Yannick
September 22, 1957
Attorney
New York , NY
I won't be the “big deal” age until next September, but so many of my friends have already gone through it, I think I'll be prepared. I am thrilled to be where I am in life. I have a loving, supporting and beautiful wife of more than twenty years, two fine young sons who are growing into fine young men and a small daughter who is a delight.
My work is finally, finally rewarding. I had no idea how difficult it would be to make it as an African American lawyer in a very straight-laced, uptight but highly regarded firm and I thought of giving up many times. When I was hired here straight out of Georgetown , I thought ‘man, I got it made.' But I had to prove myself over and over and over to the point where ten years ago a buddy of mine and I went out on our own. We were doing so well, this firm offered us our jobs back and made us partners. Senior partners. Eddie and I had finally made it.
I have always been very insecure. Yeah, I've been the therapy route. It helped me focus on how important it is to be satisfied with who you are. My wife Vera knows who she is and she makes things happen for herself. She is a graphic designer with great talent and my wife, she has pushed me over hurdles I never could have jumped had she not been there to shove me when I was afraid. Afraid of what? Failing, appearing incompetent, being black, being not good enough. It's hard to say. You see these sailing types, these Connecticut boys in their seersucker suits in the summer and I could never wear one of those but that does not make me inferior. I'm just finally finding my own way: cashmere jackets, black always, a white shirt and a black tie, gabardine pants.
What's inside my head? The brownstone we're renovating in Harlem is going to be worth two million dollars. I wish my mother were still around to see the high ceilings, the architecture, the banister, the brick. I feel I've made it – we've never given up. Despite so many times when I screwed up because I lacked the confidence to make it. But I can't wait to be fifty. I still look like a kid, or so Vera says. I never looked at another woman in my life. Okay, that's a lie. We all look. But that's it. I wouldn't trade what I've got for a hundred Halle Berrys . Very is my Halle Berry .
