Pass The Torch: How A Young Black Father Challenges the ‘Deadbeat Dad’ Stereotype

"My dad is my hero"Those five words begin an emotional journey for author Jamiyl Samuels that shapes the man he would become. When his father walks out of his life as a young boy, Samuels grows increasingly angry and resentful. He finds refuge in the power of music, namely Hip Hop, channeling his angst into the art of rhyme instead of a stereotypically negative alternative. The birth of Samuels' first child adds new purpose to his life and "Pass The Torch..." is his story of reflection, heartbreak, forgiveness and determination to become and remain a hero to his own children. In this revised version, "Pass The Torch" has been updated to reflect the joy, pain, and sacrifice of a present that is only possible because of a refusal to relive the past.