Word of the Day: Sagacity
- Antonio Brown
- 5 days ago
- 6 min read
Pronunciation: suh-GASS-ih-tee
What it means: The quality of being wise and showing good judgment.
Use it in a sentence: "The barbershop is a place where sagacity is passed down from one generation to the next."
Welcome Back to Word of the Day with Professor Antonio
Pull up a chair. Today, Professor Antonio is rocking the barber cape: and that's no accident.
See, today's word lives in the barbershop. It sits in the chair next to you while you wait your turn. It's in the voice of the OG barber who's been cutting hair for 30 years and has seen it all. It's in the conversations between fathers and sons, mentors and young men, elders and the next generation.
Today's word is sagacity.
And if you've ever sat in a barbershop and walked out feeling like you learned something about life: not just looking fresh: then you already know what sagacity feels like, even if you've never used the word.
Let's break it down.
What Is Sagacity, Really?
Sagacity isn't just about being smart. It's about being wise: and there's a big difference.
Smart is knowing the answer to a test question. Wise is knowing when to speak up and when to listen. Smart is reading the book. Wise is understanding what the book means for your life.
The word sagacity comes from Latin, tracing back over 500 years. It shares roots with the word "sage": you know, the term we use to describe those wise ancestors, the ones who've seen enough life to guide others through it. When we call someone a sage, we're saying they have sagacity: keen discernment, sound judgment, and the ability to evaluate a situation before making a move.
Here's what makes sagacity special: it's not about age. It's about awareness. A young person can show sagacity when they choose to study instead of getting caught up in drama. A father shows sagacity when he pauses before reacting in anger. A mentor shows sagacity when they share a hard-earned lesson so the next generation doesn't have to learn it the painful way.
Sagacity is wisdom in action.
Why Sagacity Matters for Our Sons
At The Competitive Readers Coalition, we talk a lot about identity. We want every young Black boy and young man we serve to see himself as a reader, a leader, and someone capable of making wise decisions for himself and his community.
That's where sagacity comes in.
When a young person builds sagacity, they're building something that can't be taken away. Jobs come and go. Money rises and falls. But wisdom? Good judgment? The ability to read a room, assess a situation, and make the right call? That stays with you forever.
Think about it: every time our sons face a crossroads: whether it's choosing friends, navigating school, handling conflict, or planning their future: they're drawing on whatever sagacity they've built up to that point. The more we invest in building that wisdom now, the better equipped they'll be to handle whatever life throws at them later.
And here's the beautiful part: sagacity isn't something you're born with. It's something you develop. It grows through experience, through mentorship, through listening to those who came before you, and through reflecting on your own choices.
That's exactly what happens in trusted community spaces like barbershops: and that's exactly what CRC's programs are designed to nurture.
The Barbershop: Where Sagacity Lives
There's a reason the barbershop has always been more than just a place to get a haircut.
For generations, barbershops have been gathering spaces for Black men and boys. They're places where real talk happens. Where life lessons get dropped between the buzz of clippers. Where young men hear stories from older men who've walked the path before them.
In the barbershop, sagacity flows naturally.
A barber might share advice about handling a difficult boss while shaping up a fade. An elder in the waiting area might tell a young man about the mistakes he made at 18: and what he'd do differently. A father might bring his son for his first real haircut and use those 30 minutes to talk about respect, responsibility, and what it means to be a man.
This is intergenerational wisdom transfer. This is sagacity being passed down, chair by chair, cut by cut.
At CRC, we don't just appreciate this tradition: we build on it. Our programs meet families where they already are: in barbershops and other trusted community spaces where sagacity already lives.
CRC Programs That Build Sagacity
Two CRC programs are especially focused on cultivating wisdom and good judgment in our young men: Our Fatherhood Initiative and From the Barbershop to the Boardroom.
Our Fatherhood Initiative
Fathers are often a child's first source of sagacity. When a dad models wise decision-making: thinking before acting, considering consequences, showing restraint and thoughtfulness: his children absorb those lessons.
Our Fatherhood Initiative supports fathers in becoming the sages their children need. Through resources, community connection, and intentional programming, we help dads build the skills and confidence to guide their sons with wisdom. Because when fathers lead with sagacity, their sons learn to do the same.
This isn't about being perfect. It's about being present, reflective, and committed to growth. That's sagacity in action.
From the Barbershop to the Boardroom
What happens when the wisdom of the barbershop meets the world of professional development?
You get From the Barbershop to the Boardroom: a CRC program that bridges trusted community spaces and career readiness. This program recognizes that the same sagacity that helps a young man navigate his neighborhood can help him navigate a job interview, a networking event, or a leadership opportunity.
We're talking about soft skills that matter: reading a room, communicating with confidence, making sound decisions under pressure, and carrying yourself with the kind of wisdom that earns respect in any environment.
From the Barbershop to the Boardroom takes the sagacity that's already present in our communities and channels it toward professional success. It's about equipping the next generation of leaders with the judgment and discernment they need to thrive: wherever they go.
Try It at Home: A 60-Second Sagacity Conversation
Want to spark a conversation about sagacity with your child tonight? Here's a simple prompt:
Ask: "Who is the wisest person you know? What makes them wise?"
Let your child think about it. Maybe they'll say a grandparent, a teacher, a coach, or even a character from a book. Whatever they answer, follow up with:
"What's one thing that person does that shows wisdom?"
"How do you think they got so wise?"
"What's one way you could become wiser this year?"
This isn't about having the "right" answer. It's about getting your child to think about what wisdom looks like: and to see themselves as someone who can build it.
Bonus: Share your own answer, too. Let them hear about the sages in your life and what you've learned from them. That's sagacity in action: passing it down, one conversation at a time.
Building a Lexicon of Power
Sagacity is this week's word, but it's part of something bigger.
At CRC, we believe vocabulary is power. The more words our sons have access to, the more clearly they can express themselves, advocate for their needs, and step into leadership. That's why we're building a Word of the Day series: one elevated word at a time: to expand the lexicons of the young men and families we serve.
So far, we've explored Erudition (deep knowledge gained through learning) and Acumen (sharp judgment and smart decision-making). Next up: Efficacy: the power to produce results.
Each word connects back to CRC's identity-centered programming and our 8-program family. Because when our sons see themselves as readers, learners, and leaders, they start to become readers, learners, and leaders.
Final Thought: Wisdom Is a Gift You Give Forward
Here's the thing about sagacity: it's not meant to be hoarded.
The wisest people aren't the ones who keep their wisdom to themselves. They're the ones who share it: with their children, their neighbors, the young people in their community. They're the barbers who drop life lessons between cuts. The fathers who model thoughtful decision-making. The mentors who remember what it was like to be young and choose to guide instead of judge.
Sagacity is a gift you give forward.
At The Competitive Readers Coalition, we're committed to creating spaces where that gift can flow freely: from one generation to the next, from the barbershop to the boardroom, from fathers to sons.
Want to be part of that legacy? Get involved with CRC today and help us build a community where every young man has access to the wisdom he needs to thrive.
Word of the Day Recap:
Word: Sagacity
Pronunciation: suh-GASS-ih-tee
Meaning: The quality of being wise and showing good judgment
Use it: "The barbershop is a place where sagacity is passed down from one generation to the next."
Try it at home: "Who is the wisest person you know? What makes them wise?"
See you tomorrow for the next word. Stay wise, CRC family. ✊📚
Comments