Television personality and openly gay ESPN columnist LZ Granderson visited Shippensburg University last Wednesday in the CUB MPR to share his journey to success from a troubled past.

Granderson was born and raised in Detroit to his mother and step-father who both worked full-time. His parents, even while working double shifts consecutive days, still struggled to make ends meet. In his CNN opinion article titled, “Gingrich has it wrong about the poor,” Granderson touched on the hardships his family faced living in Detroit along with the multiple times he was mugged growing up in the city. He would often go to Goodwill to receive his clothes for school and lived off welfare to ensure he would not go hungry.

During Granderson’s talk to the room full of students, he recognized that people are talking about poverty now more than ever because a majority of the country is considered working poor.
“Sixty percent of the country has a full time job but not $1,000 in savings,” Granderson said as he calmly walked across the stage.

While he maneuvered his way back-and-forth with humor in between moments of deep discussion, Granderson spoke about his aspirations in life.

“There’s so much going on in the world that we can’t do everything. So choose one thing and pour your heart into it,” he said. “Every day we have the chance to say yes to opportunities in our lives.”
With an attentive crowd at his disposal, Granderson dove into the controversial topic of gay rights in the U.S. He spoke about the political aspect of this area and how legislators are still apprehensive about supporting gay marriage.

“It is frustrating when people pretend to be neutral in legislative conversation out of fear of what others may think of their position,” he explained. “Especially if it’s your rights on the line.”
He impressed the crowd with his charm and sense of humor that ultimately eased spectators into more thoughtful topics of conversation.

“I thought that it was approached really well. I think that he had a really comfortable demeanor and a lot of things that he said many people could relate to,” said Katy Ericson, a junior at SU majoring in social work. “It was clear that he was passionate about what he was talking about,”
Sophomore Becca Zelmer was mainly inspired by the support he gives toward the lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer and transgender (LGBTQ) community.

“I think that his advocacy for the LGBTQ communities is inspirational and inspiring for other people who are trying to make a difference,” Zelmer said. “He was poor and now he’s a famous CNN reporter and ESPN columnist.”

Above all, Granderson wanted to prove that being oppressive and advocating hate instead of love will hinder the growth of a nation. He emphasized the importance of being who you are.
“It’s about being yourself. Putting yourself out there even though it may seem a little odd.”

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