"Laying under the ultraviolet lights, you really learn a lot about life."
Excerpt from Fried: The Dennis Black Story
Book: Fried: The Dennis Black Story
Theme: Tanning and Regret
About the Author: Dennis Black is Vice President of Student Affairs and an adjunct associate professor in educational leadership and policy. He attended UB from 1940 to 1947, graduating with a bachelor's degree in history. As an undergraduate, he ran for President of Student Affairs seven times and lost seven times. The manorexic married his college sweetheart and they are happily together to this day. His love for baking black enchiladas for his family comes second only to a successful tan.
Film: Black is currently working on a contract with the Center for the Arts for a musical production of his book, expected next fall.
Copies Sold: 15 total in circulation
Summary: In this memoir, written from beneath the bulbs, Black discusses his political feelings about tanning and running for political office on campus. This tearjerker blasphemizes the freckled and serves as inspiration to attempt to hold political office despite being under-qualified and a person of artificial color. Without his wife, he writes, he never would have survived. He really, really loves his wife.
Our Take:
"Black is a man of such great character. His words are so non-colorful. To have lost as many times as he did, and never give up, is simply inspirational. He is a role model for us all."
"He does such justice to his race. Describing his coffin like enclosure in the tanning bed, really gives the reader insight into his warm, warm heart."
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
