Rendezvous with Derrick Newton, Author of The Two America’s: The Opioid vs. Crack Cocaine Epidemic.

Today, we have the pleasure of interviewing Derrick Newton, a self-published author.

Hi, Great to have you with us today! Please tell us about yourself.

I graduated from the University of Santa Cruz in 2018 with a degree in Sociology, and I’m currently working on my master’s degree. I will apply for my doctorate next year.

Please tell us more about your journey.

I was forced out of high school at an early age. For most of my life, I was in special education classes. Being placed in this environment hindered my self-esteem and perception of the world as a person with a disability. I’m 52 years old now, and when I was going to school in the ‘70s, they had not coined the term dyslexia yet. So, they labeled me a low achiever, lazy, stupid, or just plain dumb. This was pretty harsh, but I survived. 

Please tell us about your book, The Two America’s: The Opioid vs. Crack Cocaine Epidemic.

I’m the CEO of NewtyRock Publishing which I founded in 2018. I spent my previous years as a music producer/ rapper in the Bay Area. In 2013 I dropped my solo album title No autographs, which is available on iTunes, and I produced mixtapes showcasing many up-and-coming Bay Area artists. At this moment, I’m focusing on one of my earlier releases, The Two America’s: The Opioid vs. Crack Cocaine Epidemic, which was my capstone project at UC Santa Cruz. With my degree in sociology, I’m very passionate about exposing the inequalities minorities face here in America, especially in the judicial system that funnels Black and Brown bodies into the Industrial Prison Complex. Unfortunately, my struggles in special education early on with reading and writing made me a candidate for Prison. If you can’t read by the 4th grade, your options are pretty much limited to the streets. Without an education, sometimes selling drugs is the only option for many. 

What are the strategies that helped you become successful in your journey?

My strategy for success is finding your passion and surrounding yourself around like-minded individuals who share your same interest. The philosopher Socrates once said, “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” 

Any message for our readers.

Never give up on your dreams.

Fantastic! So tell us, how can people find out more about you?

For those interested in following my content, you can find me on Instagram @derricknewton9.

Thank you so much, Derrick, for giving us your precious time! We wish you all the best for your journey ahead!