Britni, Author at Brown Boy Genius

This College Student Makes Six-Figures & is the ‘Best Tech Reviewer on the Planet’

By Britni on Mar 26, 2015 | 0 comments

Google “best tech reviewer” and one name will come up: Marques Brownlee. With over than 2 million YouTube subscribers, the 21-year-old college senior is one of the most trusted vloggers in the tech space due to his highly engaging, unbiased videos on everything from the latest computers and gadgets, to the hottest cars. And the industry has taken notice. Vic Gundotra, a former Google executive, called Brownlee “the best tech reviewer on the planet” and he’s not the only one who agrees. “Marques is in this sweet spot of being a consumer expert,” Adrienne Hayes, Motorola Mobility’s senior vice president of marketing and communications, told USA Today. “He’s looked at by followers as one of us, and that’s very powerful. His fans are following him and listening to him with a specific purpose.” Brownlee’s accessible and informative videos are watched by millions of fans who trust his insight and comprehensive product reviews. His loyal following caught the attention of companies like Apple, Motorola, and Tesla, who regularly partner with Brownlee to try out their products. Even though Brownlee is a rock star on YouTube and produces two to three super high quality videos a week, he’s also a full-time college student. Throughout his life, his parents preached “the three A’s”—academics, athletics and arts—and Brownlee has followed their advice. He’s regularly on the Dean’s List at Stevens Institute of Technology, where he studies business and, of course, technology. In his spare time, Brownlee also plays golf, professional ultimate Frisbee, and the trombone. While Brownlee’s reluctant to talk about money, he says he earns enough to cover production costs (his camera equipment ran him over $30,000), buy the products he reviews, and live very comfortably. Because he’s one of the top YouTubers, it’s rumored he makes close to a million dollars a year from corporate partnerships and advertising on his YouTube videos, but he’s not in this for the money. He just loves technology. After he finishes college this Spring Brownlee wants to continue making videos, but he’d also like to work with tech companies to make their products even better. Brilliant. Check out Marques Brownlee’s “Five Facts” video to learn more about him. ...

3 Reasons to Participate in #MuseumWeek

By Britni on Mar 23, 2015 | 0 comments

One of the funniest moments with my dad happened in a museum. One Saturday he took my brother and I to the National History Museum here in L.A., and as we wandered around, my dad asked us to snap a picture of him. My dad is an interesting guy and he wanted a super interesting picture, so he did something you’re never ever supposed to do: jump into the exhibit! That day my dad hopped over the railing and into the mammoth exhibit to pose for the picture…until the alarm went off. Then, he promptly jumped out and dashed into the hallway until it stopped ringing. His picture? A blur…but it was an awesome blur! And it’s also a memory that’s stuck with me for my entire life. I spent a large part of my childhood visiting museums, and so far Le Kid has as well. On any given weekend we’re hanging out at one of L.A.’s many museums, so I was geeked to find out there’s an entire week set aside to encourage people to explore these important institutions. Today marks the beginning of #MuseumWeek, an international effort to get people into museums. More than 2,000 institutions from all over the globe are participating in the effort to spread the word about how wonderful and important museums are to the world. In honor of #MuseumWeek Le Kid and I will be heading down to the San Diego Natural History Museum to check out their collection, and we think you should participate too. Here’s why. Museums are FUN Museums aren’t stuffy, boring affairs. While you should certainly steer clear of jumping into an exhibit like my dad, most museums have hands-on programs for kids that are not only fun, but are also good for the brain. From arts and crafts, to building robotics and digging for dinosaur bones, a trip to a museum is the perfect way to spend the day. Museums teach us about the world I don’t know about you, but I LOVE to travel. Over the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to travel to London, Paris, and Johannesburg, and I want to see so much more. Unfortunately, my budget doesn’t always support my wanderlust. So, when I’m feeling the itch to hit the road, I turn to museums to experience the world’s cultures, religions, and people until I can travel again. If you want to go abroad, but just can’t afford it right now, head to a museum and immerse yourself in another country’s customs instead. Museums make history come alive Visiting museums helps history come alive—and no I’m not talking about the movie. Like most children, Le Kid LOVES dinosaurs. He loves playing with dino toys, watching dino docs, and drawing pictures of dinos. But you know what made him want to be a paleontologist? Seeing actual dinosaur fossils and speaking to scientists at the National History Museum of L.A. Hanging out a museum helps people see exactly what they learned about in books or school, and you know what? The real thing is usually way more awesome. For me, seeing artifacts from Ancient Egypt and the Kingdom of Nubia at the British Museum completely blew me away. What’s your favorite museum? Will you be participating in #MuseumWeek? BTW: be sure to follow BrownBoyGenius on Instagram to see our pics from...

Michigan’s Top Swimmer, Tabahn Afrik, Breaks Records & Stereotypes

By Britni on Mar 21, 2015 | 0 comments

Tabahn Afrik’s time in the pool got off to a rocky start. Instead of enrolling him in the beginners’ class, his parents mistakenly signed him up for a USA Competitive Swim team, not knowing how it would pay off. When Tabahn saw people racing through the pool he didn’t know what to think. “I got in the water, and these people were flying by me,” he told the Detroit Free Press. “I had no idea what I was doing. I wondered why are they teaching me how to race? I should be learning how to swim.” While Tabahn clung to the ropes for dear life, his dad’s unexpected response was a blessing in disguise. “He goes: ‘Tabahn, if you don’t stop grabbing the lane line or the wall, you’re going to have to walk home.’” His father’s pep talk spurred the 17-year-old to become one of the best swimmers in the nation, and Michigan’s Division 1 state champion. Last weekend, he broke the state record for the 50-meter freestyle, clocking in at a sizzling 20.26 seconds, and on Friday he won the 100-meters freestyle title at the National Club Swimming Association’s junior meet in Orlando, Florida. Despite his talents, Tabahn isn’t just champ in the pool, he’s also a winner in the classroom. Tabahn is an honor student with an unweighted 3.6 GPA and is a member of his high school’s youth advisory council. This fall, he’s headed to Notre Dame on a full scholarship. “He challenges himself both academically and athletically, so he gets the job done in the classroom as well,” his coach, Steve Bowyers said. “He’s a phenomenal young man.” Although he’s a scholar and top-ranked athlete that hasn’t protected Tabahn against other people’s prejudices. The teen, who describes himself as a “mixed kid” because his father is from Sierra Leone and his mom is Korean, has had to deal with some people’s narrow perceptions of people of color. “Kids can be jerks; kids are kids,” he explained. “My skin color has come into many conversations, like: ‘He’s only good because he’s black.’ Hey, we’re not even in football. There’s some comedy behind the way some people think the way they do. But it’s never been a problem to the point that it’s bogging me down or preventing me to be the best that I can.” Along with breaking records, Tabahn dismantles stereotypes each and every time he gets into the pool. “Some say the reason I can swim is because I have the Asian in me,” he admitted to the Detroit Free Press, explaining many still hold limited views about what African-American can and cannot do. Still, Tabahn is unfazed. “Black people can’t swim?” he said, spouting off the misguided notion. “OK, watch me swim. I’ll show you we can...

Reading to your child is an extremely important part of their childhood. It not only serves of as a great bonding experience, but it also helps kids develop language and cognitive skills that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. While there are literally millions of children’s books on the market, books featuring boys of color are not as plentiful as others. And while you can read just about anything to your #BrownBoyGenius and he’d probably love it, it’s extremely affirming and empowering for young boys to read books with characters who look like them. Although we’ve shared a list of our favorite books for boys of all ages (here) before, we’re back with a list of 7 picture books that are perfect for cuddling up and reading with your little #BrownBoyGenius. Take a look. The New Small Person by Lauren Child Is your family getting a new member? If so, the New Small Person will help your little genius deal with becoming a big brother. In this cute book, Elmore’s life quickly changes when his parents welcome a new baby. At first, Elmore feels like the small person is taking over, and even taking his spot. But he soon starts to enjoy being a big brother. Check it on Amazon, here. Brothers of the Knight by Debbie Allen Brothers of the Knight re-imagines the fairy tale of the Twelve Dancing Princesses. In this version, which takes place in Harlem, Preacher Knight wonders why his sons’ shoes are always “worn to threads” and “torn up” every morning. Here’s a hint: they’re having a good ol’ time. Read a preview on Amazon, here. Full, Full, Full of Love by Trish Cooke In Full, Full, Full of Love little Jay Jay is dropped off at his grandma’s house and quickly finds all kinds of interesting things to get into while his grandmother is busy preparing Sunday dinner. No worries, grandma enlists his help and keeps him occupied until the guests arrive and the whole family sits down to a tasty meal. Full, Full, Full of Love is about family, traditions and, of course, food. Check it out on Amazon, here. Peekaboo Morning by Rachel Isadora In this too-cute board book a toddler is playing peekaboo with everyone in the family including mommy, daddy, grandma, grandpa, and even the puppy! Peekaboo Morning is perfect for baby geniuses who are learning how to play peekaboo themselves. Take a look on Amazon, here. The Bat Boy and His Violin by Gavin Curtis Reginald loves to play the violin, but his father, the manager of a Negro League baseball team, thinks he should stop playing and help out with the team as the bat boy. Even though he loves to play, Reginald goes to serve as bat boy for the team, who happen to be the worst in the league. When Reginald starts to play his violin in the dugout, the team’s luck turns around, and eventually his dad’s opinion does too. Check it out on Amazon, here. My Cold Plum Lemon Pie Bluesy Mood by Tameka Fryer Brown Jamie is feeling GOOD, and he knows exactly how to describe it. He’s feeling purple, like the first sweet bite from a plum. As the day progresses Jamie’s mood changes and he chooses colors to capture just how he’s feeling. Even when things aren’t so sweet (i.e. when his older brothers are pushing him around), Jamie uses his crayons to describe how he feels. Through this colorful book, boys will learn how to describe their feelings in a very personal and unique way. View it on Amazon, here. Ron’s Big Mission by Rose Blue Based on the life of astronaut Ronald McNair, Ron’s Big Mission tells the story of how the future scientist had to overcome discrimination just to be able to check out books from his local library. Although the book touches on racism, it may serve as a great teaching tool to discuss race and racism with your little genius. Oh, and it’s super inspiring too! Find it on Amazon, here. What picture books does your #BrownBoyGenius love? Share in the comments section below! *This post...

From Jail to Interviewing the President, See Why This Teen Makes Pres. Obama Proud

By Britni on Mar 11, 2015 | 2 comments

Nobody’s perfect, but for far too many boys of color their mistakes can devastate their lives forever. After getting into trouble with the law, Noah McQueen could have been just another statistic, but with the help of his mom and a whole lot of self-determination, he turned his life around. Now…he’s hanging with the president. Last year, President Obama announced a new initiative called My Brother’s Keeper (MBK), an ambitious program aimed at empowering at-risk boys of color and giving them the tools (and support) they need to succeed. In the past year, the White House has not only mentored a group of young men from around the country, including Noah, but has also challenged cities, organizations, and businesses around the country to get on board as well. My Brother’s Keeper aims to: Make sure boys enter school ready to learn Help boys read at grade level by third grade Ensure boys graduate from high school ready for college and career Help young men complete postsecondary education or training Make sure young men successfully enter the workforce Reduce violence and provide a second chance Cities across the nation have implemented mentoring, job training, and educational programs to help at-risk boys succeed, and it’s working, especially for Noah. Although his dad lives nearby, Noah—life President Obama—didn’t grow up with his father. According to the teen, this caused him to feel angry and disillusioned with life and led to several bad choices. After getting into trouble for fighting and skipping school, Noah ended up “on the run from the law,” a pattern he learned from other men in his neighborhood. He explained it all in a chat with StoryCorps: “You kind of learn right and wrong on your own terms,” he said, explaining how his dad’s absence affected him. “I got into fights. And fighting or getting put out of school is, you know, normal. So that’s how really the trouble started for me being in the juvenile system. I was on the run.” Thankfully, Noah’s mother intervened and sent him to a Christian retreat to help him get his life together. At first, he resisted the change, but Noah eventually came around. “It wasn’t until I decided to do better for myself, that I had to be held accountable for my actions, so I’m not the same person,” he told the president. “I’m not the same creature. Everything about me — and my being — is different.” Now, Noah has not only turned his life around, but he’s also giving back. In addition to being a student ambassador, editor of the newspaper, and an all-county football player at his high school in Maryland, Noah is also the president of AMATE (African-American Males Aspiring to Excel). Still, that isn’t enough. Although he has a full slate of academic and extra curricular activities, Noah also mentors and tutors other young men so they won’t repeat his mistakes. “I feel like if I can catch a kid at the elementary or middle school level I feel like I can make a difference,” he told President Obama. “We owe it to everyone to come back and change [things]. That’s our civic duty.” Noah’s transformation has been nothing short of amazing. He’s gone from getting in trouble with the law to being mentored by the most powerful man in the free world. Oh, and he’s also heading to college in the fall. Even President Obama was impressed. “I just want to say how proud I am of you, man,” the president told Noah. “It’s not an easy thing to do what you’ve done. And I think you give others a lot of confidence and a sense of what’s possible for them. And that makes me real proud. I know you’re going to do great things.” We totally agree. Take a look at Noah and President Obama’s powerful...