Victor James Hill saw himself in his community's kids. As a child of the Projects, he'd witnessed deadly shootings, heroin addiction, and brutal violence by the age of thirteen. He bottled up his emotions, longing for a father figure to guide him. By adulthood, he was chasing the wrong dream-he had dropped out of high school to pursue material wealth, women, drugs, and social status.
A traffic accident changed everything. After walking away unharmed from his violently flipped vehicle, he knew there was a reason he'd been saved. He'd noticed how many community kids ran the streets, and it gave him an idea. He would start a youth basketball league in the heart of the Projects.
The project would surpass Victor's wildest dreams. From "The Lakeside Four," a 3-on-3 team that racked up multiple national championships, to a summer youth program that brought hundreds of kids to the AME church, Victor's basketball league brought hope to a new generation. It changed Victor, too.
Gritty and moving with touches of humor, The Ignorant Man's Son: A Memoir recounts his journey to find himself through community service. He thought he was searching for a father, but he found his true purpose in serving his community's children.