This time, the interviewer becomes the interviewee. In this conversation, Mr. White turns the questions on Smith Francois for a deeper look into the story behind Smith Says, his upbringing in Chicago, his Haitian roots, education, faith, technology, service, and the vision he has for the future. Smith shares what it was like growing up on the South Side of Chicago, attending an all-Black, all-male high school, discovering Apple technology and video production, and eventually attending Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama. He also reflects on spending summers in Haiti as a child and how those experiences shaped the way he sees community, freedom, opportunity, and purpose. The conversation goes deeper into a question many people are facing today: What are you actually doing with the technology, knowledge, access, and opportunities in your hands? Smith describes his purpose as “carrying the torch” preserving information, using technology to document stories, learning from previous generations, and making sure knowledge is transferred to the next generation. From cassette tapes and VHS to YouTube, AI, VR, and whatever comes next, the technology may change, but the responsibility to preserve and share our stories remains. In this conversation: • Growing up on the South Side of Chicago• Being raised by Haitian parents• Why Smith calls himself “triple Haitian”• Attending an all-Black, all-male high school• How Apple computers helped expand his interest in video production• Attending Oakwood University• Childhood summers in Haiti• Faith, prayer, reflection, and personal growth• Why serving others can open doors• Technology, AI, social media, and the next generation• The difference between consuming technology and creating with it• Why your phone can become one of your greatest educational tools• Haiti, infrastructure, agriculture, community, and self-sufficiency• Smith's long-term vision of taking knowledge and technology back to Haiti• Building a legacy that stretches from Chicago to Haiti One of the biggest lessons from this conversation is simple: Add value wherever you go. Smith explains that service has repeatedly given him access to rooms, relationships, opportunities, and knowledge. Instead of only asking what you can receive, find something you can contribute. His long-term vision goes beyond building a media company. It's about education, infrastructure, preserving Haitian history, developing people, identifying their gifts, and using what he has learned to help others move forward. 🎥 Purpose Over Popularity.🔥 Never Settle, But Climb. If this conversation challenged you, LIKE, COMMENT, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE. QUESTION FOR YOU:What knowledge, skill, or gift do you have that needs to be passed on to the next generation? Follow @SmithSays1 on all platforms.
