  If you think success, you will become a success.  If you think failure, you will become a failure. 

In our household, education was vital, especially if it was information that is not taught in schools.  It was important to be fully informed of history, the good