Charles M. Blow is a highly respected journalist and author, best known for his work as a New York Times columnist and for his blockbuster novel "Fire Shut Up in My Bones." Blow was born in Gibsland, Louisiana in 1970 and was inspired by his mother who was a school administrator and teacher. As a teenager, he attended Grambling University, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in mass communication. He was an active writer during his time at university, serving as the editor in chief of "The Gramblinite" and interning at The New York Times. He also founded the student magazine "Razz," which is now defunct.
After graduating from Grambling State University in 1991, Blow began his career at The Detroit News as a graphic artist. In 1994, he was hired by The New York Times as a graphics editor, and quickly rose through the ranks to become the director of graphics, a position he held for nearly a decade. He then served as the design director for The New York Times news segment before leaving the company in 2006 to join National Geographic Magazine as the Art Director. In 2008, Blow returned to The New York Times as a visual op-ed columnist, where he writes biweekly columns. He also authored the blog "By The Numbers" for the Times website. In addition to his work at The New York Times, Blow is also a commentator for CNN and has made appearances on various news networks including HBO, MSNBC, Al Jazeera, the BBC, and Fox News. He is a graduate of Grambling State University, a father of three amazing children, and a resident of Brooklyn.