Success determined by self-worth, community leader says
by Christopher Barnes, reporter

    Determining the worth of another person is impossible, but one can discover his own self-worth, a local community leader said last month.

   “Be true to your own identity by exploring,” Estrus Tucker, president and CEO of Liberation Community Inc., said.

   Tucker addressed a group of students, faculty and Union for Cultural Diversity members on NE Campus recently.

   Tucker explored issues of self-determination and self-worth, which he believes are the root of every successful person.

   “Having the same origin and different goals is a staple of society,” he said.

   Each person derives from the same place—this world—and strives for achievement in his life, Tucker said.

   Tucker spoke openly for the need of a revolution as a catalyst for change, though he explained the type of revolution he hopes to come would be one of cultural understanding and not violence.

   He believes revolution is in one’s conscience.

   Disaster is potent, Tucker said, and love is the only cure for something so powerful.

   “The human race’s true beauty is diversity,” he said.

   Tucker expressed mixed feelings regarding the terrorist bombings and many deaths following the September attacks.

   “ [I] loved the togetherness of September, hated the bigotry,” he said.

   Each person is a politician in his own respect. Whether he intends to use that power is up to him, Tucker said.

   “Letting go of labels [and] … the want to define someone else is key in understanding yourself,” he said.

   “Individuals judge themselves by [their] intentions, which is a key foundation to discovering your true worth and intentions,” he said.

   Social labels play an important if not a destructive part in today’s communities, giving reason for indifferences which lead to negative responses.

   The first step to division is when people are indifferent to one another, and that, Tucker said, is why people must understand that peace begins in the human heart.

   Tucker believes in the worthiness of being an individual.

   “I would rather be hated for who I am, than liked for who I am not,” he said.

   Human beings have great potential, the speaker said.

   “We have the ability to do anything,” Tucker said, as he quoted Dr. Martin Luther King.

   Tucker told the audience that their choices are reflections of their character.

   Remembering the golden rule, Tucker advised that it is not the one who has the most gold rules, but it is “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

   Tucker related the idea that this notion must be pro-active.

   “Give yourself a new perspective. Be in your enemy’s shoes and see the value,” he said.

   Tucker said that would be a better way of coping with diversity.

   “If you want to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for you,” he said.

   All people should be aware of the strength in diversity they hold as a person, as an individual and, most importantly, as someone who has the power to influence others, Tucker said.

   As CEO and President of Liberation Community Inc., Estrus Tucker is very active in volunteer work and community improvement as well as a sepaker at a variety of venues encouraging personal and professional revival.