All Things Considered: A Conversation with Juan Williams
By: Jaira Harrington
CBCF Intern, Office of Rep. Danny K. Davis

Juan Williams, a senior correspondent at National Public Radio and contributing political analyst at Fox News discussed leadership with the CBCF congressional interns.

During this session on effective leadership, Williams reflected on the great leaders who were called to serve during the Civil Rights Movement. In particular, he mentioned Joann Robinson, E.D. Nixon, Vernon Johns, Rev. Ralph David Abernathy and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. As these individuals seized upon opportunities to eliminate injustice, Mr. Williams urged the interns to do the same. Furthermore, Williams stated that, "Many young people are under the influence of what I call 'the sleeping pill of popular culture'," and that young people need to "be a critical consumer and control [their] media diet". With this advice, Williams message was both an inspiration and a challenge. He encouraged the interns to be critical thinkers and conscious consumers, while maintaining a humble appreciation of the African American legacy.