​Anselm Gibbs is “the little boy from Laventille

Anselm Gibbs is “the little boy from Laventille with a big forehead who always had big dreams.” After putting plans in motion to study aeronautical engineering, he took a break and formed Lizard Blizzard Sound System before heading to the US to pursue a degree in journalism and master’s degree in sports management. From being told that he will never be an anchor on American TV and having his career downplayed by some relatives, he proved many people wrong. His “big dreams” took him from the dasheen patch yard of his home to ABC News to anchoring T&T's number one newscast, the TV6 News. This is Anselm’s MENtions story:
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Granny always said "how you carry yourself" is important”.
I grew up in Success Village, Laventille in a house with my mother, grandmother, two aunts, my elder sister and younger brother. We didn't have much money but the adults in our home, did all they possibly could to make sure we always had something to eat every day, books in our school bags, shoes on our feet and clothes on our backs. I remember eating the same meal, dasheen and bhaji, for days. I wouldn’t trade those adults for anything: they provided the best childhood that my siblings and I could hope for. I thank God for putting me with the family I'm with. I'm so grateful for them.
God/church, discipline, education, love, honesty, kindness, helping others, education and CLASS... were strong values and watchwords in our home. I put "class" in capital letters, because my granny always stressed that "how you carry yourself" is important.
As child, granny didn’t like me nor my brother “liming” on the street. I didn't understand until later, what she was saving us from.
I always say there's a "missing generation" in the neighbourhood where I grew up. Most of the original residents who would be 35-45 years old now, are either dead, in prison or would have moved out of the area. This is a direct result of crime and violence in the area.
Growing up, I always had plenty "chat". I was (and I still am) always the person who "ain't fraid nobody." Part of it came from people teasing me about my big forehead. I was teased so much about it. That wasn't a nice feeling. As a result, I felt insecure about my looks for such a significant chunk of my life.
“My career found me: from aeronautical engineering to DJing to broadcast journalism”
I first wanted to become a scientist, until I realised that I was terrible at science subjects at school. I then made up my mind that I wanted to become a pilot/aeronautical engineer. I got accepted to a number of aeronautical schools in New York. In 2000, I accepted a partial scholarship and while signing up to begin classes, a school official told me if I got 40 more points on the SAT exam, I would get a full scholarship. So, I moved back to Trinidad to try to improve my SAT score.
While back home I started playing around with two portable CD players and a PC monitor speaker and began experimenting with DJ-ing. That led to me forming Lizzard Blizzard Sound System (DJ group). We were ruthless back then. We racked up a heap of dub plates (singers remaking their songs calling your DJ group's name in it) and were spinning in all the big clubs/parties and taking part in sound clash competitions, locally and abroad.
That love for DJ-ing, which I still have and always will, drove me to want formal training in media. I decided broadcast journalism was the way. With the writing ability I believe I possessed, my career path basically found me.
“You will never make it on the air in America with that accent."
Being a journalist has been a wonderful ride so far. I've written for newspapers and worked in radio and TV.
I distinctly remember a professor at the University of the District of Columbia (I attended UDC for my first year of tertiary education, then transferred) telling me, in front of the entire class, "you will never make it on the air in America with that accent." Also, some people (even some relatives) said I was studying "some chupidness" and that I wouldn't even finish university and would have to return to Trinidad, without a degree.
I absolutely love it when people say those things because it gives me an additional drive and desire to prove them wrong. I graduated from St. John's University (magna cum laude) with a Bachelor's degree in journalism and a Master's degree in Sport Management. Since then, I've worked for and have been on the air for ABC News, CBS Radio's WFAN in NYC (the #1 media market in America) and WPLJ 95.5FM, also in NYC.
“I am grateful. I am thankful. I enjoy what I do”
I've interviewed and met so many people: from celebrities to the regular man. I've been to places, locally and internationally, that most people may not visit in their lifetime. I am truly grateful. I am thankful. Don't get me wrong, the job may frustrate me at times and make me use words that I can't say on TV, but I still enjoy what I do.
Many people have helped me become the journalist and person I am today. Locally, Dominic Kalipersad took a chance on me and to this day, he still sends me texts whenever I mispronounce a word on the air. In the US, radio DJ, Rocky Allen, and NY1 (NY cable TV channel) anchor/reporter, Jeanine Ramirez, taught me so much.
In addition to those mentioned above, I also look up to Keith Morrison, TJ Holmes, Sade Baderinwa, Ancil "Blaze" Isaac and Lori Stokes.
“Journalism is often a thankless job and requires thick skin”
If you want to get into journalism, my advice is to do it because you are genuinely interested in becoming a journalist. If you want to do it because "ah want to be on TV and be ah news anchor and be popular and ting”, the industry will instantly sense you're there for the wrong reasons.
Journalism is a lot of hard work, long hours, working on holidays, getting cursed and chased by police, officials, over-zealous security guards and a long list of other people. The entire nation gets to judge and criticise your work. The job is often a thankless one and requires thick skin. But, it's that genuine passion for the job (and the bills you have to pay) that help you overcome those challenges and enjoy the good times.
“My heart hurts for our black boys. They are our boys.”
These are our boys and I wish they realise that they can be and do better. The issue with some of our young, black boys is that the "wrong crowd" is too often the most accessible and these become the role models they look to. But I believe that it's just a cycle because the present leaders of that "wrong crowd" were once young too, and they looked to similar role models to end up in the "wrong crowd." There are sufficient role models for black men in Trinidad and Tobago. People like Gervase Warner, Kieron Pollard, Machel Montano, Levi Garcia and so many others. They simply need to look at their journeys and be inspired.
“You will find your way”
To the young man out there, who may be a bit confused and still searching for a career path, I want you to know that there's a difference between pushing yourself to accomplish something and forcing yourself to do something. You will find your way, just be prepared for your opportunity, when it comes because it will come.
Continue to dream big. I am a little boy from Laventille with a big forehead who always had big dreams. Those dreams took me from the dasheen patch yard of my home to ABC News to doing amazing things in media. If I can do it….
Comedian Conan O'Brien said this years ago and I live by it: if you work hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen.
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Anselm is a past student of Richmond Street Boys Anglican School and St. Anthony's College
Source: MENtions-Stories About Us, Nov 1, 2020

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