Perspectives

About the Book

Perspective is a compilation of black life, thoughts, anxieties, fears, doubts, and love with a slight spiritual overtone brought forth in essays, prose, and poetry. Mr. Barfield articulates not only his many experiences in the game of life but sufficiently captures the attitude and experiences that transcends black life and touches the very soul of the human experience. Mr. Barfield captures the human frailties of the heart and mind in the most poetic and profound ways. The book is the continuing saga that captures life as viewed from the perspective of that other America that often gets lost in the rhetoric of expediency, i.e., the poor, the downtrodden, the forgotten, the other America, the faceless who is educated by thirty-second sound bites. Black, white, red, brown, or yellow are all affected by failure, lost dreams, the pursuit of love, and broken promises.

About the Author

Charles Barfield grew up in Pittsburgh and attended the University of Pittsburgh where he graduated with a master’s degree in social work and a master’s degree in public administration. Mr. Barfield, along with a colleague and two doctors, cofounded the first methadone drug treatment program in the city of Pittsburgh. Mr. Barfield was instrumental in the creation of a community health center in his neighborhood. He also worked as housing director for a community revitalization program. In 1982, he moved to Connecticut and assumed a position with Connecticut Junior Republic as regional director for youth and adult programming. Charles retired from the state of Connecticut Department of Children and Families as supervisor for foster care and adoption. Charles currently provides mentoring services for high school African American male students and enjoys reading, writing, and playing tennis.