Legendary Director, Media Innovator Topper Carew Inspires Students at BSU

By Percival Parlade Jr.
Spectrum Staff Writer

Award-winning director and producer Topper Carew visited Bowie State University to share with Communications students stories about his life and to inspire them to pursue their dreams.

Carew, whose television and film credits include “Martin” and “DC Cab,” candidly spoke about the racism he faced in his youth as a Black and Indigenous person growing up in Boston during an interview on Feb. 8 with host Dr. Dwight M. Ellis, a faculty lecturer in the Department of Communications at BSU.

“I made ‘Martin’ to show parts of the real stories of African-American struggles.” Carew’s stories helped inspire students by describing to them how he turned his struggles into an art form and motivation for achieving more.

Along with his successful film and television career, Carew is a Visiting Researcher/Scholar at the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge, Mass. His most recent project involved delivering a payload called “This Little Light of Mine” to NASA.

“I wanted to include some positive energy…the world is dark right now, it needs a little light.” This payload will go to the International Space Station and stay in orbit this spring.

The podcast-style chat in Samuel L. Meyers Auditorium, culminated with some inspirational words from Carew, who said he hoped his words would inspire students to go into the world with a renewed and invigorated passion for life.

“Hope, no matter how frail it gets, is too strong to kill,” he said. “Life is a lifelong kindergarten.” He encouraged students to capitalize and utilize their individual strengths, learn from our mistakes and push through when faced with difficulties.

Clearly, students seemed impressed with Carew’s words of wisdom. “It was great to see such a legend within the industry,” said Marcus Clark, a communication’s student. “Getting to pick his brain was a great experience. It’s amazing to see people in a position like his to give back to the students.”

Communications department chair Dr. Otis Thomas agreed. “His visit was valuable to mentor, motivate, support, guide, educate and introduce the students to the changing technological formulas happening in the communications industry.”