From Segregation to Success: Larry Thornton on Race, Growth & Winning in Life

In Episode 41 of Raised Red, Living Blue, Jason welcomes Larry D. Thornton Sr., a pioneer in business, art, and personal growth. Larry broke barriers as the first African American McDonald’s franchise owner in Alabama, serves on the board of Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, and is the founder of the Why Not Win Foundation.

In this conversation, Larry shares:

— His childhood in Jim Crow Montgomery and the scars and survival of integration

— The moment his 12th-grade English teacher, Miss Nichols, shifted his mindset from despair to possibility

— His path from art teacher to advertising, to franchisee, to boardrooms

— Facing hostility, exclusion, and threats — and how he responded with dignity

— His vision for giving back via the Why Not Win Institute and scholarships

“Where we start out, even if disadvantaged, is not as important as where we decide to go.”

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