If you could have a coffee with one historical person who would it be? Many lists begin with civil rights luminaries such as Martin Luther King, Jr., while others go another route and wonder what it might be like to speak to Adolf Hitler and ask him about the evil he inflicted upon the world. For others the opportunity to talk to a favorite athlete like Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, or Lionel Messi would be the choice. Some would choose historical musicians such as Michael Jackson, Jay-Z, Biggie Smalls, and Tupac. 

For Paint Branch Senior Ameer Beharie, the choice of whom to have a coffee with is Malcom X due to his “opinions on the civil rights movement.” Ameer is heavily influenced by what he sees as amazing perseverance by Malcolm X, and how he taught himself how to read. 

Another person he would choose to have a coffee with is Jay Z due to the fact that they could have “money making conversations.” Jay Z is the first rapper to ever hit a billion dollars in net worth according to Forbes, so he’d have good information for Ameer. 

While he would be nervous speaking with either Jay Z or Malcolm X, Ameer admits that he could reflect on how nervous he was taking the SAT for the first time in April, 2021 and learn from it. “I was shaking, I wasn’t prepared,” he recalls, “I went in there and it was not a good experience.” His struggle came because he procrastinated in preparing for the SAT, so he could learn from that experience and take the advice of these two icons on how to handle both nerves and preparation.

With such strong role models in place,  it is easy to see how Ameer wants to be remembered for his “humor and advice he gave others.” Jay Z and Malcolm X might not be remembered for their humor but Malcolm’s perseverance and Hov’s discipline to save and invest his money. To emulate these individuals is something Ameer can do to  become successful in life. 

By: Aj Yearwood