Some of the individuals profiled by Joah Spearman and Louis Harrison, Jr., include Leonard Pitts, Pulitzer Prize–winning columnist for the Miami Herald; Melody Barnes, Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council; Danyel Smith, editor-in-chief of Vibe; and Dr. Tim George, Chief of Pediatric Neuroscience at Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas. They and other interviewees describe their backgrounds, career paths, and desire to give back by helping others reach their goals. Representing a wide range of occupations, these real role models prove to African American youths that a whole world of successful, rewarding careers awaits them.
The Real Role Models
Joah Spearman attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he became the first person in his immediate family to receive a four-year college degree in 2005. Currently, he lives in Austin, Texas, where he consults with companies and nonprofits on social media and is working on a book about the city's live music scene.
Louis Harrison, Jr., is Associate Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education and the Center for African and African American Studies at the University of Texas at Austin.