Byron Pitts Visits IUP

CBS News correspondent Byron Pitts had a dream just like Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. did.

He said his dream was to appear on television.

“I knew in college that I wanted to be a “60 Minutes correspondent,” Pitts said.

Pitts said that he had to overcome many obstacles before he became a correspondent on CBS.

Pitts, who was raised in east Baltimore, said he had a stuttering problem and didn’t learn to read until he was 12.

Experts told his mother he was mentally ill and should be in an institution.

Pitts gave this speech at IUP’s 20th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. commemorative program, which was held at 7 p.m. Thursday at Fisher Auditorium.

Students, faculty and Indiana community residents gathered to hear his speech.

Pitts is now the CBS News chief national correspondent and the contributing correspondent to “60 Minutes.”

Pitts has won multiple Emmy awards in journalism.

The theme of the event was “Stepping Out On Nothing: The Future Meets The Present.”

The theme of the program was to go along with King’s message of non-violence and of the civil rights movement.

The evening of events featured musical performances from IUPVoices of Joy choir and dance performances from the African Dance Ensemble.

There was also poetry, prayer and speeches from members of the community and individuals at IUP.

The crowd was engaged and encouraged by Roger Briscoe, educational and school psychology department.

When thinking about the legacy of King we don’t always have to look into the past, said Pitts, who spent time at a hospital in Haiti, while covering the disaster.

“Stepping Out On Nothing,” is the title of Pitts’ 2009 book, which is about his life and how he has dealt with his struggles.

He said he was told by teachers at college that he was a waste of the university’s time and money.

Pitts said he tearfully began to fill out withdraw papers when he was told that he could not be in college.

He said a teacher witnessed the tearful scene and stepped up to help him.

“My stuttering and limited vocabulary was difficult to overcome,” Pitts said.

Every day he would learn to spell and say a new word in a sentence with his roommate, he said.

Pitts said he followed his dream of being on television after he graduated from school.

“If there’s a shortcut to success, the only one I know of is hard work,” he said.

Pitts said that the only way to get strength is to struggle.

He encouraged students to have faith in themselves and what they want to do.

He also said for students to dream big, but plan small.

A question session from the audience followed Pitts’ speech.

Attendees were also welcomed to a reception and book signing in the Fisher mezzanine.

Pitts said America is a good country despite all of its problems.

“Be good to her and she will be good to you,” he said.

“I believe in the power of dreams, the power of faith, and the power of hard work, to step out on nothing,” he said.

The event was sponsored by IUP’s African American Cultural Center.






Photos By Dave Biblis