Sleepwalking no more

Homelessness is a state of being that many metro Detroiters are either forced into or willingly embrace. The WSU campus contains many examples of both types of homeless people, but it also contains examples of people who overcome homelessness. One example is Robert Comer, and he has come out of homelessness with a message to tell.

For decades, Comer-who grew up in Raleigh, N.C.-could have claimed to be living his dream. He shared a strong love with his mother, Julia Thompson, and he enjoyed an exceptionally successful career as a humorous motivational speaker and actor. He had worked with numerous corporations, including the U.S. Department of Transportation and Fox TV, and also the producers of "Sesame Street." During his service in the U.S. military, Comer was a journalist for the magazine "Stars and Stripes," was a participant in the "All-Army Soldier Show" tour and performed at the February 1985 inauguration of President Ronald Reagan.

In 1990, Comer was in California after signing a contract with Universal Studios Hollywood for him to appear as a warm-up comedian and character actor for some of the company's live stage shows.

Then the news came: His mother had breast cancer.

Comer immediately left Hollywood to be with his mother in Raleigh.

"I believe and deeply feel that you can always have a career, but you can't always have a family," Comer said, explaining why he abandoned his contract with Universal in order to look after his mother. "My mother was all the family I truly had."

Comer was able to find work and care for his mother. In 1993, he became the co-host of the television show "Pizzazz," alongside Steve Swenkowski.

"He had a lot of energy, was a hard worker, had a way about him with younger people," Swenkowski said.

But her situation became worse in 1997, when the cancer spread to her left lung. The doctors were able to remove both cancers, but it then reappeared in the left side of her brain two years later.

Also in 1999, Comer received an offer from radio personality Frankie Darcell to produce her morning show "Frankie and Friends" in Detroit. Comer politely declined Darcell's offer.

One year after that brain tumor emerged, Comer's mother lost her battle with cancer.

That same year, Darcell once more offered Comer the opportunity to produce her morning show. This time, Comer accepted, packed his bags and moved to Detroit. By the time he got settled in Detroit, something had changed inside Comer.

"My mother's death simply destroyed my spirit," Comer says. "I lost all passion for life."

Comer was not able to find the strength, the desire or the means to fight his way out of the pain and sorrow that had engulfed him.

"I used a person and a situation to hide behind and use as a shield, so that I didn't have to see life and life couldn't see me," Comer said. "I hid behind and used as a shield my mother's death with cancer."

Comer was in despair, but he never reached the point of wanting to commit suicide.

"I chose to commit a crime that is much more hideous, more unforgiving," Comer said. "I chose to just exist in life and not live life."

Comer says that during his years of homelessness, he has slept in almost every abandoned building in Detroit. However, he did not give up working. When he sought employment, he was often able to find it as a house cleaner.

Warren Smith, one of Comer's most frequent employers, described Comer as "a very good worker," and set himself apart from the other people that he hired to clean his institutions.

Lloyd and Susan Vandenbrink also met Comer when he was working for them at Trinity House Theater. They both found him to be a hard worker and a reputable individual, and were kind enough to let him stay in their house when he needed shelter.

Although Comer was able to earn money as he needed it, Comer kept his close friends at a distance because they would try to get his life back on track.

Kelvin De'Marcus Allen-an author, actor, producer, publicist and speaker based in Durham, NC-was one of those friends.

"We had been talking for many years about moving on with his life and getting back on track," Allen said. "I tried to tell him that we all fall down, but the key is to get back up and to forward."

Allen also shared with his friend the successes that he had experienced after returning to college and receiving his undergraduate and master's degrees as an adult, but Comer was not receptive.

"For quite a number of years, I was not able to penetrate the shield that Robert had put up," Allen said.

Another friend of Comer is Damian Carter, Senior Vice President for State Employees' Credit Union, who has known Comer since they attended high school together.

"Robert and I would talk and then go for months without any contact," Carter said.

"You could tell from the conversations that he was somewhat depressed, but yet he tried to maintain a positive attitude.

"I tried to give him positive reinforcement and encouragement."

Comer says the moment in which he was forced to stop "sleepwalking through life" occurred almost seven years after he became homeless. He was caught urinating behind a trash container in Detroit and was issued a ticket.

Comer appeared in the 36th District Court to plead his case, arguing that he tried to show respect to the neighborhood in which he was caught by relieving himself behind the trash container.

The judge made it clear that Comer would not have been forced to relieve himself behind a trash container if he was not homeless, and that it was up to Comer to change his situation.

The judge's words left a deep impression on Comer's mind.

"As I was exiting the court room, patches of my past ran quickly through my mind," Comer said. "They made me come to realize this: I have selfishly cheated God, my mother's memory, society-particularly our youth-but, most importantly, I cheated myself.

"And that is when I decided to stop sleepwalking through life."

Comer realized that he needed to be rescued from his plight, and that he was the only person with the ability to do that.

"No one can help you unless you help yourself, and no one will help you unless you help yourself," Comer said. "But once you step up to the plate and start doing what's right, help will come in floods."

The first institution from which Comer received help was the VA Program, an institution that helps U.S. veterans. Comer's caseworker, Ronald Creswell, says that the ex-motivational speaker performed well in the program.

"He progressed slow and steady," Creswell said. "He was able to maintain the prescribed course in order to come to Wayne State."

Comer graduated from the VA Program in 2006, and was awarded with pre-paid dental care and extensive scholarships for his education. Upon his graduation, Comer immediately enrolled in WSU for Fall 2007. He signed up for numerous classes, and soon became overwhelmed with the responsibilities of being a student.

Determined to "remain awake," Robert sought help from the college. A multitude of help came from WSU academic advisors, including Associate Director of Student Affairs Norman Bent and Academic Advisor Tyrone Austin.

Bent believes that Comer's story is a reflection of WSU's belief in second chances for its students.

"As an institution, we always believe in second chances," Bent said. "That's what Wayne is all about."

Austin assisted Comer with his second chance at WSU by helping to organize his class schedule and providing counsel for the new student.

Austin said that Comer has remained extremely motivated since his re-enrollment, and that if he keeps that level of motivation, he will definitely succeed in his career as a student and beyond.

Comer believes that society has undergone numerous changes since he last attended college, but that there is one characteristic of people that will never change.

"I think there is a fundamental truth that people…want honesty, truth, understanding, and mainly they want a voice that is sincere in sharing and proving that there is hope for a better tomorrow," Comer said.

One of the truthful messages that Comer hopes to express is that there are multiple forms of homelessness.

"As horrific as physical homelessness is, it is the unspoken reality that spiritual homelessness, mental homelessness, emotional homelessness and just good-ole moral homelessness are overwhelmingly attempting to destroy the core fabric of our society, and subsequently our youth," Comer said.

Based on this logic, Comer insists that he is no different than anybody else who has been subject to and is experiencing hardships.

"Being homeless is no different then being a thief," Comer said. "And, no, I'm not talking about merely stealing from others, but a person that steals from themselves and does not realize that anything is missing.

"Now, don't get me wrong," Comer adds. "I've got some pretty creative and funny stuff up my sleeves mixed in with my thought-provoking educational and motivational projects."

Comer said that he has been approached by a number of corporations which are considering hiring him so that he can present his motivation stage show "Dropping the Knowledge" as part of their grass-roots projects.

Comer is also in the process of restoring the relationships that were strained during his homelessness. One of his relationships that he has made considerable headway in is with Allen.

"Our relationship never just came to a halt," Allen said. "We still kept some form of communication with each other. But now it's even deeper now that he has taken control of his life."

Allen said that Comer is now comfortable enough to discuss events in his life, which is something that he would shy away from when he was living on the streets.

Carter believes that Comer's experiences with homelessness could ultimately benefit society.

"His life changing experiences have allowed him to have a better understanding on how to relate to people," Carter said. "He can speak to the kids from the heart and explain to them that they can overcome all odds.

"He has been someone who has struggled and still survived. I believe Robert will again overcome all odds and be successful. He now knows what it takes."

Comer will also see the debut of his book "Homeless Sweet Homeless," a short guide on how to survive homelessness and other difficult situations until one finds a home. The book is also planned to be released in audio formats. All collections will be released by the end of the year in major bookstores and online. He can be reached at (586) 552-7017 for more information.

Comer continues to work for Smith while volunteering at St. Leo's Church Soup Kitchen.

"He's a hard worker," said Joseph Micallef, Supervisor of the Soup Kitchen. "Anything I've told him to do so far, he's done it and then asks for more."

Comer said that he has other projects in the works, but his most important project is maintaining his career as a WSU student. Comer, now a sophomore, is currently enrolled in one class -The Study of Nonviolence- which is taught by Richard Chakrin.

Chakrin said that during the first class, Comer was somewhat aggressive when trying to establish his presence in the class, but he has now relaxed and is a positive member of the class.

"I'm not going to miss any classes, assignments, papers, exams, and I will be positive when I participate in class discussions," Comer said, outlining his criteria for being a successful student. "That's my main meal.

"Everything else is dessert."