{"product_id":"they-taught-me-how-to-be-the-man-i-am-mentors-and-mentees-9798218416270","title":"They Taught Me How To Be The Man I Am: Mentors and Mentees","description":"Any way you look at it, \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003epeople\u003c\/em\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003emattered \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003ehugely \u003c\/em\u003ein my life\u003c\/strong\u003e! Ordinary relationships that were loving, compassionate and nurturing assured my survival while growing up Black in Jim Crow Deep South. They guided me through difficult coming of age experiences, and prepared me for a future I could not imagine as America's first Black professional tuba player and a University President. \u003cbr\u003eThis is a book of related short stories, each featuring a mentor, that portrays entangled inter-generational and interracial relationships, shaped profoundly by the historical times and vibrant places we lived. \u003cstrong\u003eThe stories encompass biography (memoir), autobiography, history, race, education, music, sociology, spirituality and relationships.\u003c\/strong\u003e They express the human experience. \u003cbr\u003e - \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eDr. John L. Smith, Jr., \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e Author\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Smith Junior Literary Works","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50717659431186,"sku":"9798218416270","price":22.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_e5c7565d-322b-4001-bf2b-20b68b58a3b4.jpg?v=1734623069","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/they-taught-me-how-to-be-the-man-i-am-mentors-and-mentees-9798218416270","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}