b'Stephens, S.C. was happy to get a start in his homeLIFE FOR ME AINT BEEN NO state at the Myrtle Beach Sun News. CRYSTAL STAIRThese words written by Poet Langston Hughes could Now a professor of Public Policy at his alma mater,alsoserveassomewhatofathemeforBaileyslife. BaileyfirstwentontoworkHe has had challenges on his asanadvisorandthenaco- path to becoming a journalist, instructor at Coastal Carolinawhichironicallystartedand University.Healsoservedhoned his career. asaJournalismlecturerat HarvardUniversity,advancedOn his LinkedIn page, Bailey to columnist and senior writerwrites, I became a journalist fortheMyrtleBeachSunthe moment I stood hovering News,andisnowguardianinacornerofmyhouse adlitemforHorryCounty,watchingmyoldestbrother S.C. If thats not enough, addrush into the kitchen to stop author to his repertoire.myfatherfrombeatingmy The father and husband wrotemother.a book of essays in 2020: WhyItwasntuntilyearslater Didnt We Riot? A Black MantheadultBaileyunderstood inTrumpland.In2018,hethatthechillingmomentwas publishedhisfirstbook,Myalsothebeginningofcareer BrotherMoochie:Regainingdiscovery for the then 7-year-DignityintheFaceofCrime,old.PovertyandRacisminthe American South. Journalismbecamea naturalbecauseIwantedto Writing just became a way for me to let my voicebetter understand what led to moments like what I be heard clearly, says Bailey. It gave me an insightwitnessed in the kitchen, how many others experience into other peoples stories andsuch things, and what society struggles as well. is doing to help, says Bailey. Baileys voice was one of theJustafewyearsafter reasons he was selected tothatdomesticviolence participate in the Niemanincident,Bailey,a9-year-Fellowship Program atoldatthetime,faced Harvard University. Accordinganotherdevastatingoccasion to the Harvard website, thethatpushedhislimitsasa program has, for more thanjournalist. The same big hero 80 years, welcomed some ofbrotherwhostoppedthe the worlds most accomplisheddomestic violence occurrence, and promising journalists,briefly faced the death penalty giving them the gift of timeformurderingawhiteman. and intellectual resources toThatexperienceledyears fortify their work. later,toBaileysquestto uncover the truth, resulting in So,exactlyhowdoesasmallhis first book. townboyflourishona colossalstage?ForBailey,aInanexcerptfromMy few jarring experiences and anBrotherMoochie:Regaining internal struggle have led the way.Dignity in the Face of Crime, Poverty and Racism in the American South, Baileyhasremorseforthevictims IMARA9'