misterkevinbriansatterwhite - Tumblr blog

misterkevinbriansatterwhite · 1 year ago

Text

Biography of Kevin Brian Satterwhite, Children's Book Author

I was born and raised in Durham, NC. I am disabled and was diagnosed with schizophrenia back in 2015. I am a recovering drug addict and have been clean and sober since 2019, after nearly twenty years of drug abuse and addiction. I learned how to write cursive and count to one hundred before I entered first grade. I spent most of my youth in boy scouts, karate, gymnastics, team sports, and performing arts - and I continue to be well known throughout my community. I have been a creative writer for many years and consider myself a professional story developer. I was diagnosed with ADHD in 2012 and have only completely read one novel in my entire life which is Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry. Some of my most memorable books as a child are - Goose Goofs-off by Jacquelyn Reinach, Surprise Party by Sharon Gordon, The Berenstain Bears books by Jan and Stan Berenstain, Where’s Waldo by Martin Handford, The Value of Believing in Yourself: The Story of Louis Pasteur by Spencer Johnson M.D., and a book about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by an author I don’t recall.

I am a first time author and have recently completed sixteen children's books. I kept thirteen books for myself and ghost wrote three for my longtime friend. One of my books is currently being published by Archway Publishing from Simon and Schuster. As a youth and now as an adult, I have always been surrounded by people of many different colors, cultures, and ethnicities which is reflected in my work. My picture books include subjects about - cross-gender friendships, gender identity, block parties, race/color, immigration, and growing up in the inner city. I have also written a children’s novel by virtue of the conflict between Israel and Palestine, in hopes to have a positive impact within Jewish and Arab communities around the world. As someone with a formal education, I believe it is my responsibility to help children develop as avid readers and writers - at an early age. By virtue of my love for writing and years of experience - I believe several of the books that I’ve written - have the potential to be developed - for broadway, television, and film.

I was raised in a culture of book fairs, book clubs, and educational programs - which included the likes of Scholastics and Pizza Hut. As a youth I participated in a jump rope jamboree with Durham’s Bouncing Bulldogs. I visited educational camps at Duke University. I also volunteered at the Museum of Life and Science. I attended preschool and kindergarten at St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church - where I was a student of Jane Hurlburt’s Montessori Family School in Durham, NC. As a child I attended KinderCare and YMCA. For elementary school - I went to Pearsontown and Southwest. After having attentive and behavioral issues - I went to Camelot Academy - which is a small K-12 private school founded by Thelma DeCarlo-Glynn - which is also in Durham. My grades improved and I returned to public school for seventh and eighth grade. At Sherwood Githens Middle School I was a member of the - Esquires and the Sophisticated Gents - program that taught me - respect, responsibility, and self-worth. I eventually became a member of the - Mentors - learning more from my younger peers - than I ever could have taught them.

Growing up - I was a member of St. Joseph AME Church where I attended church and Sunday school. When visiting my grandparents in Clinton, NC - I went to Vacation Bible School and still remember singing, Lift Every Voice and Sing - before going outside for recess. I broke every drum set, guitar, and saxophone my parents bought for me - as a gift during my childhood. Somehow I managed not to break my violin and have been playing since the age of five. As a youth, I performed in violin competitions at Meredith College which was always a truly wondrous experience - although I wasn’t very good at the violin. I’ve performed in local malls and shopping centers - including Brightleaf Square - during the holiday season with a children’s orchestra led by my childhood violin teacher - Hjourdis Tourian. I began piano lessons in 1994. After not being allowed to play drums in my middle school band because of my late reentry into public schools - I continued violin and piano lessons outside of school. I’ve had three different piano teachers however, I spent most of my time learning from Barbara Leder in Chapel Hill, NC. I participated in annual recitals and while I had difficulty practicing at home - I really loved playing the piano. After graduating middle school - I stopped taking music lessons when I was accepted via lottery into Durham Magnet Center - now Durham School of the Arts. Instead of my parents having to drive around town for my lessons - I simply took classes in - electric piano and orchestra - which allowed me to practice more frequently. DSA opened in 1995 for students in grades 6-8. Each year a grade was added. Their first high school class graduated in 2000. I attended Durham School of the Arts from 1996-1997 as a freshman and a sophomore. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life.

As a teenager, I performed in an orchestra at Durham Bulls athletic park during a holiday event - led by my orchestra teacher Mr. Boyd Gibson. I competed on an undefeated track team at Durham School of the Arts, although we had high school freshmen on our team and we competed against middle schools. I got a job at a movie theater as soon as I could work. My sophomore year at DSA I was selected by Kathleen Graves to be a student in a class of only twenty-five performers - known as the DMC Players (before the school's official name change to Durham School of the Arts). It was truly challenging. I’m thankful that my environment was comforting rather than competitive. I was more moved by observing than I was performing. The students in that class were phenomenal. That same school year I auditioned for a play about civil rights. It was a series of multiple one-act plays and thankfully I landed a small, but powerful part. Unfortunately, I don’t recall the name of the play. However, I do remember singing, We Shall Overcome - as each show began. I was proud to be a member of that ensemble. We were originally only supposed to have three performances - and the show had such an impact on the community that - there were nine performances in all. Civil rights leader C. T. Vivian attended the final show to a packed house. I was too humble to help myself to a conversation, but grew as a person and a performer because of the experience. Near the end of the school year, I performed in a comedic show of one-act plays. The crowd was so amused that after the show - I was approached by the schools technical director, Mr. Deter - and told that I had the audience in the palms of my hands. The vice-principle must have overheard the sentiment and repeated the conversation during a seminar full of students, without naming the subjects. I was too young to realize the positive impact it would have on my life - and simply remained quiet and respectful - amongst my peers.

My junior and senior year I attended C. E. Jordan High School to be closer to my sister and perform in theater on a higher level with upperclassmen. My theater arts teacher was Hope Hynes Love who now works in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School System. While anxious about singing and dancing - I was casted for a small part in Grease after declining an opportunity to audition for a lead role. The following school year, I auditioned for the part of Theseus and was eventually casted as Philostrate in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Under Hope’s continuously nurturing supervision - I performed a monologue from James Baldwins’ Amen Corner - in a performing arts competition at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. While I didn’t receive recognition for my soliloquy - I was pleased with my performance. My interest in the arts evolved when I realized I needed to focus more on employment than performing. I knew that moving to Los Angeles one day would take money - and if I couldn’t save any - then I could at least have the skills and experience to survive - when I arrived in such a big city. In addition to a movie theater - some of my earliest places of employment included - a local pizza restaurant and a drug store.

My senior year of high school my father, Otis Satterwhite introduced me to a performing arts instructor Jospeh Henderson, whom he met while working in the Durham Public Schools system. I eventually met Joseph’s wife at the time, now Cynthia Penn-Halal - who is a visiting professor at UNCSA. Joseph and Cynthia were very diligent - and dedicated to the arts. They embraced me with guidance and grace. Upon meeting them - I performed with two other high schoolers and a multitude of sixth grade students - in a play written and directed by Joseph Henderson and choreographed by Cynthia Penn-Halal. The beautiful story titled, In Our Time - took the audience on an emotional journey through American history. It was performed at The Carolina Theatre in Durham in front of a packed house of - sixth grade students, parents, and teachers. I appeared in the local newspaper and was even congratulated by one of my high school teachers. Before going to college I worked for Jospeh and Cynthia at Walltown Children’s Theater as a camp counselor. Joseph suggested I go to UNCSA. He had a plan for me to get a good paying job, go to UNCSA, and hopefully audition someday for Law & Order. Mr. Henderson got me an interview at Nana’s - which is an upscale restaurant in Durham, NC. I got hired the day of my interview and never went back. I eventually decided to attend Barry University, which is a small private Catholic university in Miami Shores, FL. Barry University is one of the most diverse schools in the southeast. It was a great opportunity to develop long lasting relationships with people all over the world.

Being raised in Durham - I had the honor of growing up in the company of outstanding and wonderful youth. To name a few - acclaimed architect - Frederick A. Davis II, accomplished scholar and educator - Pierce Freelon, cultural organizer and artist - Dasan Ahanu, community builder and rap artist - Joshua Gunn, and world-renowned poet and rap artist - George Yamazawa. I don’t speak with everyone from my past on a regular basis, but I remain in contact with most of them through social media. While at Barry I majored in broadcast communication and minored in theater arts. In a competition between broadcast communication students from Barry University, FIU, and the University of Miami - I received an award from Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization, now Transportation Planning Organization for a PSA that I wrote, produced, and directed. Upon winning the award, one of my broadcast communication professors, Dr. Hoffman suggested that I seek an internship at a top marketing firm, whose name I don’t recall. He encouraged me academically and advised me that my confidence needed improvement. At Barry I performed in plays and musicals such as - Hello, Dolly!, Pippin, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, You Can’t Take It with You, and One Flew Over Cuckoo’s Nest. My most notable portrayals are Lewis in Pippin and Mr. Turkle in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, for which I received an award for - Most Comedic Performance - after being instructed by my professor, the late Susan Dempsey to write additional lines for the character. When I was home from college during the summers - I performed at the Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, NC in a prose poetry multimedia play written and directed by Herman LeVern Jones, who once worked as an actor on Guiding Light. During the summer months back home - I’ve also delivered newspapers, I helped people register to vote, I worked for Exxon at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, and even performed as an extra on Dawson’s Creek.

My first internship prior to graduation was at a public relations firm in Brickell just south of Downtown Miami. I worked on a campaign for GOL TV, which is an American sports channel dedicated to soccer. I enjoyed my time at the PR firm and it was truly a great experience. Although there was somewhat of a language barrier, it didn’t prevent me from asking two of the firm's executives to come into class for an interview - along with my sociology professor - about race in corporate America. I’m still incredibly thankful for their graciousness and willingness to share their experiences. Before graduating my professor and former WPLG Local 10 reporter, Connie Hicks got me an internship at WPLG. I learned from a variety of professionals about videotape operating, editing, and producing. I had the opportunity to work alongside - Laurie Jennings, Neki Mohan, and Kristi Krueger - who were some of the most prominent journalists in South Florida. From there I landed a job at WSVN Channel 7 as a videotape operator. It was the highest rated local news station in Miami - during the time that I was there. I was incredibly proud of myself for finding a career right after college. I was devoted to my job in the news and once drove to work during a hurricane. I also recall working every single day - in the tape center - for an entire month - during the holidays. Instead of complaining about my low paying stressful job - I simply gave it my all and focused on the future. I took the writing test twice before I was hired as a writer for the morning news - and was shortly promoted to the evening broadcasts. I trained aspiring journalists, some of which became executive producers and at least one was a reporter. I wrote news stories and packages for on air talent. I once wrote an entertainment news package about the film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. I originally wrote it for the evening news. The package eventually aired on South Florida’s top entertainment show Deco Drive. WSVN was a great environment. During my time there - the entire staff was very helpful and hopeful. I am fortunate to forever be a member of a community of such outstanding broadcast journalism professionals. At WSVN I learned from and worked under some of the best and brightest in the business. Some of my coworkers from WSVN included - WSVN News Anchor Belkys Nerey, WSVN News Anchor Craig Stevens, ABC13 Meteorologist Elita Loresca, CNN Correspondent Carlos Suarez, and KTLA 5 News Executive Producer Marcus Smith. I also met Joel Brown at WSVN. He is now an anchor at WTVD in Durham, NC. I eventually decided to quit my low paying job as a writer for the news - so that I could save money and pursue the arts. Before leaving WSVN I was training to become an associate producer. However, my mind was made up and while I thoroughly enjoyed working for the news - the prospect wasn’t enough to keep me in the industry. After quitting my job as a writer - I worked as a mortgage banker prior to the real estate industry collapse. I decided real estate was not a good fit for me and moved to NC for two years. In 2010 I finally made my way out to Los Angeles to pursue acting and music. My drug addiction got the best of me and after four really difficult years - I returned to Durham to live with my mother.

Some of my other work history also includes - waiting tables at two high-end sushi restaurants, sales associate at Adidas Originals, production assistant at the American Black Film Festival, event staff at The Party Staff, and technical assistant at Barry University. My friend, the late Isaac Mallory from Barry University referred me to now closed Shoji Sushi in South Beach. I was hired as an expeditor and initially failed my employment test after being confused between nigiri and sashimi. The manager allowed me to take the test again - after I informed him that I would make no excuses for my mistakes. I explained the reason behind my errors and promised to improve. I passed the test and shortly after - I was promoted to a serving position. At one point - I was the only “black” server on staff. I eventually started doing deliveries on my days off - and even catered a gathering in a high-rise luxury condominium building. The former owner of Shoji Sushi, Myles Chefetz is owner of world famous Prime One Twelve. One of my greatest memories in the restaurant business was being selected to serve a Cb5 executive when working at now closed TATU Asian Bar & Grill, when she was visiting the establishment. My additional lifetime accomplishments include - performing in spoken word poetry competitions, becoming a musician, and developing a story for my screenplay - with a storyline comparable to Star Wars. One of my favorite babysitters as a child was my television set. My creativity was shaped by - Steven Spielberg, Carol Burnett, and Michael Jackson before I knew the importance of expression and imagination.

In my short life I have lost countless family members, close friends, acquaintances, and an abstruse number of college buddies. By virtue of such an experience - I cherish my life and see the immense value of the lives of others. My family believes strongly in education. My father is a disabled veteran. He was an accomplished insurance salesman and also worked as a substitute teacher for Durham Public Schools. He attended North Carolina Central University and received his bachelor’s degree in business. My mother attended the University of North Carolina and was a nurse at Duke Hospital for many years. My younger sister studied sociology at Columbia University and has an MBA from UNC. She has worked as a marketing manager at Belk, Amazon, and Facebook. My older sister resides in Charlotte, NC and is the mother of two amazing children. Some of my extended family and lifelong friends are doctors, lawyers, artists, computer engineers, and medical sales professionals.

Growing up in Durham, NC - I was surrounded by the glory of college basketball. It was truly amazing watching collegiate athletes blossom into professional basketball players. I have a great deal of gratitude for the culture because I believe it provided me with the experience to know how to conduct myself in the company of public figures. By the time I was thirty years old - I had lived in Los Angeles, Miami, Charlotte, NC, and Washington, D.C. Over the years I brushed shoulders with a variety of famous actors and musicians. Meeting prominent male and female figures in person - gave me the opportunity to see what I could achieve through work ethic and dedication. By virtue of my life experience and the wisdom I have gained over the years I continue to grow as an individual each and everyday. While I have overcome many obstacles - I remain focused on five pillars of production that make me proud of the path that I have ultimately chosen. Those pillars are - love, faith, hope, healing, and freedom. As an author with a marketable personality - I believe that I can reach young readers, parents, and educators - from a variety of demographics - throughout the world.

#Author #Biography #Children's Books #Kevin Brian Satterwhite

1 note · View note