Justin Tutt gives ‘Power Words’ to students
“The Man in the Black Chucks” delivers a message of focus and determination to North Heights.
From Rome City Schools
One of Rome City Schools’ students has returned as an adult to inspire young students to fulfill their dreams. Justin Tutt “The Man in the Black Chucks” delivered a message of focus and determination to students at North Heights Elementary just ahead of Georgia Milestone Assessments starting this week.
As the cafeteria filled with fifth and sixth graders, Tutt had one rule: Respect others.
When the students were quiet, he led them in one of many positive chants and songs, drawing smiles and laughter from faculty members who lined the outside walls during the presentation.
Wrapped in the disguise of fun and jest, Tutt used his black chucks — another name for the original Converse sneaker — as a visual representation of progress and to help the children identify with his use of pop culture to carry a theme.
“People always ask me why everyone calls me The Man in the Black Chucks. I want you to check out these things,” Tutt said pointing to his worn pair of Converse low-top sneakers. “They have been through a rough time. If you get close enough you can even smell them.
“But how shoes look does not make them powerful. What brand they are does not define us. What makes them powerful, are the steps we take in our shoes. What counts is where they can take us if we continue to move forward with our goals.”
Tutt went on using stories from his childhood to paint a picture for the students in the cafeteria. He talked about his failures, and hard times. He talked about consequences and the lessons learned from falling down. But, most importantly, he talked about what is possible if they continued to get up, move forward and remained focused on their education.