Crossing Farmers Boulevard

Defining moments refine our potential and give birth to our purpose. These unexpected twists of events, unforeseen challenges, and courageous leaps of faith outline the blueprint of the lives we build. Crossing Farmers Boulevard: A Journey to Oneness in a Polarizing World is a collection of the pivotal moments that shaped the character, tenacity, and empathy of Dr. Ronald J. Peters, Jr. Born during the infancy of hip-hop culture in Queens, New York, an inquisitive young man discovers a world of wonder and limitless possibilities when he crosses Farmers Boulevard, sometimes with almost deadly consequences, but always with valuable lessons learned. As a child, he was challenged by dyslexia, attention deficit disorder, and an environment that perpetuated fight-or-flight reactive behaviors, including drug use, violence, and devaluation. He utilized hip-hop as a form of self-therapy. Tagging and drawing provided him with an escape from the confines of his learning disabilities and the outlet he needed to self-nurture and exercise his God-given creative thoughts. These expressive activities cultivated his understanding of the polarity of his perceived academic weaknesses and the innovative gifts that they could afford. As an adult, he became a university professor and defied end-stage kidney disease. His engaging memoir plays out as the reverse engineering of an improbable life's journey full of adventure, discovery, and the transformative power of love.