NEW YORK–Education can be a great escape from poverty and violence, but education is more than just working toward some kind of degree. Learning how to think, how to interpret information, and how to argue is fundamental in expanding one’s mind beyond academics. The humanities are an excellent arena for acquiring these skills, and helped this man realize his potential.
Lamont Smith is a native New Yorker, and grew up in Harlem and the Bronx. Smith was raised in a single parent household in a housing project with his mother and older brother. The family was partially on dependent on welfare, and his mother worked hard to support the family. Despite not living an opulent lifestyle, Smith had a happy childhood.
