The Autobiography of Donnell Butler

(Abridged... thank goodness)

I am someone with the audacity to create a fan club dedicated to myself. It has nothing to do with egoism or egotism. It's all about having faith in oneself. If you take only have one piece of advice from me, then take the following. If you're not your own biggest fan, then don't expect anyone else to be. "Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all."  It amazed me how many fans of celebrities would spend so much time and energy enshrining people that they don't even know.  I wanted to make a webpage on something that I was a guaranteed expert in, like myself. So, that it was I did.

There is a good chance that you know me from somewhere or else what would you be doing here. But, if you happened to just surf in. Allow me to introduce myself. I was born Donnell James Butler to Gail and James Butler at Jacoby Hospital in The Bronx, New York in May of 1973. I lived for three years in New York before moving to Fort Bragg/Fayetteville North Carolina with my mother and my stepfather James Daryl Bethea.

I lived in North Carolina for four years, where I had my first kiss with Michelle Smith. I planted my first tree at 517 Mondragon Place in Fort Bragg. I ran away from home twice. I became a San Francisco 49er fan. I learned how to play basketball. I got a baby brother. And after an IQ test, I was deemed to be a genius. All of this before age seven. At which point, I moved again, this time to West Germany (before the wall came down).

I lived in Hanau, Hessen at the bottom of the northern tip of Germany and Baumholder, Rhineland-Pfalz near Luxembourg. I had my first love, Marlo Wylie. I became the biggest nerd, writing papers about third world countries during my summer's off from school. I became fascinated with cultures other than my own. I would often try to get lost in Baumholder just so I could see whom I would meet. I grew up way too fast during those years. I lived with or through each of the ten commandments being broken. All of this before age ten. At which point, I moved back to the South Bronx to live with my wonderful grandmother, Thelma Seward.

1165 Fulton Avenue, near the corner of 168th street and Third Avenue. You can't get any further into the heart of the South Bronx then that; and I am proud of every day that I spent there. If you don't know where you're going or what you're doing, then you could find yourself in a hospital, police station or worse. But there were also some wonderful people with great stories, lots of pride and lots of love. Unfortunately despite their steadfast faith in God, most of the people lacked capital. I learned how powerful capital (be it financial, social or cultural) can be in making the difference between success and failure.

I was still a nerd. So, I frequently got into fights. When I was little, my mother used to tell me that if I got beat up, then she would beat me up when I got home. So, I frequently won my fights... or ran home if I didn't think I could win. My nerdiness led to a multitude of awards and the opportunity to attend Prep for Prep, The Preparation for Preparatory School Program. If it wasn't for Prep, I don't know where I would be right now. My summers of schooling at Prep helped me go from P.S. 132 in the South Bronx to The Horace Mann School in the North Bronx.

You see Horace Mann (HM) is in this well-to-do section of the North Bronx. The people who live there call it Riverdale. They even put Riverdale, NY on their mail. Apparently, they are ashamed to be associated with the Bronx. This section of the North Bronx is even on a big hill. All they need is a moat and chain-linked fences and then I'll stop calling it the Bronx. I decided to stop globe trotting with my mother and stay put in the Bronx. I lived with my grandmother and commuted an hour to school each day.

At HM, I learned the value of friendship. I learned about loyalty from Seth Shaifer, unconditional love from Athena Shapiro and trust from Brett Haber. Melody Schoenfeld taught me how to laugh and Zachary Katznelson was proof to me that there are others, like me, who want to change the world. Horace Mann is known in New York City as one of the elite Ivy League high schools. Most students at my high school go on to Ivy League colleges. So, when I received admission to University of Pennsylvania's Wharton Business School and Cornell University and decided to attend Franklin and Marshall College (F&M), everyone thought I had lost my mind. It turned into the best decision I have ever made.

At first, I hated F&M. But by the time I had graduated, I was so in love with the place that I rave about it wherever I go. At F&M, I fell in love (for real) for the first time with Jenny Gomez. We were engaged and of course later broke up. It's hard to handle intense relationships when it is both your first and you're so young. While, I learned the value of friendship at HM. I learned the true meaning of friendship at F&M.

I was looking for a reason, roaming through the night to find my place in this world. God and F&M helped me discover my place in this world. I spent my weekends working at the radio station WFNM and writing columns for the College Reporter. I spent my days working as hard as I could in my classes. I double majored in Accounting and Sociology. I had a flare for Accounting, it came easy to me. But, Sociology was my passion and will be my future. I graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude amidst a lot of fan fare. I'm not sure whether I deserved all of the hype that I received during those days. But, I know I was honored to be respected by so many people.

So, I was born a poor kid in the South Bronx. I traveled the world and lost any modicum of an accent that I ever had. I returned to the South Bronx. I ended up in private school, then a top liberal arts college, worked for a Big 6 public accounting firm, and currently I am getting my PhD at Princeton University, one of the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. I observed many cultures and people. I have been blessed my entire life and am very lucky to be standing before you today alive, healthy and full of promise. Hopefully, I've been able to dispel any myths about what the Boyz n' the Hood can accomplish. We can accomplish anything with luck, good blessings, hope, love and hard work. Someone please tell the ultraconservatives, that hard work alone won't help just anyone succeed.

Updated: 07/14/00