Charleston Women Spring 2021

www. Char l es tonWomen . com | www. Char l es tonWomenPodcas t . com | www. ReadCW. com CW three-year-old son is also a source of inspiration. Chris said that he also finds encouragement from Inky Johnson, a motivational speaker and standout as a former college football player who had his right arm permanently paralyzed due to a sports injury. Like Inky, Chris has a notable sports background. He played baseball for Charleston Southern University and was drafted to the Chicago Cubs. He now works in community outreach for the Charleston Riverdogs. He credits sports for being a big part of who he is. “It teaches work ethic. If you work hard, eventually it will pay off.” WHO CHRIS IS TODAY This past February alone, Chris was booked for 18 speaking engagements – 12 virtual and six in-person. He said they were for a variety of different audiences – some were at colleges, some for companies and elementary schools. “I have this opportunity, and I would be selfish not to give it a shot,” he explained. “Many people don’t have this option. I am doing this for them. I am doing this for my parents.” He said that neither of his parents saw the age of 50. His father was an alcoholic, but Chris said he was a “good dad.” “The way I was raised was phenomenal. I am truly blessed.” THE BOOK When speaking to kids, Chris said he doesn’t want to tell them the full story of what happened to his mother. He knows how upsetting it is to hear, so he decided to write a children’s book. The story is called “Different” and is dedicated to his mother. It is about a young boy named Obinna who moved to the United States from Nigeria. He wore his traditional Nigerian clothing, a dashiki, and was later bullied at school for being “different.” His teacher, appropriately named Mrs. Sharonda, helped the young boy come out of his shell and be proud of who he was. In the end, the other students accepted him too. “When I speak to kids, I speak about unity and the importance of accepting each other, no matter what. It’s a message to show that they can overcome adversity.” He just released another children’s book, entitled “Your Life Matters,” which teaches about Black history. Chris sees hope for the future and is optimistic for change. “We need to reshape and rethink how we are presenting opportunities to people – all people. We need to come together and get rid of the preconceived notions. Love is stronger than hate.” Chr is, his mom Sharonda Coleman Singleton and his wi fe Mar iana. Chr is Singleton holds a photo and a poem of his mother, Sharonda. feature