Distinguished Gentleman of the Month: Lamarco McClendon

Name:

LaMarco McClendon -Publicist -Netflix

Education:

University of Southern California - Master’s of Science -Journalism -May 13, 2016

Rust College -Bachelor’s of Arts – Mass Communications -April 27, 2015

Social Media:

IG: @LamarcoMcClendon

Facebook: Lamarco McClendon

LinkedIn: Lamarco McClendon

1. What does "Distinguished Gentleman" mean to you?

A: Life is filled with obstacles, both internal and external. When met with these obstacles, the easiest and, sometimes, natural response is to hide. It takes a certain amount of courage, discipline and perseverance to become the best version of yourself and do the impactful work.  For me, a distinguished gentleman is one who embodies these characteristics -who takes these qualities and uses them to forge a path that leaves a meaningful impact that mobilizes those he comes in contact with.

 2. What is your brand and how did you get started? 

A: I have always been fascinated by people who have created a path for others to believe they, too, are capable of achieving greatness, whatever that may look like to them. Since graduating with a bachelor's degree in 21 and receiving master's in 22; from moving to Los Angeles from Arkansas alone; from having enough faith in myself to jump from being a journalist to production coordinator and finally to a publicist with no prior experience at a company known to hire only seasoned profiles, I have worked at every stage of my life to be courageous and do great work. I hope when people look at me, especially young people, they see the fruits of what being courageous and doing your best work can do for you.

3. What is your dream goal and how do you plan on achieving it?

A: I hope that the work I do will shape and influence culture. Knowing that I have the capacity to influence how others experience the world is thrilling to me. As a young man who is passionate about storytelling and advocacy, I hope to use the skills I’ve gained to help expose people to stories and information that will that will better inform how they move through the world.

4. Name a moment that you feel helped shape you into the young man that you are today.

A: There is not one moment that shaped me into who I am but many life experiences. Coming from a family that was not the most well-off financially, having limited means of accessing different cultures, places and educational experiences and seeing my grandfather receive only a watch after dedicating 30 years of his life to a job, unequivocally confirmed in my spirit that I had to put myself in a position and gain access to spaces that would not only open doors to a world I longed to see as a change but also give my family access to world they thought was out of reach.

5. Name a person (dead or alive) that you look up to & why?

A: Though he did not have the opportunity to receive a quality education, my grandfather provided for his family. Though he faced many trials, my father became mayor of our hometown. They both instilled in me that there was nothing I was incapable of. They taught me to believe in myself. They taught me that the world was full of possibilities and I was worthy of receiving them all. The gift they gave me is priceless.

6. When it comes to being a man, what do you feel should be the three core values that a gentleman should uphold?

A: Dignity -be a man of your word when no one is looking. Be someone your loved ones can count on. Be someone you can count on.

    Courage -be willing to face the things that cause you the most fear. Be willing to take a risk. Be willing to make a decision for the betterment of yourself through it might not be aligned with what the world agrees with.

               Openness -Be available emotionally and mentally to new ideas, to experiences and to the world around you. Recognize that the world is a vast place and there is so much you can give and receive.

7. What is a quote that you live by and how do you live up to it?

A: “Any moment could be your last.” – I use this quote to keep me grounded. At times, the world can feel too much. I get caught up in work and forget about the things that really matter -family and the feeling of happiness. I find too often we try to live up to quotes that glorify the grind or becoming successful and too often forget about the importance of mental health. This is me learning to reclaim inner peace in a world that glorifies hustle and demands you to work then die. 

      8.  Piece of advice that you would give to young men of color who do not believe in themselves or lack role models? 

A: There is so much that comes to mind when I read this question and what I write here wouldn’t suffice. So, any young mind of color feeling this way, contact me. But, what I will say here is, you owe it to yourself to be the best version of you, to give yourself the life you have always imagined. You owe it to yourself to be free, to smile, to heal, to grow, to evolve. Your present situation does not define you. What has happened in the past does not define you. Give yourself permission to create a world that you want to live in.