“Yet Here I Am: Lessons from a Black Man’s Search for Home” by Jonathan Capehart. Gabriel Philipp, Intern, Siena College.
 |
| Jonathan Capehart (Left) and Michele Norris (Right) at the Library of Congress. Photo by Gabriel Philipp |
On Thursday, June 5, 2025 in the US Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building's Great Hall, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jonathan Capehart discussed his memoir, “Yet Here I Am: Lessons from a Black Man’s Search for Home.” Capehart was in conversation with journalist Michele Norris. He discussed his experiences growing up and his path through his career in journalism. I found it an interesting talk that connected to a very personal aspect of my life.
Socially Disconnected:
The thing that stuck with me most during the discussion was Capehart’s confession that he felt he didn’t belong in Washington, DC. He went on to talk about his feelings of disconnection from people. He experienced this as an environment where people had their separate groups, and that he felt it was hard to feel connected: if you’re not in the group then there’s only so much you can do to be connected. This caused him to feel a type of alienation or social disconnect from the people of DC.
I, too, have felt socially disconnected from the people I’m around. In fact, I feel that way quite often, and it is something that I’m sure many people experience in their lives. The idea of feeling left out of social groups and social circles is something that I’ve seen and experienced throughout every stage of my life. I’m not a very social person, so it is tough to find connections within groups. For me, listening to Capehart talk about a similar experience was really eye opening.
Dealing With Loneliness
I can also appreciate what he said about how he dealt with the loneliness he felt from it. He talked about learning to accept that feeling and learning to appreciate spending time with himself. This part of the discussion is something that I really value. It is something that I’m still learning. Being able to appreciate and spend time with oneself is a very valuable skill, one that has allowed me to reflect and improve myself. It is something that Capehart and I would agree is important to learn and better one’s mental health but also allows you to be ready for and welcome those who really want to be in your life.