Blair Underwood - Before I got here: The Wondrous Things We Hear When We Listen to the

1230 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020

www.SimonandSchuster.com

Copyright 2005 by Trabajando, Inc. and Donyell Kennedy-McCullough

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Atria Books, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

ISBN-13: 978-0-7432-7149-3

ISBN-10:0-7432-7149-1

ISBN-13: 978-1-4516-1635-4 (eBook)

First Atria Books hardcover edition October 2005

Designed by Joel Avirom, Jason Snyder, and Meghan Day Healey

Jacket design by Anna Dorfman

Cover photograph by Donyell Kennedy-McCullough

is a trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

For information regarding special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Simon & Schuster Special Sales at 1-800-456-6798 or

Blair Underwood:

For my bride, Desiree, and our three miracles, Paris, Brielle, andBlake.

Thank you for sharing this brief, shining lifetime with me.

Donyell Kennedy-McCullough:

For my parents, Bill and Therese White, my husband Suli , and the two amazing spirits that fuel me Kennedy-Rue and Nahzi !!

And lastly, for my MeMe my guardian angel.

by Donyell Kennedy-McCullough

Wed like to thank the childrenour friends and our ownwho allowed us to photograph them for this book. While their images dont correspond to the words quoted and stories told in these pages, they do complement the amazing things our children say and in another way reveal how deep are the souls of our children.

First, Id like to express my deepest gratitude to the village that helped bring this project to fruition. Being fortunate enough to have a book published is, as my mother always says, more than a notion.

My family sustains and astonishes me each and every day. Profound thanks are due my wife, Desiree, for always believing in me, supporting me, and tolerating the spirit of stubbornness that on occasion abducts her unsuspecting husband.

To my son, Paris, whose innocence and wide-eyed perspective of our universe served as the inspiration for this book, thank you.

Thank you to my daughter, Brielle, and my son, Blake, for constantly providing a glimpse inside the purity of their souls.

Thanks so much to my cousin Lynne (Tita) Andrews for being such a nurturing and positive influence in the lives of our children. Youve been there since day one with each child and you are a tremendous blessing in our home. Desi and I thank God for you, every day.

To Diane DaCosta, your persistence and determination to achieve inspires me to be better at everything. Thank you for showing me that having a book published is not only a possibility and/or probability, but indeed a reality.

Also, heartfelt thanks to Donyell Kennedy-McCullough, who after sharing personal accounts of her amazing child encouraged me to compile similar anecdotes and create Before I Got Here. Thank you, Donyell, for the extra push.

A special thanks to my agent, Manie Barron, who tirelessly trudged through the rain-soaked city of New York to eventually find the perfect publishing company for us.

It is absolutely more than a notion, to find a publishing house that not only sees your vision but embraces it. For that, I will forever be indebted to my editor, Malaika Adero, my publisher, Judith Curr, and the entire staff at Atria Books. Thank you for your patience and enthusiasm during this creative phase. God bless you.

Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes, I am honored to call you friends. Thank you for your insight and wealth of knowledge as I embark upon this foray into the literary world.

Thank you to the Owens family for your example of faith and family.

Thanks to Danita Patterson for your spiritual guidance and perpetual golden moments.

Thanks to my grand godchildren Blair Brittney, Alexia Grace, and Kenny Fields, Jr. Though I dont see you as often as I would like, I am forever grateful for the light that shines within you.

Chinue Wells, thank you for your joyful spirit and hard work in attempting to wrangle me for a photo shoot.

Thank you to my manager, Ron West, for everything, but specifically for the idea to create a website. Without an outreach vehicle such as our website, it would have been much more difficult to amass our many stories.

Thanks to Damien Smith for constructing the website and providing our cyberspace link to the world.

Thank you to Denise Ruiz for helping out on our photo shoot. You are a calming spirit and a blessing to all you encounter.

Thank you to Elisa Rudder for being my guardian angel.

Finally, as always, I give thanks to my extraordinary family who have supported me throughout my life: my father, Col. Frank Underwood, Sr.; my mother, Marilyn Ann Underwood; my brother, Frank Underwood, Jr.; my sisters, Mario Collins and Mellisa Anne Underwood. I thank you all for your undying love, honesty, candidness and for always believing I can, even when I may think I cannot.

The many contributors and friends of this project, too numerous to name, have encouraged and inspired me by embracing the belief that these vibrations of light we call children are indeed worthy of our utmost.

Ultimately, as Kahlil Gibran reminds us, their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow.

Blair Underwood

First and foremost, I would like to give special thanks to those who birthed my creativity, my parents Bill and Therese White and Arthur Washington.

I would also like to thank those who continue to inspire me: my husband Suli, whom I cant thank enough for being so loving and supportive of the craziness I have labeled creativity.

Thank you to one of the most phenomenal spirits to grace my life: my daughter Kennedy-Rue. You make me believe that the world is so much bigger than here and now. Thank you for choosing me.

And my son, Nahzi: thank you for challenging my fears.

Thank you, Blair, for being such an amazing spirit and being! You are truly a light and those of us who are fortunate to know you are forever blessed. Thank you for your friendship! Desiree Underwood, beauty begets beauty. Thank you for sharing your gifts.

To my special angel Jada Pinkett Smith, thank you for believing in me and pushing me ever so gently to recognize my calling and embrace my highest self. I will be eternally grateful to you for not giving me an out!

Will, thanks for setting the example for your friends and encouraging us all to do things that ensure that the world is a better place because we were here! I HEARD YOU! THANK YOU!!!

Thank you to my oldest and dearest friends Leslie Perry and Stephen Perry. My goddaughters Morgan, Lauren, and Cameron Perry; Jaime King for always being so forthright and my reality check; Michelle Listenbee-Brown for the years of friendship and the gift of my godson Noah. Daphne Wayans, how can I thank you enough for teaching me the true spirit of motherhood?! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Tisha Campbell-Martin, you continue to inspire me with your words and your deeds. Kebe Dunn, you keep me in touch with the universes energy; Annabeth White, thank you for the lesson of truth. Tammy Games, thank you for all of your love and support; Kimberly Frelow (we go so far back its scary), thank you for believing in me no matter how far-fetched the idea! Olivia Riley-Williams, The Baby grew up! Thank you for always supporting my crazy ventures. Lisa Bonner, thank you for all of your hard work in making sure that this project came to fruition.