N.C. A&T Alumnus Samuel Harrison Recounts Black Experience in America through Collection of Poetry
Samuel Harrison ’70 had his first experience with racial tension when he was a freshman at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. He found himself in the middle of a protest after a well-known African American pastor had moved into a predominately white neighborhood.
Harrison and his friends were out exploring Greensboro as college students and found themselves among protesters when he was hit in the back of his head with a glass bottle, leaving a lasting scar for more than 50 years.
College life for Harrison in the late 1960s and early 1970s was shaped by the 1968 riots, after the assassinations of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy, and the 1969 Greensboro Uprising on the campus of North Carolina A&T.
Harrison received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1970 from A&T and MBA from Duke University in 1981.
Harrison worked for IBM in numerous managerial roles and was afforded the opportunity to travel internationally for 31 years. He worked at A&T as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Information Technology for 14 years.
“When I returned to A&T to work as an alumnus, I approached this experience with a sense of pride and it was more than a job for me,” said Harrison.
Now in Harrison’s retirement, he is doing consulting work and has written two books, “Reflections on the Black Experience in America” and “Faith, Sacrifice, and Perseverance: Foundational Support for The Black Experience in America.” Both books, which are available through Amazon, offer a wealth of gems and wisdom shared through the art of poetry. His second book will be available on Amazon.com in September.
“My campus experience at N.C. A&T including my parents, grandparents, mentors and former teachers have influenced me the most with their wisdom and guidance on how to navigate through challenges,” said Harrison. “My two books were written in honor of the people who have had significant influence on my life.”
