Bio

“Brilliant Minds, Ignorant Minds” is a novel by first time author, Vernon M. O’Garra. It chronicles the story of Miles Livingston and his battle against racial discrimination in healthcare, focusing on his experiences at Municipal Hospital. Despite holding a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration and extensive experience, Miles faced persistent barriers to advancement as an African American male. Beginning with his childhood, growing up in the suburbs of New York to his college years at HBCU, Lincoln University (MO) and early career as a DJ and promoter, the narrative follows Livingston’s transition into a career in healthcare. Throughout his journey, he observed a troubling pattern: while African American women and other minorities advanced into management positions, Black men were systematically excluded.

After being repeatedly passed over for promotions in favor of less qualified candidates, Livingston filed two discrimination lawsuits against Municipal Hospital. While the first case resulted in a modest settlement, the discrimination continued. His second lawsuit uncovered emails and communications revealing how hospital leadership actively worked to collude against him and prevent his advancement.

The memoir explores what Livingston terms “flawed legislation” – laws and policies that appear to protect against discrimination but fail to specifically address discrimination against Black men. He notes that employers can meet diversity requirements by hiring Black women while continuing to exclude Black men from leadership positions. The book also examines the complex dynamics between Black men and Black women in corporate settings.

“BRILLIANT MINDS, IGNORANT MINDS” is not just a story about a law suit, it’s a compelling narrative about how racism has shaped an African American man who is fighting for racial equality in his everyday life and inside the Corporate American workplace. The book concludes with Livingston finally achieving a supervisory position late in his career, though not at the level his qualifications warranted. He offers guidance for other Black men navigating corporate America, including the importance of documentation, strategic networking, and preparing for retaliation when challenging discrimination.

The title reflects the contrast between the “brilliant minds” who create and maintain discriminatory systems and the “ignorant minds” inability to recognize and address workplace bias. The author argues that until Corporate America genuinely commits to including Black men in leadership positions, companies will continue to miss out on valuable talent and perspectives. He calls for fundamental changes in how corporations approach racial equity, particularly regarding the advancement of Black men into leadership positions.
Vernon M. O’Garra