Nationwide — Author, educator, and urban scholar Duane Bowser, also known as The Black Dot, announces the release of his highly anticipated memoir, Gotta Laugh to Keep from Crying: I Didn’t Start Living Until I Thought I Was Dying – The Hero’s Journey, which details his real, raw, and riveting, healing journey from Bronx trauma to personal transformation, honoring 20 years of survival, resilience, and rebirth.
Deeply rooted in the lived experience of Black men and families, Bowser’s memoir speaks directly to the heart of the Black community — where laughter often masks pain, strength is mistaken for silence, and survival becomes a skill long before adulthood begins. Growing up in the Bronx during a turbulent era, Bowser’s story mirrors the generational struggles, triumphs, and cultural pressures that shape so many in our communities.
The book release marks a major milestone: 2025 is the 20-year anniversary of the year Bowser was told he was dying of kidney failure and spending the next 20 years on dialysis. This moment became the catalyst for his greatest transformation. Rather than surrender, he rebuilt his life, his purpose, and his legacy from the ground up.
A Healing Journey Nearly Twenty Years in the Making
Bowser’s memoir peels back decades of trauma, addiction, abandonment, near-death experiences, and spiritual rebirth. It is a powerful reflection on the emotional burdens Black men are taught to hide — and the healing that begins when those truths are finally spoken.
“If you’ve ever laughed to keep from screaming, smiled to keep from breaking, or carried pain in silence, this book is for you,” Bowser says.
Over the last two decades, Bowser has built a multi-platform media brand, raised a family, mentored young men, inspired millions through The Urban X Podcast, written culture-shifting books, healed generational trauma, and found the courage to tell the truth he once feared.
In Gotta Laugh to Keep from Crying, he invites readers into the full story — not just the strength of The Black Dot, but the vulnerable inner world of Duane, the man behind the public persona. He explores the duality faced by many Black men: being applauded publicly while suffering privately. Through humor, heartbreak, spiritual insight, and unfiltered honesty, Bowser shows how pain can become purpose — and how vulnerability can lead to liberation.
“The greater the pain, the louder the laughter. The louder the laughter, the quieter the cries.”
From the gunshots of the Bronx to hospital rooms where he fought for his life, Bowser guides readers through a Hero’s Journey filled with loss, revelations, redemption, and deep joy. His memoir reminds us that laughter and tears are not opposites, but allies — both essential to our humanity. This book is for anyone who has ever hidden trauma behind achievement, become strong because there was no other choice, laughed through the hurt, carried emotional weight alone or been told “real men don’t cry.” Bowser proves that healing is not just possible — it’s powerful.
About the Author
Duane Bowser, widely known as The Black Dot, grew up in the Bronx and is a writer, recording artist, poet, lecturer, content creator, and entrepreneur. He released his first album in 1988 with the group Tall, Dark and Handsome under B-Boy Records, and later toured the world as a hype man and band member for Bronx legend Tim Dog. In 2011, he launched his first solo album under his independent label, inspiring this memoir. Bowser’s writing career began with the critically acclaimed “Hip Hop Decoded” in 2005, followed by “Urban Culture Decoded.” In 2018, he co-created The Urban X Podcast with his son Malcolm, now known as the #1 father-and-son podcast with millions of listeners. He is an educator, lecturer, urban scholar, devoted husband, father of four, and grandfather.
About the Book
Gotta Laugh to Keep from Crying: I Didn’t Start Living Until I Thought I Was Dying – The Hero’s Journey is a gripping memoir of survival, vulnerability, and rebirth. Bowser’s book blends laughter, pain, spirituality, and cultural truth into a transformative journey of healing. It is a must-read for anyone ready to stop pretending and start living. Available on Amazon
Trailers:
https://youtu.be/L_lYJZHWh-k
https://youtu.be/MbuNKQQTwkk
For press inquiries, contact Latonia Almeyda at sales@urbanx.nyc or 516-701-1733