Jeffrey Blount is an Emmy-award-winning story-teller. During his 34 years at NBC News, Jeffrey directed a decade of Meet The Press, The Today show, and NBC Nightly News. As the first African American Director of the Today show, he credits his parents for insisting on quality education for him and his brothers. Keenly aware of the toll of racial injustice on one’s mental and physical health, Jeffrey left his television career to directly reach people of all ages and races with his poignant and emotionally robust novels. Through his writing, Jeffrey is helping Black youth feel seen, heard, and empowered to realize their full intellectual capabilities. His latest best-selling book, The Emancipation of Evan Walls, mirrors his own upbringing in segregated rural Virginia in the 1960s and shines a light on the importance of education — and a sense of belonging — for our health and well-being.

On this episode of Beyond the Prescription, Dr. McBride and Jeffrey discuss his work, life, and mission to empower young people of color.

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