107 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine EDUCATION Dr. Petesch was inspired to pursue a career in education and literature on account of his love for reading. Since he and his wife, Natalie, regularly traveled together, he would often first visit the libraries at each of their destinations and discover new books to read, which stimulated his mind and allowed him to continually learn new things. In light of this, teaching and writing came naturally to Dr. Petesch, and he ultimately thrived in his respective fields throughout his career. In light of his fulfilling career, Dr. Petesch is especially proud of his role as the first professor at the University of Pittsburgh to teach Black literature to students. Furthermore, he is grateful for all his opportunities to teach others for as long as he was able to. Dr. Petesch largely attributes his success to his self-driven attitude, and he looks forward to further enjoying his retirement alongside his wife in the coming years. “A Spy in the Enemy's Country: The Emergence of Modern Black Literature,” which was published in 1991. The book details a wealth of history in Black literature, particularly the Harlem Renaissance, highlighting the works of authors such as Charles W. Chesnutt, Nella Larsen and Wallace Henry Thurman. Dr. Petesch’s work was recognized as an outstanding book on the subject of human rights in the United States by the Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights. Furthermore, as part of his creative repertoire, he has also authored numerous articles pertaining to Black literature in journals and published 25 creative poems.
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