From the Back of the Bus to the Front of the Classroom

My Thirty-Year Journey as a Black and Blind Professor

By: Dr. jw Smith

Narrated by: Dr. jw Smith

After 30 years as a professor in the field of communication studies, Dr. Smith reminisces about some of his experiences and how his race and differently abled intersectionality have influenced documented encounters. As a Black and totally blind individual, he muses about how this distinction has both colored and shed light on what might have been innocuous or unremarkable encounters otherwise.

This narrative charts his journey from leaving for graduate school to his present position as a tenured professor at a Midwest institution of higher learning. The memoir is riveting because of its vulnerability, candid honesty, and fresh transparency, as well as its conversational tone and quality. It is simultaneously an enjoyable story but one that can also cause reflection and soul-searching without much warning.

While the challenges of race and differently-abled issues are documented (and sometimes painfully so), Dr. Smith ultimately concludes that for the most part, these unique foci resulted in more positive outcomes than negative ones. It seems that only in America is this story possible, and the ultimate success of this memoir is clearly due to a strong faith in God, consistent and contagious family support, and hard work and perseverance.

©2019 Monday Creek Publishing (P)2020 Monday Creek Publishing

Quick, entertaining, and inspirational

Narrated by the author, the book was the story of his life, with emphasis on his years as a professor. It is well articulated, as you would expect from an academic. For someone like myself who working hard to adjust to loss of vision, his story was so inspirational. I am in awe at how he figured out how to do a lot of traveling and just enjoy life. He is also very good at enlisting the help of others, but not in a way that would burden them. The book is a quick, entertaining read.

An eye-opening perspective from an unexpected source

This book is truly special. It feels more like a conversation than a book. I found myself commenting out loud as I listened. Dr. Smith’s ability to describe his views as a blind man, and a Black man, gave me a new appreciation for both. It would be easy to assume his life had been hard. And no doubt parts of it have been. But, his focus here was clearly the positives, benefits, and even blessings of his so-called disability. I found myself wishing I had been a student in his classroom because his passion, warmth, and candid nature inspired me to want to learn more. The way he takes topics like racism and ableism, and makes them feel conversational instead of taboo, is a testament to his character. I can’t think of a single person who couldn’t benefit from reading his words. This book left me feeling hopeful, and grateful for people different from myself to learn from.

very interesting a very good read

this not only open my eyes to how blind people deal with things you also can take this and use it in your everyday life . and also let you know just because you're blind or just because you can see doesn't give you the right to make excuses about not being able to do certain things and sometimes even when you're comfortable you might end up doing something that you thought you would never do because you thought it wouldn't be comfortable and turns out to be very rewarding