Kevin Powell was born into extreme poverty; he refused to let that limit him. He got into college against all odds and went on to become a respected writer and community activist — a path he’ll share at Alpha Phi Alpha’s 17th annual Black and Gold Ball tomorrow night.

“There are so many issues happening in Bermuda and around the world in regards to the state of our young people and the state of education,” the 49-year-old told Lifestyle.

“I will share about how critical it is for people in leadership positions to have a vision and plan for the future.

“We also have to show love in the way we represent ourselves and the people.”

He grew up in New Jersey in a single-parent home; his mother struggled to make ends meet. She put his education at the forefront in spite of that, insisting that he go to college.

“My father abandoned us, but my life is a testimony of what is possible if we just support each other, focus on getting a good education, have faith and believe in something greater than ourselves,” he said.

“My mother told me, ‘You’re going to college’. She had a vision even though she hadn’t gone to high school, let alone college herself.

“She instilled in me a great love of learning and a sense of faith. It seems very simple, but unfortunately a lot of us don’t have these things in place.”

Mr Powell got his first big break out of high school. He was awarded a bursary through New Jersey’s Educational Opportunity Fund, which allowed him to study political science and English at Rutgers University. To this day, he’s incredibly passionate about politics, and ran for congress in New York in 2008 and 2010. His career, however, has largely focused on his writing.

His articles have been published in Esquire, Ebony, The Washington Post, Rolling Stone and Vibe, and he’s written 12 books. His latest is a memoir, The Education of Kevin Powell: A Boy’s Journey into Manhood.

“This book is brutally honest,” he said. “It’s about self-love and healing.

“It’s important to heal because a lot of us have trauma in our lives. In my case it was poverty. My father also wasn’t there and that was traumatic for me growing up. Some people deal with violence or abuse in their lives. For some it’s sexual assault or their parents divorcing. I’ve learnt if you don’t deal with those things they will come out in very profound ways in our intimate relationships, careers and even our friendships.

“I wanted to write a book that really stretched from when I was born — in the era of Watergate and the Vietnam War — up to Obama and the era of hip-hop.”

Writing the memoir was therapeutic for Mr Powell. It chronicles his appearance on MTV’s first season of The Real World, his interviews with rappers such as Tupac Shakur and his battles with alcohol and depression.

“There were moments when I laughed and cried; times when I had wonderful dreams and then really dark nightmares about the stuff coming up in different parts of my life,” he said. “It took me four or five years to complete and was the hardest thing I’ve ever written in my life. But after it was over I felt liberated, free and happier than I’ve been in my life.

“I was releasing things as an artist and a writer. It’s difficult to create art. You go through spiritual and emotional changes, but once it’s over you feel light and calm, like you can get on with the rest of your life.”

He travels across America as a speaker and writer 40 weeks out of the year.

“I live my life in service to others, so I’m constantly in the place where you see fear, hatred and division and a lot of violence,” he said. “But I still have hope and that’s what my message will be about [tomorrow night] — hope. I know it’s possible.

“I want to leave people with some solutions and practical action steps. Anyone can give a decent speech, but the bigger thing I try to consider is: what are you leaving people with?”

The Black and Gold Ball is at the Fairmont Southampton. For tickets, $150, e-mail info@bermudaalpha.bm or call 534-1906.

• For more information visit www.kevinpowell.net