DEVAUGHN: RHODES SCHOLAR
changing my life––our lives. Receiving a robust education meant that I could acquire the knowledge necessary to give back to my community; that one day, I could work to rem- edy the criminal justice system that left me without a father for so many years; that one day I could fight for those Black and Brown boys in the hood whom our country seems to so often forget, relegating them to derelict schools and depriving them of meaningful resources. I needed to work hard to learn as much as I possibly could, my mom underscored, for not only myself, but for my family and my Compton community. The Journal: Who are your mentors? DeVaughn: So many people have poured into me over the course of my life. From high school teachers, to college professors, to Brothers in this hallowed Fraternity, I have too many mentors to name them all here. What I can say is that I am merely a sum of all of those who have poured into me. I have been raised by a vil- lage of people who have guided me, been honest with me, loved me, and encouraged me. These mentors have sustained me, held me accountable, and pushed me to be the man I am today. The Journal: Do you have a favorite book or author you can share? DeVaughn: My favorite book is Invisible Man by Ralph Elli- son. This fictional text docu- ments the journey of a Black man struggling to unearth his own identity. As a Black man who lives in a country that has relegated Black folk to the margins for so much of its history, who grew up without
DeVaughn, right, with his Line Brothers Yonas G. Bayu (Theta Iota 2019), center, and Angel Onouha-Onyekuru (Theta Iota 2019), left. Below, on the yard with the Nupes.
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