Author and illustrator, Dwayne Lester, and his bookcover
Nationwide — Dwayne Lester is an award-winning artist, illustrator and designer who has just released a new book entitled Through My Eyes With a Pencil: An Illustrated History of the 100 Greatest African American Athletes of the 20th Century (available on Amazon). It is not, however, just a book of illustrations. It is also a historical and educational book for anyone interested in how Blacks have been treated in the US and continue to be treated, even in the sports arena where they excel. The book is especially for young Black athletes and children who need to grow up and know and learn about what they will have to contend with even today.
Lester, who is a 65-year old disabled veteran, calls himself the “Colin Kaepernick of the Federal Government.” He says he himself has had to fight discrimination while working for the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), having to deal with racist hiring practices in the Visual Information field, and having been blackballed and summarily removed from his position.
He says that the Department of Defense and DISA have conspired, colluded and targeted him for removal and a false IG investigation alleging that he worked on his book, Through My Eyes With a Pencil, while using a Federal Service computer. He comments, “This is a total untruth with a wealth of fabricated lies.”
He insists that they have instituted a “hate crime” against him because of jealousy in regards to his book. Lester feels he has a lot in common with the people illustrated in his book, especially those who have had their character assassinated by sports organizations like the NFL. Taking the allegations very seriously, Lester is now in litigation for $75,000,000 for defamation of character and several civil rights violations against him.
For more details and/or to purchase Through My Eyes With a Pencil: An Illustrated History of the 100 Greatest African American Athletes of the 20th Century, visit https://www.amazon.com/Through-My-Eyes-Pencil-Illustrated/dp/168401431X/
Editors and journalists can request a review copy by sending an email to brofmadcty@outlook.com
About the Author
Artist/ illustrator/ designer/ musician Dwayne Lester is an elected member of the New York Society of Illustrators, the Los Angeles Society of Illustrators, the United States Postal Service, first issue stamps program and the Veteran’s Artist Program. He is also a winner of the USAF Commendation Medal, the Joint Civilian Meritorious Service Award and Medal, 10 Commanders coins of excellence, 10 Monetary awards and also the first Visual Information Specialist Artist/Illustrator in the federal service to paint a sitting director.
Born in Steubenville, OH and raised in Weirton, WV, he was blackballed and suspended from playing sports as a senior in high school because he didn’t take his hat off. So he used his other talents and began his professional career as a musician and later decided to pursue what became his passion, art – Sports Art. He attended numerous schools such as The Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, The Columbus College of Art and Design, Macomb Community College in Warren MI, and finally Southern New Hampshire University.
He started his own company called Unforgettable Images, which is now known as Dwayne Lester Art. He has worked almost 20 years for the Federal Government winning numerous awards for his work. His art has been a journey of self-discovery and self-expression as a man who celebrates the African American experience and their achievements in sports and music history. His memories of music and sports are what he taps into when creating his art.
PRESS CONTACT:
Dwayne Lester Art
240-965-6304
jenny@spizmanagency.com
