Wake Forest Athletics
Deacs Continuing to Grow Off the Court
9/24/2020 12:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball
As the first African-American Forsyth County Sheriff, Bobby Kimbrough is persistent in his efforts to better engage the local community and improve the relationships between law enforcement and the people they are sworn to protect.
At the same time, Wake Forest student-athletes are searching for the right forum in which to speak their truth and share their voice on the social justice issues that are gripping the nation in this tumultuous period.
It only made sense for Kimbrough to meet with the Wake Forest men's basketball team last week, as he shared his life story and perspective on both working in law enforcement and being a Black man.
"He's a great speaker and I thought he shared a lot of wisdom," said Wake Forest Director of Player Relations Joe Hugley. "He was able to tell a story that was unique. He had a great message to share with our student-athletes from a different perspective."
Kimbrough met with the team virtually for well over an hour earlier this month, in a conversation that included a ton of interaction.
"It was really great," junior wing Isaiah Mucius said. "We talked about his journey from a young boy to where he is now. He really helped us understand life and how we have to make sure we're always making the right decisions. He had a lot of wisdom to share with the team. It was a great experience."
Growing up dreaming of becoming an officer, Kimbrough started his law enforcement career as a Winston-Salem police officer in 1984.
"I shared with them some of the stories from my life and some of my defining moments," he said. "We talked about all of us having a place in our mind we want to arrive at and a person we want to become. How do we get there?
"As I shared my life story with them, I told them there are times in your life you don't realize what is happening. But when you look back, the decisions you made bring you to the point you're at. The crises and the midnights of your life will reveal who you are. Your foundation will have to be strong, so when you have difficult times in your life you have something to stand on and something to ground you."
For 20 years, Kimbrough was a DEA special agent serving in the United States Department of Justice.
"I told them that their destination in life is greater than any situation they will face," he said. "My destination is greater than my current situation. All of us will come upon times that are troubling and dark, but how do you rise above that? How do you get to where you want to go? My life was not always perfect or easy.
"In 2005 I lost my wife and in 2007 I lost my home. The same agency that served the papers on the foreclosure, I now sit at the head of that agency. Don't tell me what being persistent can't do."
Those stories had a marked impression on the team, according to Mucius.
"It's great for the guys and for me to hear and speak to different people in those fields, especially Black men," Mucius said. "He grew up in the 60s, so he's seen it first hand. It was way more harsh than it is now.
"He understands the reality of working in the police force, but he also knows the feat of just being a Black man walking down the street. He understands both sides. Having the conversation with him was fantastic because you got to speak to someone who is both an African American and a cop."
Hugley views conversations like this as essential considering the current events in the nation.
"We're not always seen and represented in leadership positions," he said. "But there are people looking up to the guys in Wake Forest uniforms. They are role models for the people in this city. It's important how they carry themselves. He wanted to give those guys a sense of hope and a reason for them to handle their business in the right way.
"There are going to be tough conversations and sometimes it's best to just listen. We want them to have a voice and know they have our support. The worst thing right now is to tip-toe around the issues. In the climate we're in, you have to understand, we have to move forward to bridge the gap to understanding."
Just a month ago, the Wake Forest men's basketball team and coaching staff participated in the 'Winston 4 Peace Rally.'
"Even before I was a sheriff and before I was a special agent, I was a Black man," Kimbrough said. "I understand social justice and understand it first hand. I understand all the things that are happening. I told them that change is a good thing, and to be a part of it. Just make sure you change it in the right way. Change is necessary. I want them to be a part of change and want them to do what is right.
"We're in two of the worst pandemics in the history of our country. We're dealing with COVID-19 and social issues, which are both contagious and deadly. When you're navigating through things like that, you have to be strategic."
Hugley said one of the messages from Kimbrough was that it is important for the members of the team to remain active in the community, but be willing to not just speak, but also listen.
"He was definitely supportive," Mucius said. "He told us to continue to fight and to be smart."
At the same time, Wake Forest student-athletes are searching for the right forum in which to speak their truth and share their voice on the social justice issues that are gripping the nation in this tumultuous period.
It only made sense for Kimbrough to meet with the Wake Forest men's basketball team last week, as he shared his life story and perspective on both working in law enforcement and being a Black man.
"He's a great speaker and I thought he shared a lot of wisdom," said Wake Forest Director of Player Relations Joe Hugley. "He was able to tell a story that was unique. He had a great message to share with our student-athletes from a different perspective."
Kimbrough met with the team virtually for well over an hour earlier this month, in a conversation that included a ton of interaction.
"It was really great," junior wing Isaiah Mucius said. "We talked about his journey from a young boy to where he is now. He really helped us understand life and how we have to make sure we're always making the right decisions. He had a lot of wisdom to share with the team. It was a great experience."
Growing up dreaming of becoming an officer, Kimbrough started his law enforcement career as a Winston-Salem police officer in 1984.
"I shared with them some of the stories from my life and some of my defining moments," he said. "We talked about all of us having a place in our mind we want to arrive at and a person we want to become. How do we get there?
"As I shared my life story with them, I told them there are times in your life you don't realize what is happening. But when you look back, the decisions you made bring you to the point you're at. The crises and the midnights of your life will reveal who you are. Your foundation will have to be strong, so when you have difficult times in your life you have something to stand on and something to ground you."
For 20 years, Kimbrough was a DEA special agent serving in the United States Department of Justice.
"I told them that their destination in life is greater than any situation they will face," he said. "My destination is greater than my current situation. All of us will come upon times that are troubling and dark, but how do you rise above that? How do you get to where you want to go? My life was not always perfect or easy.
"In 2005 I lost my wife and in 2007 I lost my home. The same agency that served the papers on the foreclosure, I now sit at the head of that agency. Don't tell me what being persistent can't do."
Those stories had a marked impression on the team, according to Mucius.
"It's great for the guys and for me to hear and speak to different people in those fields, especially Black men," Mucius said. "He grew up in the 60s, so he's seen it first hand. It was way more harsh than it is now.
"He understands the reality of working in the police force, but he also knows the feat of just being a Black man walking down the street. He understands both sides. Having the conversation with him was fantastic because you got to speak to someone who is both an African American and a cop."
Hugley views conversations like this as essential considering the current events in the nation.
"We're not always seen and represented in leadership positions," he said. "But there are people looking up to the guys in Wake Forest uniforms. They are role models for the people in this city. It's important how they carry themselves. He wanted to give those guys a sense of hope and a reason for them to handle their business in the right way.
"There are going to be tough conversations and sometimes it's best to just listen. We want them to have a voice and know they have our support. The worst thing right now is to tip-toe around the issues. In the climate we're in, you have to understand, we have to move forward to bridge the gap to understanding."
Just a month ago, the Wake Forest men's basketball team and coaching staff participated in the 'Winston 4 Peace Rally.'
"Even before I was a sheriff and before I was a special agent, I was a Black man," Kimbrough said. "I understand social justice and understand it first hand. I understand all the things that are happening. I told them that change is a good thing, and to be a part of it. Just make sure you change it in the right way. Change is necessary. I want them to be a part of change and want them to do what is right.
"We're in two of the worst pandemics in the history of our country. We're dealing with COVID-19 and social issues, which are both contagious and deadly. When you're navigating through things like that, you have to be strategic."
Hugley said one of the messages from Kimbrough was that it is important for the members of the team to remain active in the community, but be willing to not just speak, but also listen.
"He was definitely supportive," Mucius said. "He told us to continue to fight and to be smart."
Players Mentioned
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