It is an amazing phenomenon to watch the lives of those around us unfold. Whether it is the high school valedictorian who seemed destined for NASA deciding to become an elementary school teacher, or the captain of the cheerleading squad becoming a construction worker, one never knows what path he or she will be led down. However, it is imperative that we follow it when it is revealed to us.

It is a privilege for me to be able to chronicle the unfolding of one such person's life. We met freshman year of college, were in the same major, and graduated together. Despite my literary leanings as evidenced here at Highergroundonline.com, My “job” title still matches my diploma. His no longer does. He, David H. Horton, II, is an author now, and his first book, “Negro Intellect: A Guide for Young Black Males” is proof positive of that.

When I spoke to Dave, he expressed the astonishment that many of us initially had when we found out about his book as it was not some calculated entity that had been brewing inside of him for as long as he could remember. As a hobby, he began what came to be known as “Strange Fruit,” a literary column of his thoughts, ideas and experiences that grew out of an email forward to his friends. It then began to appear on a few websites and received warm receptions. So at the advice of a friend, he started using the style of writing he developed from “Strange Fruit” to write something a bit more substantial. As a first time author, it is quite a task to find something to write an entire book about. So he chose the subject he knew the most about; being a young Black man and the life lessons we all have to learn.

“Negro Intellect: A Guide for Young Black Males” is just that. It is a practical, simplistic, humorous account of life lessons learned from the best teacher there is…experience. It is not some high-brow in-depth study of behavioral patterns; but a real-life manual that was written, as Mr. Horton says, for everyone to understand. From the block to the boardroom, and from pre-teens to senior citizens, there are things that are relatable to us as Black men.

The volume is set up as a “How To” guide. And as humorous as chapter titles like “How to get rid of crazy women” and “How to sleep at work” may seem, there is pratical, common sense advice in every chapter. But it is not all fun and games. There is some real “meat” contained in this book like “How to survive getting pulled over”, “How to look at statistics” (speaking on the skewed vision that they often present), and “How to invest.”

There is another aspect of the book that came to my mind as I read the pages. Besides the practical advice contained in it, there is also an underlying societal commentary present throughout. This book gives great insight as to how the society of this country molds and shapes the psyches of young Black males, how we are taught to not only live and experience, but how we, in many cases, have to employ survival tactics just to make it through our daily lives. “Negro Intellect” is one man's story, but it speaks to every one of us in some way or another.

I am very proud of David Horton for embarking on such an ambitious undertaking and I hope that “Negro Intellect” is the first of many more literary works in the future. But what I am most proud of is his example to those of us who have ideas and have talents, which have been there with us since we can remember. We have to recognize those talents and put them to use.

Thank you Dave, for your inspiration to me, and I know that your book is an inspiration to many others.

Peace Brother.

Visit http://www.negrointellect.com/ for more information and to purchase the book.