041 | Being a Black Man in the '70s with Manson Brown
Manson Brown became the first African American Vice Admiral in the US Coast Guard in May 2012. Despite not knowing how to swim, Manson set his sights on the Coast Guard. Utilizing his tenacity and passion, he became the first African American student body leader in 1977. After he retired from the Coast Guard in 2014, President Barack Obama appointed him to the NOAA and he served as the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction until his retirement in 2017.
Manson joins me today to share his experience being an African American in the ’70s and how he coped with discrimination in his youth. You’ll learn why he wanted to join the Coast Guard and how his experience in high school prepared him for the academy. He describes the unforgettable conversation he had with a colleague who didn’t like him for his skin color. You’ll also hear Manson reflect on his career in the NOAA, what he learned from working with bright minds, and his thoughts on how Americans perceive the climate change threat.
"Some of the rage I remember having converted to passion to get my piece of the American Dream. I thank my high school for that." - Manson Brown
This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores:
● Who Manson Brown is, his childhood, and his career milestones
● How Manson was raised and what the '70s were like for African Americans
● Joining the Coast Guard despite not knowing how to swim
● The notable memories Manson recalls from his time in the Coast Guard Academy
● Experiencing racism in the Coast Guard and his conversation with a chief petty officer
● The first moment of leadership strength in Manson's career
● What Manson learned from working with someone who didn’t like African Americans
● Manson's time with the NOAA and the cultural differences he noticed
● Working together for diversity and inclusion
● Where Manson's interest in cycling started
● Moments that stand out in Manson's time in the NOAA
● Manson's thoughts on climate change and what he wants America to realize
● How Manson has been spending his time lately
Connect with Manson Brown:
Spaceship Not Required
I’m Kathy Sullivan, the only person to have walked in space and gone to the deepest point in the ocean.
I’m an explorer, and that doesn’t always have to involve going to some remote or exotic place. It simply requires a commitment to put curiosity into action.
In this podcast, you can explore, reflecting on lessons learned from life so far and from my brilliant and ever-inquisitive guests. We explore together in this very moment from right where you are… spaceship not required.
Welcome to Kathy Sullivan Explores.