“CSI: NY” star and author Hill Harper speaks at Columbus State June 1

Hill Harper addresses a packed house at Nestor Auditorium.

Hill Harper, best known as Dr. Sheldon Hawkes on the television show "CSI:NY" spoke at 11 a.m. June 1 at Nestor Hall Auditorium. Columbus State and sponsor Huntington National Bank also handed out nearly 400 copies of Harper's latest book "Letters to a Young Brother"

Harper's talk reinforced themes from the book, which came out in April 2006. Subtitled "MANifest Your Destiny," it is designed to give "encouragement and guidance" to black men growing up today. Harper designed the book around a series of letters to a fictional Young Brotha, although he says the letters all answer real questions his fans have asked him. The book is peppered with additional advice from celebrity friends such as Barack Obama, Venus Williams and Nas.

During his talk, Harper compared success to building a house. It requires a far-sighted blueprint and a firm foundation, he said. And different foundations work better for different houses, just as different goals require different plans.

He also warned the audience not to get caught up in superficial kinds of success. He compared rapper Bow Wow's boast that he had an American Express black card to Kenneth Chenault, the African-American CEO of American Express Co.

Hill Harper signs books after his speech. Columbus State and sponsor Huntington Bank provided nearly 400 books to students.

Getting the book published was a struggle, Harper said. Publishers didn't want an advice book from an author, and they weren't sure young men would buy a hardback book. His book is a long step toward proving doubters wrong, he said.

"Letters to a Young Brotha" addresses a number of issues young people struggle with, including school, sex, money, and "living your truth." Although he acknowledges young people are growing up in an uncertain world, he reminds his readers they are the result of billions of years of human evolution and development.

"Although aimed at young black men, this book, with its contemporary language and approach, should have appeal for youth of both sexes and all races," said Booklist, the review service of the American Library Association.

In addition to his acting and writing, Harper founded the MANifest Your Destiny Foundation, a non-profit group that awards scholarships grants and technology to young men and women. Proceeds from the book go to support the foundation.

He singles out education as the key to success, urging students to "stay in the game." Any sort of education increases your options in life, "even an associate's degree from a junior college."

"School is there to serve you, not for you to serve it," he writes.

The importance of education is a lesson Harper took to heart. He graduated magna cum laude from Brown University and received degrees in both law and public administration from Harvard. An acting class at Brown that led to roles on stage and screen, including "Get on the Bus," "He Got Game" and "Lackawanna Blues." People Magazine named Harper its Sexiest Man Alive in 2004.

Harper addressed his 2004 ranking at the beginning of his speech.

"That means I fell off the list in 2005 and 2006," he said. "But I'm coming back next year."

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