Dexter C. Givens, Jr.
NOMINEE
Nominated by
Tamarah Davis
January 09, 2019
Merriam-Webster defines a hero as “one who shows great courage, admired for their outstanding achievements and noble qualities”. Our unsung hero does exactly that in a way most wouldn’t describe as heroic. Dexter Givens, Jr. served our country in the Marine Corps for four years, going overseas to protect our way of life -- yet that is not the reason I’ve nominated him.
Society today is in utter turmoil: divided, contentious, and perpetually offended. Horrors fill our television screens and there is a new injustice to cry over every day. In the midst of this chaos, Dexter feels moved to do something about it. Courageously, he takes center-stage. With a generosity that can only be considered noble, he shares his gift of comedy with others. Our protagonist enables the downtrodden, the brokenhearted, the oppressed, the exhausted, and wounded to turn their tears into laughter. Even for just a moment the world is right again, and their problems are forgotten.
The late Robin Williams once said, “comedy can be a cathartic way to deal with personal trauma”. The honor of knowing Dexter has helped me through some of the darkest times in my life. He’s more than awesome – he’s a blessing. When it’s our world that is sick, laughter truly is the best medicine. Our hero is admired for inspiring joy when it is scarce, for being able to see the light in the darkness, and for simply being himself.