Today we’d like to introduce you to Ray Grant.
Professor Grant, college professor, poet, stand-up comedian, author, has a BA in English and MFA in poetry from The University of Iowa and has taught at Tuskegee and Spelman College. He began standup in 1993 performing on HBO’s Comedy Def Jam with Steve Harvey and also on BET’s Comic View.
He wrote for Ricky Smiley during his season as BET’s featured host and as punch-up writer for comedian Chris Tucker (Rush Hour 3). He was also a songwriter for American Idol Season 6. He’s also an author of two books “Old Sayings I just Made Up” Vol 1 and 2 available on Amazon.com. Their press releases were picked up on the wire for two weeks and reached 98 million people around the world.
They are books of original worldly wisdom inspired by living in a world of craziness. His books were all written on his iPhone over a two year period while waiting in the car or in the stands while his children participated in their various and countless sporting practices. He’s completed 9 more manuscripts since.
He’s a father of two, married to Paula Gwynn Grant, multi-nominated and Emmy Award-winning TV producer, radio personality and national PR consultant for various major entertainers and national companies.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Many have stated that my life and life’s journey in itself is nothing short of a miracle. I had two parents who heavily drank, some would say they were alcoholics. There were seven of us children when they separated. We lived in the housing projects on the Southside of Chicago. That was a rough and tough environment to survive in. It resulted in surviving on welfare, gang violence, brother shot, jailed; 14-year-old sister having a baby, sibling suicide, sibling with HIV, and as an end result, I was the only child to somehow attend and finish college.
What I picked up from my childhood was an ability to creatively adapt to any situation and not only survive but thrive. I learned that I only had myself to depend on. Nobody was going to pick me up if I fell. I learned to observe, gather what’s important to survive and live better the next day. Being that way has led me through my life. There was never a plan, only survival from day to day making sure each day was better than the one before.
Being this way has led me through my life’s journey. I began as a student, it led me to undergraduate then to graduate school. Graduate school led me to qualify as a teacher. Teaching led me across the country. The country exposed me to other people and opportunities. My early experiences were tragic yet turned out to be my lifeblood, the retelling of my various experiences that have led me to today.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I specialize in the ability to weave my tragic experiences or hardships into life lessons possibly for others to learn from. Either they can avoid what I’ve experienced or learn how to deal with similar situations or a negative mindset they may be in. I’m most proud that I have touched thousands of lives. To this day, my past students and readers of my books contact me thanking me for helping them in some way or another. What sets me apart from others is that I am a living example of what I share or teach. I am a true combination of life and structure.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moment so far has been the realization that I have found a certain level of success every step I’ve climbed. I was successful as a student, a teacher, a comedian, a songwriter, a film writer and an author.
Pricing:
- My books “Old Sayings I just Made Up Vol 1 and 2” are only $10 a piece on Amazon.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 770-833-1753
- Email: ProfessorRayGrant@gmail.com
- Instagram: ProfessorRG
- Twitter: ProfRayGrant
- Other: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbC5oVggIXc
Image Credit:
GettyImages
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