Pass the Torch: How a Young Black Father Challenges the "Deadbeat Dad" Stereotype

Those five words begin an emotional journey for author Jamiyl Samuels that has shaped the man he would become. When his father walks out of his life as a young boy, Jamiyl grows increasingly angry and resentful.

Seeking refuge in the power of music, namely Hip Hop, Samuels pours his angst into the art of rhyme instead of a stereotypically negative alternative.

The birth of his child adds new purpose to Jamiyl's life and "Pass The Torch..." is a story of reflection, heartbreak, forgiveness and determination of the author to become a hero to his own children.