Actor-Writer Promotes Book

Actor-writer Blair Underwood spoke to a group of over 50 people about his views about children and parenting on Saturday in Boylston Hall’s Fong Auditorium.

Underwood was invited by the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations for the Complexities of Color writer’s series to discuss his book, “Before I Got Here: The Wondrous Things We Hear When We Listen To The Souls of Our Children.”

Underwood said his book outlines his belief that children have a surprising insight that comes from a connection they have to their spiritual life before the current one.

“I’m not talking about reincarnation,” Underwood said, adding that he was referring to the path one makes from the spiritual world to the physical one, and then back to the spiritual.

“Before I Got Here” provides examples that support his theory and was inspired by his own experiences as a father of three.

Underwood endorsed listening to kids as if they are adults, but letting them be kids and have the freedom of their childhood. He said that society pushes children to grow up too quickly and that maintaining the innocent insight of childhood is important.

But Underwood said he is not suggesting that his way is the right way. He said that his approach to parenting is about the day-to-day actions of life.

“It’s about when you can, not if you can,” he said. “Two seconds can crush the human spirit and two seconds can build it up,” he later added.

After Underwood finished speaking, students filled the lobby of Boylston trying to find an opportunity to speak with him and to get their books signed.

“This wasn’t just a writer promoting his book,” said Erin B. Garner ’07, who helped to organize the event. “It expanded into topics including, what it means to be an African-American actor-writer, how media portrays the African-American male and a discussion about the American family unit, just to name a few.”

“Mr. Underwood is very articulate,” said Ryshelle M. McCadney ’07. “Kids do have a lot of insight and I’m glad that he collected all these responses.”

Underwood said his own childhood was deeply influenced by his parents. His father is a retired army colonel and any time he was leaving the house, his mother made sure to remind him that “you represent your father, his rank, and his country.” Underwood said he felt a lot of pressure but that it kept him from being intimidated by people of another race.

Having the desire to act from early on in childhood, Underwood attended Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh to study theatre, but could not afford to stay so he went to New York to pursue acting. A professor put him in touch with an agent and, after only two days in New York, Underwood got a walk-on part in “The Cosby Show.”

He has since gone on to appear in “LA Law”, “One Life to Live,” and “Sex and The City” and has landed roles in several movies including “Deep Impact” and “Full Frontal.”

Underwood said his work is about doing what is right ethically and morally.

“Whatever is good and whatever is right must win out in the end,” he said.

In addition to his book and acting career, Underwood also spoke about a project he’s working on with Will Smith and Dwayne Martin that they call “Momentum Effect.” The three are travelling around the country showing films that are not as well-received by production companies.

Underwood described how films are frequently not released because production companies fear a negative public response to the films. These “gatekeepers,” as Underwood calls them, are neglecting the stories of black men and women, he said.

“There’s a lot more to tell,” he said, and that showing these films in a new city each night may be the way to get these stories out to the public.

“He is a positive force in the black community,” Garner said.

“Change is created and implemented by the youth,” Underwood said. And Underwood said the change he hopes to make is in the reception of black films.

The event was co-sponsored by the Black Men’s Forum and the Black Students Association.