NYC School Teacher Publishes Motivational Memoir

    POUGHKEEPSIE, NY, July 27, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- New York City public school teacher and African immigrant, Alhassan Susso announces the publication of his newly-released memoir, The Light of Darkness, the Story of the Griots' Son.

Susso's first book traces his personal journey to America as a nearly blind teenager 16 years ago, and his trials and triumphs becoming an American teacher, while maintaining his deep African roots. The Light of Darkness builds on the author's family tradition going back 13 generations serving as West African griots', the keepers and transmitters of his peoples' history, and how he continues that tradition as a teacher to new immigrants in America today.

The inspirational story follows the author's inner life and struggles as a poor immigrant confronted by a debilitating eye disease and the culture shock of coming from a small town in The Gambia, Africa's smallest country. As he moves back and forth between the Old World and the New, the Light of Darkness weaves a stirring tale of resiliency, cultural adaptation, and personal growth through adversity, and shares the most intimate stories of his culture and community values. Finally, this book is about the importance of storytelling, of remembrance, and of course the warning not to forget.

The author immigrated to New York in 2000 when he was 16 years old, from a tiny town after growing up under the shelter of his grandmother. Young Alhassan, nearly blind, had been diagnosed with a rare degenerative eye disease when he was just four years old. Economic conditions required that, despite his failing vision, the family needed him to come to work in America, following in his father's footsteps.

The Light of Darkness reflects on Susso's life, coping with blindness, a startlingly new culture and landscape, and how he overcame the odds to become a highly-regarded New York City school teacher specializing in new immigrant students like himself.

This is the author's first published work. He currently teaches History at the International Community High School in the Bronx, New York. The publicly-funded school serves recent immigrant, English language learners who enroll with four years or less of education in U.S. schools. He earned his Master's Degree in Education from Bard College, and his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and History from the University of Vermont.

Pre-order your copy today at alhassansusso.com.

The Light of Darkness will be available on July 30, 2016 for purchase at:
- www.alhassansusso.com (PAYPAL)
- Amazon.com

After July 30, 2016, the book will be available everywhere.

The author will host a book launch reception on July 30, 2016 in Poughkeepsie, NY. For more information, visit alhassansusso.com

For reviews, free copies of the book are available by request.

Alhassan Susso is an educator, speaker and author who has devoted his career to transforming the lives of young people facing difficulties, particularly new immigrants to America. An immigrant from West Africa, Alhassan came to America as a poor teenager coping with a rare eye disease which left him nearly blind at an early age.

Having overcome this and other obstacles, Mr. Susso seeks to expand the worldview of young minds so they could find meaning in their lives in order for them to reach their destiny.

As a high school teacher at a New York City Public School specializing in new immigrants, Alhassan has worked with children from all across the globe, facing a range of personal, social and economic challenges. Drawing on his own personal struggles, Alhassan has honed his talent for engaging students at their level and helping them transform their lives.

Over the past several years, he has worked with over 600 teens. His electrifying smile, energy and authenticity have earned him the moniker of "The most admired and influential teacher."

Alhassan is the author of the recently published memoir, The Light of Darkness, The Story of the Griots' Son, which traces his journey to America as a nearly blind teenager and his trials and triumphs becoming American, while maintaining his deep African roots. The story builds on Susso's long family tradition of serving as griots', the keepers and transmitters of his peoples' history, and how he continues that tradition as a teacher to new immigrants in America today.

The inspirational story follows his inner life and thoughts as he moves back and forth between the Old World and the New, and his personal transformation. This story is about family and lineage. It is about tradition and change. It is about Africa, in a sense, if there is really such a place as singular in definition as Africa. It certainly is a story about being African, particularly from the perspective of his new American homeland.

Alhassan speaks on a variety of topics including: Leadership, Turning Adversity into Opportunity, Development of the Right Mindset for Success, Development of a Clear and Compelling Vision for the Future, Effective Communication Skills, Crafting a Powerful Story and Development of Loving and Lasting Relationships.

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