BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF D. Marvin JonesI grew up in East Baltimore, a few blocks from where the television show the WIRE is set. A graduate of New York University School of Law, I am currently Professor of Law at the University of Miami.Everyone has his or her models. Mine has been W.E.B. Dubois. Tracing the arc of his writings I published in the 1990's a number of articles exploring the "meaning of race."- My work has appeared in elite law journals ranging from Georgetown University to the University of Michigan. In 1997 I was awarded the James Thomas prize by Yale University recognizing me as one the leading scholars in the country for that year writing in the area of "civil rights." Scholars from many different disciplines have cited my work, as well as by the United States Court of Appeals in the case of Jordan v. Alternative Resources Corporation (2006) After seven years of work I published Race, Sex, and Suspicion: The Myth of the Black Male (Greenwood Press 2005). I've done quite a lot with the electronic and print media. I have appeared on Frontline, CNN's Burden of Proof; O'Reilly's The O' Reilly Factor, Michael Putney's The Week in Review, where I debated Ward Connerly. In 2010 I was the official Constitutional Law expert for NBC Channel 6 in Miami on election issues. I was recently a regular panelist on Connections, a television show airing in the South Florida area on TeleAmerica. I am also a frequent contributor to the editorial pages of THE MIAMI HERALD, THE SOUTH FLORIDA TIMES, AND THE MIAMI TIMES.I think it is Charles Hamilton Houston who says a lawyer is either a social engineer or a parasite. Inspired by that have tried in my work to reach beyond "the ivory tower." In 2003, in conjunction with efforts by Senator Fredericka Wilson, I led an investigation into the impact of high stakes testing in inner city schools in Miami-Dade County. In the same I was hired as a Constitutional expert to draft the affirmative action plan for minority contracting in Dade County. In 2006 I was retained by the City of Miami to review their policy on deadly force. In 2007 the National Bar Association recognized me as the "Outstanding Member " for that year. In 2009 I was recognized as one of the most influential blacks in South Florida by Success Magazine.I have lectured nationally for many years. I have been a keynote or featured speaker at many law schools including Harvard, Yale, University of Michigan, Indiana University, University of Florida and many others. I have also had an opportunity to deliver keynote addresses at many organizational conventions including the National Bar Association, The Florida Association of State Judges, The National NAACP convention, The Miami-Dade Democratic Party, The National Association of Black Law Students, The Florida Conference of Black State Legislators and many others. When not writing, teaching or appearing on t.v. I enjoy bike riding, theatre, chess, and listening to jazz. If you are interested in having me as a speaker please contact me at djones@law.miami.edu.Read more about this authorRead less about this author