Joseph C. Philips will be signing copies of his book, He Talk Like a White Boy: Reflections on Faith, Politics and Authenticity, on Saturday October 25 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. The signing will be taking place at Barnes and Nobel Bookstore, North Park Mall Davenport, Iowa.

In this book, Mr. Philips talks about character, faith, family, identity and idealism and includes many reflections from his own life experiences as a black man who as the title puts it “talk like a white boy”. Phillips grew up in integrated Denver and was the son of a doctor. He had to deal with the fact that many members of his race would not like him because of his speech and preferences and later his conservative Republican beliefs. Even with things like music as a teenager he hid the fact that he liked Led Zeppelin and always said he liked jazz, but did not elaborate that this meant people like Benny Goodman.

The book opens with an anecdote from Phillip’s Junior High school. After he said something in class one of the fellow students spoke up saying “He talk like a white boy”. The teacher corrected the student by saying “no, he speaks like a white boy”. That was sort of a beginning for Phillips who wondered what exactly that means as he would learn that how he talked made him different than the people around him. Phillips deplores the emphasis put on sports in the black community and instead wants an emphasis put on academics: “Doing well in school and reading books become anti-black, joining the debate club instead of the basketball team is anti-black as well.”

Even more critical for Phillips, who has three sons, is the absence of fathers in our communities. He is adamant that role models are no substitutes and points out that our prisons our full of men who had plenty of male role models, but no fathers.

Mr. Phillips is best known for the role of Lt. Martin Kendall, Lisa Bonet’s husband, on the hit series The Cosby Show. He was also a three time NAACP Image Award Nominee for his portrayal of Attorney Justus Ward on the Daytime Drama General Hospital. Acting and writing are just two of Mr. Phillips many passions. His interest in community service has led Mr. Phillips involvement in the Special Olympics, The Green Chimneys Foundation, of which he is an advisory member, The Red Cross and the Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles. Mr. Phillips is the ambassador for the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America and is the face of Project Alpha for the March of Dimes.

On the evening of October 25, Mr. Philips will be the guest speaker at the Annual Black & Gold Scholarship Ball, 6:30 PM at the Fifth Season Hotel & Convention Center (formerly known as the Holiday Inn) 6902 – 27th Street, Moline, IL.

The theme for the Black and Gold Ball is “Unity in Purpose is our Strength.”

This year, the Ball is a fundraiser for the Mu Chi Lambda Chapter Fraternity; Big Brothers and Big Sisters in Davenport, IA and Aldridge Early Learning Center in East Moline, IL

For more information about the book signing or to purchase tickets, contact Roscoe Spencer, Program Director, at (309) 792-0622 or cell phone number (309) 236-9547.