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Comedian Roy Wood, Jr. shares personal experience, takes DEI during the Famu – Tallahassee Democrat event

Comedian Roy Wood, Jr. shares personal experience, takes DEI during the Famu – Tallahassee Democrat event

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From the insights on what life in the media industry is to thoughts about diversity, justice and inclusion (DEI), comedian and political commentator Roy Wood, Jr. visited Florida A&M University for a well-rounded chat … well, a little of everything.

Famu has a conversation on the black history of a fire on Monday night at Lee Hall’s audience in campus with Wood, a proud Famu graduate since 2001, who has made a nationally recognized name for himself in the media world.

“It is important for me to always represent this university and let people know about it, because many great people and great things have come from here,” says 46-year-old Wood, who won his bachelor’s degree in the 2001 journalism broadcasting in 2001 “For the students who are here, they need to know what is possible.”

The successes of the locals in Birmingham, Alabama include his recently published Hulu special comedy called “Lonely Flowers”, his current role as hosted CNN “I have news for you” and is a former correspondent of “Daily Central” The Daily Show. ”

But the path to the many achievements was not linear.

During the Monday conversation, Wood explained his struggles to arrest credit card theft, stopped by Famu for a semester and probation, while people like the late James Hawkins – a former dean of the University of Journalism and Graphic Communication (SJGC (SJGC (SJGC (SJGC (SJGC (SJGC (SJGC (SJGC) – He gave him the impetus he needed.

“This is another thing for a black college,” Wood said. “Students, you all need to know that you are all surrounded by people who see you for what you could be – not for who you are. Therefore, they will sometimes push you because they see something you don’t see. Dr. Hawkins stayed on top of me and gave me that impetus. “

The pursuit of a career in the media business has led to another circle of Wood challenges, such as figuring out how to deal with conflicting topics in a strategic way as a comedian to receive a message to his audience.

In addition, the Wood career transition when leaving the “The Daily Show” as a correspondent against the search for the show for a permanent host to replace Trevor Noah was another challenging task with whom he faced his career where his waiting It made it difficult to plan planning future endeavors.

“Many of these jobs are not safe and none of them are promised,” Wood said. “I can either pop out of the plane or I can be pushed. That’s how I look at employment. You can be hired, but be careful to allow it to make you complacents.”

Wood won an international exhibition as hosting the White House correspondents in 2023, and in 2024 he hosted “I have news for you.” The new episodes of the CNN show began on Saturday with the premiere of the second season – Everything, while Wood Wood is currently also a semi -finalist of the game show “Celebrity Jeopardy!”

Roy Wood -Jr. touches the variety, the black pride in the backdown of the Day

Given the wide range of experiences and words of wisdom, several audience members took advantage of a Q&A session that followed the evening for a fire chat, moderated by the temporary FAMU president Timothy Beard and the Vice President of the University of Marketing and Communications Alonda Thomas.

Famu graduate Alfred Williams II, CEPital City City Cultural Community Outreach, asked Wood for advice on how to maneuver conversations related to June – which celebrates the end of slavery in the United States – with the presence of Dei laws. Williams is also the founder of the Annual Festival of Talahasi’s Employment Day.

“I think, or to prevent you from achieving your goal.”

While on the subject, Wood took the time to shine light on the results of the rules of DEI, such as the way many titles of Dei’s position have been changed in the workforce before the election of US President Donald Trump.

“I wouldn’t even be surprised … If Trump is not a June holiday this year,” Wood said. “I just think you have to be tactful in the ways you talk about diversity with people who are extremely uninformed but have a lot of power.”

Dei’s programs have long been a specific goal for governor Ron Ron Ron and critical concern in Florida, as the activities associated with him were dismantled by colleges and universities throughout the country, which led to several protests in campuses.

But on a national scale, Trump’s executive orders on January 20 introduced a wave of government changes, which include “termination of radical and wasteful government programs for DEI and preferences.”

“Despite all DEI’s things, many of them come from federal spaces and many companies are voice for DEI programs, but these companies are at the heart – they still have to hire the best people because they have to get the work completed.” Wood told Talahassi Democrat after the event.

He said he hoped anti-de-des policies from preventing people as students from applying for a job and “looking for their goals.”

Famu students as a freshman Rowan Mamford attended the campus event on Monday and said Wood’s conversation was a source of inspiration to him as a SJGC student known as J-School.

“I felt that I had to be inspired and I experienced it today, hearing someone’s story and taking something from it to apply to my life,” says Mamford, specialty journalism.

Among the attendees were a graduate of Famu Kim Godwin, the retired ABC News president – as well as former Famu President Larry Robinson and his wife, Sharon Robinson.

During the event, Brad and Thomas presented Wood with an orange jacket “Famu Rattlers”, which he accepted until he grinned from ear to ear. “I’ll wear this in the next show of the game I am,” he said.

Contact Tarah Jean at [email protected] or follow it at X: @tarahjean_S

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