In what really came as no surprise, Randal Pinkett won the job to become Donald Trump’s newest apprentice. This is one that anybody following the show pretty much knew would happen. I’ve watched every season and never seen a contestant stand out as much so early into the interview process as Randal.

He has more than enough education and professional experience. Even if he had just half of his school and professional experience he still would have been more qualified than most every other contestant! Every time Trump allowed a team to steal someone from another team, if Randal was available he was selected. He had a perfect record on the show as a project manager. In the finale, the person he went up against got her only win as a project manager with him carrying her! She only made it to the finale because he was on her team for the later parts of the interview process.

To be perfectly honest, the finale should have been between Randal and Alla. But Trump had to dump Alla, not only because she is a true ice queen, but also because she has a very seedy past! It would not look good for Trump to have a head of one of his projects that used to turn lap dances (and who knows what else) for money!

Randal was a FIRST for the show. Because as far as I know he was the first married winner ever ! And yes he’s also Black.

Randal to me comes from the “twice as good” camp of Black culture. A little spoken of and sadly shrinking group within Black culture. Being a Black man myself, I heard at times while growing up that in order to make it in America I would have to be “twice as good” as everyone else. I’ve since learned that you really don’t have to be twice as good, but being better than the pack is only a plus! So I find it to be a great way to live! Most people of any race never finish college, never own a business and never attain much in life. Just look at the average education and income level for most Americans and we are the richest country in the world. So it makes no sense for anyone not to strive to be twice as good as most. Sadly within Black culture today there is just way too much, trash that is played on by various people within entertainment and politics. People like killer Tookie Williams get more attention than someone like Randal. Obviously something is wrong with this picture!

Randal won last night and after winning Trump asked him if his challenger (Rebecca) should also be hired. Randal said no. And appropriately so! Bottom line is that she was a losing project manager, that made it to the finals on Randal’s back. She also misrepresented Randal’s level of effort on the XM Radio task, that they lost and she was project manager of. And as Randal mentioned, the show is called “The Apprentice”, meaning only one was to be selected. I think this stance by Randal was very conservative. I don’t know if he considers himself to be a Conservative, but he probably should. Because in the real life situation where he was able to give some “free points” to someone who really had not proven themselves worthy, he appropriately refused. He earned his way to the top and obviously feels that you open doors for yourself via your own hard work. While I’m sure other Blacks cheered Randal’s win, I wonder how many of them honestly apply the “no handouts” principle themselves? Most polls show that Blacks favor programs like Affirmative Action, although such programs can result in the most qualified person being overlooked in the name of “diversity”. Last night the best was given the win and Randal himself allowed no special program for anything less!

Randal Pinkett, congratulations! You showed that anyone can reach the top if they work hard and smart. In time I’m sure you’ll probably surpass even Trump himself!

update (12/16/2005 1:27PM ET): I forgot to mention, Rebecca did the right thing when she encountered Union issues with having Joe Piscopo host her event. As usual the Union goons wanted to strong arm her at the last minute. She appropriately let Joe go and found someone else.