Essence of Winston
Jeremy Nowell/Staff Reporter
Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: Minority Today
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During an interview, he exuded confidence and was still radiant from his win at the Nov. 5 Essence of a Man pageant.
Winston, a 23-year-old senior, was born and raised in Champaign. He is from a family with one younger sister, and two doting parents who have been married for 23 years.
A graduate of Champaign Central High School, Winston participated in countless activities like football, basketball, and marching and jazz band during high school, as well as track and field. But, he struggled to fit in.
"I wasn't very popular in high school," Winston said.
Winston handled a lack of popularity on a daily basis, but he did not allow it to get to him. He was determined to make a name for himself.
"It made me hungrier," he said. "Other people may have been spoon-fed, but I had to work for it. My work paid off when I got a scholarship to Eastern."
When he arrived to Eastern, he knew his major was going to be art.
"I've always loved to draw, so why not make a career doing something I love?" he said.
Like in high school, Winston is heavily involved in organizations such as track and freelance design, and he is currently trying to start a hip-hop congress for emcees at Eastern.
With all of this on his plate, the question is: What made him join Essence of a Man?
"I had all of these views I wanted to get across," Winston said. "Everyone is trying to emulate a stereotype like Lil' Wayne. We need more black doctors, dentists, and more black people holding political office positions."
Winston sounded confident as he sat in the interview and addressed the question of whether he was nervous at all performing in front of the pageant audience.
"No. For me it was like an everyday thing," Winston said. "I'm used to performing. Last year I opened for Lupe (Fiasco) and that was a crowd of 2,000 people."
His advice to participants in the forthcoming years is to "be yourself and have a stage presence."
"It's not the words you say, but how you say them," he said.
In a world where confidence can easily be mistaken for being conceited, those who know him best assure that he is nothing like that.
"He's really down to earth," said Serine Jones, a freshman undecided major. "He's a cool guy to just hang out with."
Cheyenne Jackson, a freshman psychology major, thinks Winston is quite the character.
"He's really goofy, funny and whenever I'm around him I know I'm going to have fun," Jackson said.
As the interview drew to a close Winston spoke about his main inspiration.
"My granddad, Joseph Thomas, was a first generation born in America," Winston said. "He paved the way for my family and me. He was there during the time of legalized slavery.
At the age of 14, he ran away and joined the Army. He had to lie about his age to do so, and even to this day it says he's four years older than his actual age." After winning the title "Essence of a Man 2009," Winston has plenty in store for his immediate future.
"I'm going to audition for So You Think You Can Rap," Winston said. "I'm going to give it my all, and let the best man win."
Jeremy Nowell can be reached at 581-7942 or jjnowell@eiu.edu.
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