DEVAUGHN: RHODES SCHOLAR
a father figure for many of my formative years, and who was reared in a city so many have deemed a lost cause, I often struggled to arrive at who I was and more importantly who I wanted to become. Invisible Man taught me that there should be no restrictions or constraints on what I am or on what I can be. It revealed to me that I must construct my individuality in the way I see fit. I must be true to myself and my purpose: I’m a Black boy from the hood who loves the philosophy of Aristotle, the rhetoric of Frederick Douglass, and the poetry of Kendrick La- mar. I love to study, and I love to shimmy. I’m from Comp- ton, and I’m from Harvard. I contain multitudes—that is my truth. I will choose to be my authentic, unapologetic self every single day. The Journal: Do you have a favorite quote or motto you live by? DeVaughn: In Frederick Douglass’ 1861 “Lecture on Pictures,” he said, “Poets, prophets, and reformers are all picturemakers. This ability is the secret of their talents and of their achievements.
Above: DeVaughn performing with the Harvard music Group 21 Colorful Crimson (21CC) at Harvard Yardfest 2018, opening for Wale and Lil Yachty. Below: DeVaughn pictured with the 44 th President Barack Obama at Obama's My Brother's Keeper Rising Summit.
us to “endeavor to remove the contradic- tion,” to fight for a world where those oft- forgotten are afforded adequate resources and opportunity. To think that Douglass, a man born into slavery, believed so sincerely in the promise that he could “remove that contradiction,” that he could create a more just world, inspires me each and every day. The Journal: Expand on the reference that you grew up visiting prisons at an early age. How did you come to work on issues of clemency and prison advocacy? DeVaughn: Charged with a nonviolent drug offense, my dad spent the first thirteen years of my life in prison. As my
They see what ought to be, by the reflec- tion of what is, and endeavor to remove the contradiction.” I read this quote from Douglass late night during my freshman year at Harvard when I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do or what God had for my life. Douglass’ words inspired me because they called on so much of what I had experienced: growing up in places like Compton and Harvard, I traversed the worlds of underprivilege and privilege. I saw the reflection of a dichotomy: a country wherein some have a lot and oth- ers have a little, wherein some are well-off and others are oft-forgotten. In this quote, Douglass committed himself but also calls
mother worked during the week, I only visited my dad on Satur- days. All the prisoners shuffled out of one door. It was steel, gray, and unyielding. A red light, above the door, shone every time a prisoner was soon to emerge. The red light induced a seesaw of emo- tion: excitement when it would shine and disappointment when my father was not the Black man who emerged. Soon, he appeared: bright-eyed and joy- ous. Our allotted sixty minutes always expired too quickly. Every time, I left heartbroken. I never
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