by Michael P Coleman
No one I’ve met lately exemplifies “Black Men In Leadership” more than my new friend, David Norman.
At 67 years old, the Harlem native and former heroin addict graduated from Columbia University’s School of General Studies this spring.
Norman’s journey, which included two incarcerations, was long. Norman fell victim to substance abuse as a teenager, using drugs to self-medicate his inhibitions and lack of self-confidence.
“I was a very shy kid,” Norman said, “and I was also selling narcotics, and in that capacity you were taught not to show feelings. One of the things I realized early was that when I got high, I was able to function socially, which was one of my biggest problems.”
After Norman’s first incarceration in 1968, he had a short college career but soon returned to drugs and the streets. In 1995, he was convicted of manslaughter after a street fight during which Norman says he was defending himself.
During that six year prison stint, Norman volunteered as a counselor, in a program that provided tools to inmates to help them get through the first 90 days after being released. Norman was so effective that he was soon promoted to a senior position.
“That job changed my perspective,” Norman shared. “It let me know that I have something to offer. I decided I would devote my time to working toward something bigger than myself.”
Soon, Norman was working for Columbia University, and decided to return to school and earn the college degree that had eluded him decades earlier. Today, he’s the oldest graduate of Columbia’s Class of 2016.
“I remember a time when people would avoid me on the street, because of my attitude,” Norman recalls. “Now I smile and say hello to people and ask them how they’re doing. When my perspective changed, my life changed. Whatever happens outside has to begin inside.”
Michael P Coleman is a Sacramento-based freelance writer. Connect with Coleman at michaelpcoleman.com or on Twitter: @ColemanMichaelP.
