Aug 18

Written by: Joe Longo
Saturday, August 18, 2007 

Denzel Washington is a fine actor who has starred in many motion pictures including:

• "Philadelphia",
• "Malcolm X",
• "Crimson Tide",
• "Remember the Titans",
• "The Bone Collector and
• "The Manchurian Candidate.

Many have borrowed these DVDs from our library.

Denzel Washington has now published a book of 74 inspiring personal stories from celebrities about the people who helped shape their lives. It is called "A Hand To Guide Me".

The publisher writes that "everyone needs a hand from time to time, a gentle nudge to get on track. And you never know when the help you provide will lift someone toward a life of greatness".

Athletes, business leaders, entertainers, politicians and others each write about three pages about the kindness of role models and mentors who demonstrate how important anyone can be to a young person. Many of these famous people came from poor disadvantaged backgrounds before they became successful. I note that some mentioned the importance of libraries and reading.

Walter Anderson, a magazine editor, came from a violent section of New York. He writes that there were two islands in his childhood where he go because they were places where he was never afraid - the public library and the Boys Club.

Football player Tony Gonzalez writes about reading books for self-improvement and empowerment. Actor Courtney Vance remembers growing up with books and going to libraries, museums, plays, concerts and movies with his parents.

I particularly liked the comments by Colin Powell, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and former U.S. Secretary of State, who writes about the importance of family. "When I was a kid I had an aunt in almost every other house on every block from my school to my home. You can talk about the Internet all you want, but it is nothing compared with the speed of the Auntnet in the South Bronx. All these aunts were hanging out the windows, looking down on the street, watching out for us kids. ... Everyone was considered an aunt, whether they were a real aunt or not. You couldn't get into trouble without getting caught by this network of aunts and uncles and cousins, and when you were caught, the speed of the Auntnet brought it to your parents for retribution before you even made it home."