When I was 22 years old and working as a summer intern at The New York Times , my main source of courage while navigating that intense newsroom was a battered old copy of Ralph Waldo Emerson's Essays. I can't explain why the pronouncements of a white male 19th century New England philosopher resonated so much with a young black female from an impoverished 20th century Midwestern background, except to say that even before I knew it, I was determined to be authentic. That pursuit has served me well, because at this point I can honestly say that my most valuable possession is the integrity of my own mind. It might not fill my bank account, but it pays my rent to our landlord, the Earth. …see more