By Willie Alexander. Author and Former NFL
Cornerback
ARTESIA DAILY PRESS. Artesia, NM. 02/03/2008
Houston, Texas - Black History Month has an
added poignancy this year, as it is almost 40
years to the day since Martin Luther King
delivered his “I Have Been to the Mountaintop“
speech. In the four decades since that momentous
occasion, there have been great strides in civil
rights and racial relations; the fact that there
is a Black History Month at all would have been
unthinkable in 1968.
Some of the progress includes Senator Barack
Obama winning a presidential caucus in a
predominately 'white' state like Iowa.
Conversely, there have been recent reminders of
America's deep racial divide with cases like the
Jena 6 in Louisiana.
So how far has America really come since MLK
declared on April 3, 1968: “I want you to know
tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the
Promised Land“?
“I was 19 when Dr. King made that speech,“ said
Willie Alexander, author of ‘‘Entering the
Promised Land” and a former NFL cornerback.
“Three years later I was in the NFL and I
thought I'd escaped discrimination. Turns out I
was wrong.“
Raised in segregation-era Montgomery, Ala.,
Willie had first-hand experience of the problems
caused by racial strife. Being a Houston Oilers
defensive back brought about stardom, but
re-entering the 'real world' as an
African-American business owner made Alexander
realize a lot of work needed to be done before
African-Americans could realize the dream of
King's 'Promised Land.'
Since his retirement from the NFL in 1980, he
has concentrated on building his own business in
Houston, Texas. Through his own experiences,
Alexander found most African-American businesses
struggle to do commerce in a predominantly white
business marketplace, and thus struggle to turn
a profit.
‘‘At first I was just a young man dealing with
experienced executives, so I didn't expect it to
be easy,“ said Alexander. “But what I do find
troubling is that even though I'm now an
experienced businessman and company chairman in
my late 50s, when I deal with less experienced
managers I am still having to swim against the
tide because I'm a black businessman.“
Alexander is using his book ‘‘Entering the
Promised Land” and Black History Month to
encourage African-Americans to embrace King's
economic blueprint, which called for spending
money with institutions that support the
African-American community, thereby creating a
stronger African-American economic base.
The night before his assassination, King's final
words spoke about his hope for America's future,
“He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And
I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised
Land. I may not get there with you. But I want
you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will
get to the Promised Land.“
Over the span of his unique life, Alexander has
personally seen how far up 'the mountain'
African-Americans have been. But he hopes that
the 40th anniversary of that speech and the
embracing of King's message will finally mark
the conquering of the summit thereby helping all
Americans with dreams of 'Entering the Promised
Land.'
How Close are We to Dr. King's Mountaintop?
THE NEWPORT DAILY
EXPRESS. Newport, VT. 02/06/2008.
Houston, TX - Black History Month has an added
poignancy this year, as it is almost 40 years to
the day, since Martin Luther King delivered his
"I Have Been to the Mountaintop" speech. In the
four decades since that momentous occasion,
there have been great strides in civil rights
and racial relations - the fact that there is a
Black History Month at all would have been
unthinkable in 1968.
Some of the progress includes Senator Barack
Obama winning a presidential caucus in a
predominately 'White' state like Iowa.
Conversely, there have been recent reminders of
America's deep racial divide with cases like the
Jena 6 in Louisiana. So how far has America
really come since MLK declared on April 3, 1968;
"I want you to know tonight, that we, as a
people, will get to the Promised Land"?
"I was 19 when Dr. King made that speech,"
recalls Willie Alexander, former NFL Cornerback
and author of 'Entering the Promised Land.'
"Three years later I was in the NFL and I
thought I'd escaped discrimination. Turns out I
was wrong."
Raised in segregation-era Montgomery, Alabama,
Willie had first-hand experience of the problems
caused by racial strife. Being a Houston Oilers
Defensive Back brought about stardom, but
re-entering the 'real world' as a black business
owner made Alexander realize a lot of work
needed to be done before African-Americans could
realize the dream of Dr. King's 'Promised Land.'
Since his retirement from the NFL in 1980 he has
concentrated on building his own business in
Houston. Through his own experiences, Alexander
found most African-American businesses struggle
to do commerce in a predominantly white-business
marketplace, and thus struggle to turn a profit.
"At first I was just a young man dealing with
experienced executives, so I didn't expect it to
be easy," says Alexander. "But what I do find
troubling is that even though I'm now an
experienced businessman and company chairman in
my late 50's, when I deal with less experienced
managers I am still having to swim against the
tide because I'm a black businessman."
Alexander is using his book 'Entering the
Promised Land' and Black History Month to
encourage Black Americans to embrace Rev. Martin
Luther King's economic blue print, which called
for spending money with institutions that
supported the Black Community, thereby creating
a stronger Black economic base.
The night before his assassination, Dr. King's
final words spoke about his hope for America's
future, "He's allowed me to go up to the
mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen
the Promised Land. I may not get there with you.
But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a
people, will get to the Promised Land."
Over the span of his unique life, Willie
Alexander has personally seen how far up 'the
mountain' Black Americans have been. But he
hopes that the 40th anniversary of that speech
and the embracing of Dr. King's message will
finally mark the conquering of the summit
thereby helping all Americans with dreams of
'Entering the Promised Land.'
About Willie Alexander
Willie Alexander is best known as a Houston
Oilers Defensive Back, a position he played for
nine seasons. He founded W.J. Alexander &
Associates in 1980, a full-service employee
benefits consulting and insurance brokerage firm
in Houston, Texas. Willie also serves on public
and private sector boards, including the Amegy
Bank of Texas, Greater Houston Partnership and
the Texas Children's Hospital, and has been a
prime activist in numerous charities throughout
his sporting and business career.
Born in Montgomery, Alabama during the
segregation era, Willie witnessed first-hand the
rise and success of the civil rights movement,
which had a lasting impact upon him. He has a
bachelor's degree in business administration
from Alcorn State University in Mississippi and
he lives in Houston with his wife of 36 years.
He has three children. Willie Alexander's
website can be found at
Former Houston Oiler Turns Author 02/20/2008
Willie Alexander made an impression on
quarterbacks and receivers in the nine seasons
he played for the Oilers. Now, he's a published
author trying to make a different impression. He
discussed his book on FOX 26 Morning News.
For more information:
Janice M. Baker
Entering The Promised Land jbaker@wjalexander.com
W.J. Alexander & Associates
713-802-0900 Ext. 11
CEO Urges Renewed Activism with Book On African-American Economic Issues
Former NFL Star-turned-Businessman Seeks Updated Civil Rights Agenda Using Economic Goals of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
HOUSTON — Willie J. Alexander is still motivated by the spiritual values and work ethic instilled in him by his parents, teachers, coaches and others throughout his early years in the segregated South.
A former Houston Oilers defensive back, Willie is President and Founder of W.J. Alexander & Associates, P.C., a full-service employee benefits consulting and insurance brokerage firm in Houston, Texas. And now, Willie is joining the ranks of inspired new authors with his challenging and thought-provoking new book titled, Entering the Promised Land. In his first book, Willie reveals how his spiritual upbringing, professional sports career and business experiences all led him to ask new questions and draw new conclusions about several biblical and historical events. Drawn from his own experiences as an African-American businessman facing the limits of working with US corporations and businesses, Entering the Promised Land focuses on institutionalized economic hindrances that keep so many African-Americans in a seemingly endless underdog role.
Throughout the book, Willie urges readers to question what is often accepted as fact — particularly economic news concerning African-Americans. For example, Willie cites the 2006 U.S. Census Bureau Report released in 2007 which reveals that out of the total 21,226 black businesses in Houston, only 1,374 actually had paid employees (Entering the Promised Land, page 16). Willie also notes the same 2006 U.S. Census Bureau Report’s documents how average black business sales in Houston fell during a 10-year period from a dismal $84,000 to an even more dismal $74,000.
Willie also offers a detailed new approach to biblical history and reveals parallels between two epic struggles for survival and self-improvement — the children of Israel’s escape from bondage in ancient Egypt during the days of Moses; and, the African-American Civil Rights Movement spearheaded by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Willie also gives the reader a personal, poignant and emotional look at his spiritual upbringing in segregated Alabama during the 1950s and 1960s, and how his parents taught him the values of hard work and persistence along with a reliance on common sense.
Throughout the book, Willie is thorough in documenting how he reaches his opinions through biblical and non-biblical research.
In Entering the Promised Land, Willie makes an emphatic case urging African-Americans to rebuild the Civil Rights Movement by using the economic blueprint vividly articulated by Dr. King in the last speech of his life — a speech Dr. King gave the night before his death in 1968.
Willie’s book has won praise from prominent figures who are also his associates. O.A. “Bum” Phillips, Willie’s former head coach during his days with the NFL’s Houston Oilers (now Tennessee Titans), notes how Entering the Promised Land kept him riveted from cover to cover. “In the 22 years since I retired from coaching in the National Football League, this is the only book that I have read from cover to cover without putting it down even once,” Phillips says.
Houston businessman and former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Robert Mosbacher notes the book can appeal to readers in two important ways. “This excellent book is a must read for anyone interested or concerned about either or both the lack of business opportunity for blacks in America and the biblical interpretation presented by the author,” Mosbacher says. “Willie Alexander should get kudos for his remarkable research and presentation of the subject matter.”
In fact, Willie has crafted a book that can appeal to readers of every faith. Noted Houston Rabbi Samuel E. Karff praises Willie’s book and the purpose it serves. “Although the author’s method of interpreting Scripture is not mine, I greatly respect the man and the underlying message of his book,” Rabbi Karff says. “I admire his passionate and spiritual commitment to help his brothers and sisters take pride in their history and seek their rightful share in the promise of America.”
Entering the Promised Land results from years of research and revisions carried out through Willie’s Defined Word Approach,™ which involves researching the definitions of certain biblical words and the origins of certain phrases. Willie also provides the reader with a glossary to explain rare words and names used in the book, along with a bibliography. In short, Willie makes every effort to bring a simple and straightforward message to as many readers as possible. Filled with powerful and insightful observations, Entering the Promised Land ranks as an impressive and intense work by a first-time author whose passion for change sent him on a five-year spiritual journey to initiate and deliver this brilliant literary work.
Entering the Promised Land offers an eye-opening perspective on how to turn anger and frustration into a catalyst for change and personal growth.
Willie will personally discuss Entering the Promised Land at an upcoming Houston Forum breakfast event set for November 1, 2007 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Junior League of Houston, 1811 Briar Oaks Lane, Houston, Texas 77027. Willie’s former Houston Oilers coach, the legendary Bum Phillips, will introduce Willie at the event.
