Interview
Faces
continued from page 6
show?
RP: I don’t know. Only he would
know. Nevertheless, I think he did
learn some lessons from the height-
ened public scrutiny, and I hope he
took those lessons to heart.
kW: Didn’t he recently invoke
your name when he was being
labeled a racist?
RP: Yes, he said, “How can I be a
racist, when I hired Randal?” That
was another reason why I called him.
I said, “Donald, you’ve got to be kid-
ding. There have been 11 Seasons of
The Apprentice and I’m still the only
person of color ever to emerge victo-
rious.” It’s unbelievable!
kW: I’ll never forget how on the
finale he tried to twist your arm to get
you to agree to share the title with the
runner-up, when you should obvious-
ly have been the runaway winner.
RP: I also mentioned that to him. I
said, “To add insult to injury, I’m the
only person you ever asked to share
the title.”
kW: Is there any question no one
ever asks you, that you wish someone
would?
RP: How can we create greater
economic opportunity in the African-
American community? It’s not sur-
prising, but studies have shown that
kW: The bookworm Troy Johnson
question: What was the last book you
read?
RP: “Entrepreneurial Finance” by
Professor Steven Rogers of the
Kellogg School. http://www.ama-
zon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0071591
265/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20
kW: The music maven Heather
Covington question: What are you
listening to on your iPod?
RP: I just got Jill Scott’s new CD
and
I
absolutely
love
it.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos
/ASIN/B004Y1QPXM/ref=nosim/th
slfofire-20
kW: What is your favorite dish to
cook?
RP: Curried chicken with rice and
peas and sweet plantain. I got the
recipes from my Jamaican roommate
when I lived in England for two
years.
kW: The Uduak Oduok question:
Who is your favorite clothes design-
er?
RP: A good friend who was a col-
lege classmate of mine, Jarvis Parker.
He does all my suits.
kW: When you look in the mirror,
what do you see?
RP: I see a husband, a father, an
When was the last time you had a good
laugh? RP: Other than the one I had a
second ago? [Laughs some more]
black-owned businesses employ a far
greater percentage of African-
Americans than other companies. So,
I really do believe that the way to
deal with the high, black unemploy-
ment rate is by encouraging African-
American entrepreneurism. By mov-
ing into that realm of thinking like an
owner instead of like an employee
will have a ripple effect of creating
more opportunities right in our com-
munity.
kW: The Tasha Smith question:
Are you ever afraid?
RP: I’m seldom afraid. My greatest
fear has been of letting God, my par-
ents, my family or my community
down. I’m the first to acknowledge
that I’ve really been blessed, but that
also means that I’ve got to be a bless-
ing to others. I think I often work
myself too hard, Kam, out of fear of
letting of letting other people down.
kW: Do you ever wish you could
have your anonymity back?
RP: No, I don’t mind it at all. I’m
not in the category of celebrity that I
can’t go to the grocery store. It’s
actually humbling when someone
does recognize me and approach me,
because they’re always so proud,
respectful and encouraging. And they
invariably say: “I will never forget
that Apprentice finale.” [LOL]
entrepreneur, a speaker, an author, a
community servant and a child of
God.
kW: If you could have one wish
instantly granted, what would that be
for?
RP: For true equality in society.
kW: The Ling-Ju Yen question:
What is your earliest childhood
memory?
RP: Wow! It’s of my mother
explaining to me when I was about 5
years-old why I couldn’t sell my toys
to other kids in the neighborhood
because she had bought them for me.
kW: The Judyth Piazza question:
What key quality do you believe all
successful people share?
RP: Persistence! Without question.
I believe that the race is won by he
who endureth. If you desire to be suc-
cessful, and you work at it long and
hard enough, you will almost
inevitably get there. Those who
throw in the towel too quickly or too
easily will never find success.
kW: The Tavis Smiley question:
How do you want to be remembered?
RP: As a man who was blessed and
a blessing to others.
kW: The Teri Emerson question:
When was the last time you had a
good laugh?
RP: Other than the one I had a sec-
ond ago? [Laughs some more]
kW: Thanks again for the time,
Randal, I really appreciate it.
RP: Thank you, Kam. I’ll definite-
ly give you a heads up the next time
I’m in Princeton. In the meantime, let
me know if there’s any way I can
help you out.
kW: That’ll do. What is your
guiltiest pleasure?
RP: Either a nice slice of apple pie
or a good peach cobbler.
To order a copy of Black Faces in
White Places, visit: http://www.ama-
zon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0814416
802/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20
Page 10 The Portland Skanner July 13, 2011