Meet Bobby Daniels

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bobby Daniels.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Bobby. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My story, of course, begins with my mom. She gave birth to me when she was only sixteen years old. She would often tell me later in life that when she had me, she was fresh from her abusive childhood, so she felt the need to be extremely strict with me. Some would even say abusive herself. Despite that, I would not be where I am today without her. My most formulative years takes place in Bankhead. When I was five, my mom and I moved to Bowen Homes, most commonly made popular by the late, “Shawty Lo” and “T.I.” It was here that I learned the most about myself and the place that forever  shaped me. When I was born, my grandmother, who was deaf, kicked my mom out of the house because, she didn’t want a sixteen years old daughter with a kid. As a result, we were homeless and staying from place to place, at least until we moved to Bowen Homes. When we moved here, we had no furniture, no beds, and barely any clothes. I remember vividly that on our first day there, my mom and I only had to shallow slivers of bed sheets. I remember the floor being so cold that night that my mom and I were holding each other so close to gain heat from each other’s body, that for anyone looking, they wouldn’t be able to see me. Keep in mind I was only five, so it was really my mom giving me heat. In an effort to fast forward this story, I want to point to the most pivitol point in my life.

One year after we moved to Bowen Homes, I was attending A.D. Williams elementary, a school stuffed at the bottom of thecommunity. It was here that I was introduced to the organization that without a doubt, saved my life. At this time, I was in the second grade, when the intercom rang out. The voice on the other end said something along the lines of, ” will the following students, please come to the library.” She proceeded to call out names, me being one of them. I now know that 56 students were called, who would later become “Dreamers.” Dreamers were what we would be called as a part of the “I Have A Dream Foundation” or IHAD for short. IHAD is a program dedicated to taking children from undeserved, underrepresented and marginalized communities and giving them a real shot at graduating from high school and ultimately, a college degree. It was this program that literally saved my life. It was projected that only 30% of the children in Bowen Homes would graduate from high school, much less attend college. It was this program that showed me that the world had much more to offer.

Through the program, I was introduced to enrichment opportunities and workshops, field trips out of the state, tutoring and most importantly to my mentor. The program gave me a chance that many of my peers would never see. Moving forward again, the people, places and opportunities I would receive as a part of the program, showed me what I call, ” the other side of the horizon,” a place filled with all the things I never knew existed from my small field of vision.” Despite, the violence and drugs I saw in my early years, I found new purpose in making sure that I could get to this so called, “other side.” I became the first person in my family to graduate from high school, and subsequently, the first person in my family to attend and graduate from college, in this case, the incomparable Tuskegee University. Presently, I am in my second year of law school at Vanderbilt University, a place that I honestly thought was only reserved for others without my pigmentation or background. Yet, I am here. It is my intent to litigatate, what kind, I a m not sure. But ultimately, I want to show young brothers from similar backgrounds, that there is a way to be on the right side of the law, and that you can take some of the power of the law for yourself.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Certainly not, even after Bowen Homes, I was homeless my senior year of high school, but a church member turned Godmother, knew how much it would mean to my family for me to graduate from high school, and decided to take me in so I could finish. Even when I arrived at Tuskegee, after my first year, I lost my scholarship. Fortunately, after I got serious about where I wanted to go in life, I was able to regain it the next year but I had to take tons of losses before I got to where I am today. Even now, I take losses, but the one thing I have learned, sometimes two Ls” make a “W.” That is to say, you learn from your losses until you win.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
As a law student, I do what they don’t show you on TV. I write and read and read and write, but I also have fun with my classmates. I plan on practicing somewhere in litigation, likely commercial. I love the adversarial nature and the iron sharpens iron system of the courtroom. In terms of what sets me apart, and I will put this in reference to another young black brother, is nothing. Just do not give up. It’s okay to take losses, anyone who tells you they don’t take them is probably does not know how to tell the truth. It’s part of success, its part of the grind and its part of the mental battle.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t believe in luck, so I’ll put it in terms of a term I do believe in favor. Favor is by far the greatest factor for me. Some of the things I have done, some of the people I have met and the places I have gone are purely by his favor. Honestly, I am a young brother from Bankhead, I never imagined my life where it is today and even crazier, where it will go. Most of the people who were older and younger than me are still trapped or gone. I was favored enough to make it out and not just make it out, learn what it means to be comfortable. Favor is number one on the list of things I could not do without.

Contact Info:

• Phone: (404)775-1905
• Email: bdaniels9548@gmail.com
• Instagram: a_warriors_journey
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bobby.daniels3?ref=bookmarks
• Twitter: dreams_i_make

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