Author praises ambition and courage

By Curtis Henderson
Guest Writer

Author E. Lynn Harris spoke to an intimate crowd at GPAC Oct. 13. He spoke on the importance of having goals and striving to achieve them. As he walked on stage dressed in a stylish, dark fitted shirt and casual khakis, he immediately showed his down to earth persona by telling a small joke to the audience. After laughter from the crowd, Harris focused on educating the audience on the topic at hand.

“I never imagined growing up in Little Rock, Arkansas, that my life would be what it is today,” Harris said.

He stressed his ambition and determination to follow his own dreams and his strive to make it happen. He told the audience of about 75 people that he gave up luxuries that the average human being takes for granted such as a car, dining out, paying his own rent and reviving his credit rating at that time, in order to truly do something he was passionate about: writing.

He told the audience to trust their hearts and most importantly to go out in the world and find something that they were truly passionate about and challenged them to find a way to get paid doing it.

In his speech, Harris broke down the concept of dreams into two categories: rain dreams and snow dreams. He categorized rain dreams as possessing all the external noise and opinions of peers, whether they are positive or negative. He then went on to say that “snow” dreams were powerful.

“They come to you so quietly, and peacefully, yet in a strong way,” he said.

He wrote his first novel, “Invisible Life,” under the guidance of snow, he said. He eventually overcame self-esteem issues and developed unknown talents due to writing.

“I would write for free. I would tell my story for free,” he told the audience. He also said that it takes courage to follow your dreams and to live an authentic life. He encouraged the audience to claim and pursue their own “snow.”

Harris is currently in his third semester of teaching at his alma mater, the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. The position was initially created for a one-year term. He teaches African American literature. He said he fell in love with teaching and he says would do it for free.

As I sat down with Harris for lunch and to conduct this interview I immediately noticed that he is as down to earth off-stage as he is on-stage.

During the course of our feast he tells the small group of invited guests different stories of his life, personal beliefs and all about the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

He revealed that he does follow politics and he seems to stay in the middle on most issues, leaning neither far right nor far left.

He said his biggest regret is that he waited so long to follow his dream of writing. He derives the strength to write from his strong faith and his self-confidence and he stated that he is a stronger person because of the struggles from his past.

Right now in his CD player Harris is spinning Brandy, Alicia Keys, Usher, Toni Braxton and Queen Latifah, he said. My departing question was one that I felt compelled to ask Harris, since he is a best selling author. I asked what was the last book he read, and he said it was “Floating” by Nicole Bailey Williams.

Harris’s speech in the GPAC was concise and to the point. Midway through the speech he made a very distinct statement that showed his dedication to his craft and his desire to make a difference. “If I could touch one person, my time at UNCP would be well worth it,” he said.

Mission Accomplished Mr. Harris!