Linvincible. Linspiration. Mr.
Lincredible. In a short span of time, the sensation of Jeremy Lin has been
sweeping through countless media outlets, causing media frenzy over the Knicks
basketball player, who appeared from out of nowhere. Jeremy Lin has been one of
the fastest growing brands to hit the sports industry to this date, spurning
endorsements, ranging from Nike to even Ben and Jerry’s ice cream! For the past
few weeks, even my own Facebook newsfeed has dedicated its own section to him,
with at least over eight people talking about him in their statuses. It really
is Linsanity.
A Harvard graduate who went from
playing college basketball without a scholarship at Harvard University, to
playing for the D-League, to getting waived from the Golden State Warriors and
the Houston Rockets, to becoming one of the biggest stars today in the NBA? So
many minority groups, not just Asians, have struggled to break down the
negative stereotypes that have haunted them in the media, such as the in the
entertainment industry and the sports industry, and in society. And even though
this fight is not over yet, Lin has broken some of the barriers that have
prevented Asians from having a voice in these outlets.
Yet, despite all the buzz
surrounding him, there seems to be one person who isn’t crazy about him,
someone who views him as not the superhero that people are making him out to
be, but just as a humble being who owes his gifts and opportunities to
God—Jeremy Lin, himself. He attributes his successes not on coincidence and not
on himself, but to the paths that God has put him on and the doors that God had
opened for him at the right time.
This story of the underdog’s
struggle, the closing of the wrong doors and the opening of the right ones
resonate closely with that of Innermix and their story. In the beginning,
Simply D and Jules struggled with the negative stereotypes so often attributed
to the color of their skin, doubled with constant doubt in the music industry
over their talents. As an entertainment group consisting of a Black man and an
Asian woman, one can imagine the stereotypes and the opposition that they faced
in the industry. After coming a long way from hearing empty promises and the
words, “no” all the time, to finally rising to the confident, self-sufficient
and visionary group they are today, they have found that after all this time,
things are really starting to take off and the dreams that they have dared to
hold onto are beginning to take flight.
“We see a lot of similarities
with what’s happening in his life right now. Because there’s two forms of
fighting: a silent fight to remain who you are in the spotlight and the loud,
boisterous fight when you feel like people are trying to tear down everything
you have to say,” said Simply D.
The struggle to be respected and
heard for Asians and other minority groups isn’t over yet. After the ESPN
debacle where a writer was fired for a racial slur directed at Lin, and other
countless incidents involving criticism and jokes at the expense of Lin’s race
rather than over his talents and abilities, Lin must continue to endure the
criticism and negativity that surrounds him, which is a price that many
minorities who end up in the spotlight. And like Lin, Innermix has heard their
fair share of negativity and doubt, surrounding just how exactly they are able
to make things work for them, how they are able to synergize so well when they
are so different. When asked what sort of opposition that they expect to face,
as they continue to grow and progress as a group, they understand that it’s
nothing that they haven’t heard already. And that’s what has fostered their
growth, their strength and their ability to thrive in the industry, despite all
the negativity.
Despite the long way Simply D and
Jules have come, one thing is for certain: they have chosen to remain humble,
even in the midst of the spotlight. Yes, they have achieved great things. As
hosts of a weekly radio show that has reached international success, actors,
songwriters, multimedia personalities, they are truly doing it all. And though
it’s only going to get better, they continued to attribute their achievements
and success to God, who has laid out the path that they find themselves
trekking on towards their dreams.
“It was God’s way of making sure
that the correct doors open at the right time and the wrong ones close at the
right time. Right now, I’m so excited for this year and next, I feel in my
bones every neuron in my body, that God is opening the correct doors right
now,” said Jules.
When the spotlight shines upon you,
and you find yourself constantly in the center of attention, it can become too
easy to get caught up in yourself. But it takes a really humble and
down-to-earth person to stay modest and grateful to those who have put you in
the position that you are today.
“All these people, all these
things came into my life, and they’re all blessings from God. And now that I
look back, I realize that these are His fingerprints all over my story,” said
Jeremy Lin.
What Jeremy Lin symbolizes is not
just that of achieving the American Dream. He symbolizes putting your faith in
not only yourself, but also in God. He symbolizes holding onto your dreams and
not giving up to the negative voices and stereotypes that attempt to tear you
down. The obstacles that you face in your life pave the way for the successes
and the blessings that will come your way at the right time. This is his story, but it's so much more than that.
This is Innermix’s story.
In fact, this may even be your story.
Until next time,
Tiffany
