Children of Run DMC's Reverend Run Show Us How to Seize Opportunities

In my opinion, the best reality show in television is MTV's Run's House. The legendary founder of the iconic rap group, Run DMC, Rev Run has invited the people of America into the personal and business lives of him and his family for the past four years.

There are many reasons why Run's House has captured the attention, respect, and admiration of so many households in America such as; their strong ties to family, unscripted family humor and the life lessons that accompany each episode. But there is another reason why the show is so unique, it is the way the children of Rev Run; JoJo, Vanessa, Angela, Diggy and Rev Run's wife, Justine, has taken full advantage of the opportunity that Rev Run has provided.

In the 2002 Billboard hit, "Lose Yourself," by Eminem, he begins the song with saying, "If you had one shot so seize everything you've always wanted, would you capture it or let it slip away?" If you ask the family of Rev Run they'd shout loud and clear, they'd capture it.

For starters the older daughters, Vanessa and Angela, used the platform of television and their fathers athletic footwear company, Run Athletics, to launch a female casual line called Pastry. Launched in March of 2007, Pastry is a Cake Collection inspired by Angela and Vanessa's favorite pastries. Not even two years later, Pastry is a very profitable, national and household name. The two gorgeous, business savvy young ladies now have a Pastry boutique in Los Angeles and their own reality show called Daddy's Girls, a spin off of the mega hit Run's House. The success is just one of the ventures the young women are involved in. For instance, Vanessa is also a Ford Model, is acting in two movies due out in 2009 entitled Boogie Town and Speed Dating as well as appearing on the soap opera the Guiding Light. Her younger sister, Angela is just as successful. Her ventures include being the executive editor of Angela's Rundown and reportedly have an album releasing later this year.

The oldest male, JoJo as seized a record deal with Latchkey Records, while the seconds oldest Daniel "Diggy" Simmons, III, at the age of 13 has used the opportunity of having music mogul and uncle Russell Simmons, to launch his clothing line called Space Age. Space Age clothing will be released in 2009. Then lastly, Justine Simmons has been quoted as saying she will design a jewelry line called, Brown Sugar.

It would be easy to live off the success of their father and uncle like many heirs and heiresses in American but these individuals have chosen to take their own path. From ages 13-26, the Simmons children have seized the opportunity in front of them to catapult their ambitions and careers, which have made themselves successful.

If given the same opportunities, what would you do with it? Would you burn up mommy and daddies black card and spend wild nights getting drunk, drug use and embarrass yourself in front of the world on a daily basis? Or would you use that as motivation to find your own way, your own success? A 13-year-old boy has already found his niche in a clothing line and I have a feeling that his endeavor will not be his last.

Don't get me wrong; there have been some people who have taken advantage of an opportunity, but at what cost? Tiffany "New York" Pollard was able to milk VH1 for two reality television shows, I Love New York and New York Goes to Hollywood but at what cost? Tiffany Pollard was confrontational, disrespectful, and literarily showed her ass, more times than I can count, on national television in order to earn a buck. I strongly doubt any longevity will come from anything Tiffany Pollard does. Then we have Ahmad "Real" Givens and Kamal "Chance" Givens who have earned yet another VH1 reality show entitles Real Chance of Love, which is a spin-off of I Love New York, The tow brothers earned their show by buffoonery, violence and profanity on national television. That is not the way to seize an opportunity. The children of Rev Run have done it in a respectable way and they did not belittle themselves, disrespect others or sell sex or violence to do so. They represent themselves as strong, smart and ambitious young African Americans who take advantage of every opportunity presented.

In my opinion, Run's House is more than a reality show. It is a view of the so-called American Dream being lived out and unfolding again, again and again. I commend Rev Run on the way he raises his children, the lessons he shares with America and the responsible way each member of his family seizes the opportunities before them. Not to mention I am more than happy to see a group of American Americans on television acting civilized and not bickering, throwing around profanity or selling sex for five minutes of screen time like shows such as; Real Shot at Love, the Flavor of Love series or the I Love New York series.

We all, well most, wish or pray for the opportunity to fulfill our dreams but how many of us would actually take advantage of it if it were staring us in the face? When in doubt take a lesson from the Simmons family, it can be seen on MTV.