The life of a stutterer -- a truly different world

This is part of the life of a stutterer in a world where stutterers only represent one percent of the population. This is not a complaint -- I promise -- just a glimpse into why I chose to place the first essay in my book where I did. It's about why race has not been my biggest hurdle in life; stuttering has. I go into a TV studio to tape a three-minute segment and it is reduced to this because I wasn't having one of my most fluent days, which happen occasionally -- like when I gave an almost-stutter-free 30-minute speech on race two Sundays ago -- and why I'm in a stuttering drug trial. The interview lasted longer than three minutes, stopped and started again a few times because of the stutter. It was scheduled to be a three-minute segment but the good folks at the TV station decided it needed to be edited that way. Again, this is not a complaint. They handled everything professionally, they were sympathetic and I appreciated it. I really do.

I'm happy I went. They gave me a chance to plug my book on air even after I told them a week ago about my stutter. Some news organizations -- NPR to name one -- were scared off by my phone voice. (Gospel radio host Zenobia Washington gave me an hour on air, which was also much appreciated.) That's not a complaint about NPR either, just an observation about why I chose the first column in the book. I understand why broadcast folks would balk at a stuttering guest, because as far as long-term obstacles in my life, race has nothing on my stutter. It's a different world for stutterers, one in which you even have to think twice before going through a drive-thru at a fast-food joint. I used to be frustrated by it, but no longer am. I'm at a different place, one which is more concerned about learning why people react to stuttering the way they do and what that says about complex human relationships. When I find out more, I'll let you know.

I'm happy I went. They gave me a chance to plug my book on air even after I told them a week ago about my stutter. Some news organizations -- NPR to name one -- were scared off by my phone voice. (Gospel radio host Zenobia Washington gave me an hour on air, which was also much appreciated.) That's not a complaint about NPR either, just an observation about why I chose the first column in the book. I understand why broadcast folks would balk at a stuttering guest, because as far as long-term obstacles in my life, race has nothing on my stutter. It's a different world for stutterers, one in which you even have to think twice before going through a drive-thru at a fast-food joint. I used to be frustrated by it, but no longer am. I'm at a different place, one which is more concerned about learning why people react to stuttering the way they do and what that says about complex human relationships. When I find out more, I'll let you know.