Blind Playwright, Vinny St. Marten, Speaks Out Against Hate In New Presentation THINK ABOUT IT

Vinny St. Marten can't watch all those Youtube and Facebook videos showing the growing number of racist and hateful acts happening across the country. But he can listen to them and wants to do his part in putting a stop to all the racist hatred being spewed across this country.

Blind since the age of 6, the playwright, actor, singer, and author knows exactly what it's like to be a racist. "I grew up at a time when prejudice and racism were an acceptable part of everyday life. And although I was blind, it didn't stop me from learning how to hate. As a teenager, I was faced with the realization that I was a racist. Even more shocking was the revelation that I didn't want to be," Says Mr. St. Marten

Looking years younger than he is, this dynamic performer has taken to the stage in his one man ("plus a woman") autobiographical show, The Blind Truth, and wowed audiences with his remarkable and very personal tale of growing up in Long Island in a predominantly Italian neighborhood. His stories of growing up as one of 16 kids in an arranged marriage (his mother was 12 and his father was 26 when the marriage was arranged) is filled with the kind of life experience only a person like Vinny can provide. His friendships were unusual and emotional, and what he has learned thanks to his blindness leaves audiences crying and laughing, and wanting to meet the charismatic man after almost every performance. The show was so well received at the Dream Up Theater Festival a few years ago, that an Off Off Broadway production is being planned for 2019. As a singer, his Ray Charles tribute, "Soul of The Century," has been performed widely, and Vinny has had the opportunity to travel the world as a musical performer.

But Vinny is also a speaker and his talks in front of College, High School, and other audiences, has reinspired the man to speak out against hate at a time when his vision and perspective are in great need. "Blindness is a gift," he likes to say. Without it, he might have never become friends with a young black man at a time when he couldn't even sit down at a local diner and share a meal without being thrown out. Thanks to his blindness, he never judged people by color, race, or appearances. He was able to see beyond that in a way only a blind person could. Throughout his life he has been fighting injustice and championing acceptance, and now he plans to take his motivational and inspiring talk to any company, school, arts organization, or group that will have him.

His presentation,"Think About It," is described as a "multi-media presentation of a blind man's journey, as he confronts prejudice, racism and bullying, through music and the gift of blindness."

Accompanied by his long time friend and business partner, Elysa Sunshine, who sings and plays keyboard as Mr. St. Marten shares his stories and unique perspective, the Glen Cove, Long Island native, father and grandfather looks to do his part in fighting what he describes is at the core of this racist problem: Hate. "If I could just stop one person at a time in the audience from embracing hate," he says, "It will make a world of difference."

Vinny announced recently that he will be returning to the New York stage with his play, "The Blind Truth" in 2019. Right now he is accepting inquiries and speaking engagments beginning October of this year for his inspiring "Think About It" mulit-media presentation. To get more information, please email BlindTruth2017@gmail.com or call 646-285-3033. You can also find Vinny's Facebook group, Stop Hate. Diversity for America at https://www.facebook.com/groups/DiversityforAmerica/