On Becoming "A Teacher or Something": An Autobiographical Review

This autobiographical review reflects on how I came to attend college, go to graduate school, and become a professor of sociology specializing in criminology. My story is about an African-American child growing up in the rural Jim Crow South with expectations of being destined to have an impressive career. I identify the source of my high career expectations, the roles of family members in helping fulfill these expectations, the educational experiences that I had and what I took from them, and how my career evolved as a university professor. I also discuss my efforts to give back or pay forward to those who set the stage for my career early on and those who mentored, supported, or collaborated with me in the real-world context of university life. Most generally, this article provides a window into my personal journey from rural Georgia to success, "fame," and giving back in academia.