Melvin Donalson’s Dream Warrior: Passages of a Creative-Scholar reveals a Black man’s artistic and educational journey during America’s decades of changes and challenges.

Growing up in the South’s racial segregation of the 1950s, Mel survived the oppressive region through the bonds of family. Replanted within the integrated world of Massachusetts and Maine in the 1960s-1970s, and later to the Midwest and Los Angeles, his imagination was shaped through reading, music, and movies while honing educational skills that eventually led him to a Ph.D. from an Ivy League university. From New England to the Midwest, to Los Angeles, Mel struggled to fulfill his dream of being a writer, filmmaker, and Black Scholar. His aspirations were invigorated through his travels over the years to England, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the country of South Africa, as experiences shaped his journey as both a Creative and a Scholar. 

Revealing an inspiring personal odyssey, Dream Warrior: Passages of a Creative Scholar chronicles the people and experiences that shaped the author’s dual and interlocking pursuits and experiences.

REVIEWS:

“Delving into the profane and sacred, the bitter and sweet, the dark and light, Mel Donalson enlivens his life’s story with vivid language and important social-racial context. Despite many barriers, Mel’s lessons from parents, church, and hard-earned experiences, propelled him into professorship as well as novels, poetry, stories, films, and more. His stumbles are his teachers. Every revelation elevates. He ‘keeps on keeping on.’” 

—Luis J. Rodriguez, author of “Always Running” and “From Our Land to Our Land.”

 “Mel Donalson shares his remarkable life story with us, a journey through his formative years and adulthood. This memoir invites us to join Donalson as he navigates the challenges of growing up and finding his place in the world. It is a deeply personal read that offers a glimpse into the life of a man who fought to become who he was meant to be.” 

--Reyna Grande, author of The Distance Between Us and A Ballad of Love and Glory

"From parental praise and early encouragement to the influence both practical and spiritual of his church pointing the way to the power of education as a foundation for high standards, these are the elements which shaped the soul-spirit of Mel Donalson. He recounts instances where his perceived intelligence was seen to be at odds with being a Creative, while racism was always lurking in the shadows poised to leap (and sometimes did) as he worked through the labyrinth of academia in search of tenure and navigated the landscape of minefields that is the creative culture of Hollywood."

--Ben Guillory, Producing Artistic Director, The Robey Theare Company. Los Angeles

By chronicling a thoughtful, moral journey through life as a Black man choosing an academic career, Dr. Mel Donalson provides a wonderful example of success combined with fidelity to personal values. Using a childhood story from his father as a guide, Mel demonstrates that one can stay true to oneself, listen thoughtfully to differing opinions, and blaze an impactful academic path. The academic world is notoriously difficult for Black men, and Dr. Donalson’s Dream Warrior is a wonderful resource for those who wish to authentically succeed as an academic and support the success of others.

--Dr. James Henderson, Former Dean, Provost, and university system Vice-President

Mel Donalson's captivating memoir takes readers on an evocative journey through a life shaped by the guidance of loving parents, a deep-rooted spiritual and moral awareness, and an immersive academic environment brimming with a passion for creativity. Through his story, Donalson showcases unwavering perseverance and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence. This book will not only impact on a general readership, but it will also inspire younger readers who are seeking their pathways in life.

--David M. Massey, Academy Award-Nominated Filmmaker

by Mel Donalson
Page Count: 274
Trim Size: 6 x 9
Publish Date: May 25, 2025
Imprint: Sunbury Press
Genre: Memoir

BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Entertainment & Performing Arts
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Educators
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / African American & Black