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CP: Where were you born/grow up?

Jarvis: I was born and raised in Chattanooga, TN. I also spend some summers in Nashville with my eldest sister and Montgomery, Alabama at my grandparent’s farm.

CP: Do you have a family?

Jarvis: Yes, I am the youngest of six siblings born to Bettie & J. B Sheffield. I am happily married to Andrea Sheffield and we have a son Taylor Sheffield.

CP: How is your community shaping up for the better 

or for worse?

Jarvis: The community site is growing and gaining both notoriety and effectiveness each year. We started with a site with just 20 people and it has grown to about 4000. To promote the works of Blacks in science fiction we now have a magazine, book series, and radio-show. We have also begun our first 3D Film and we are building our own portable digital production studio.

CP: How old were you when you first picked up the pencil and began to create an image of something?

Jarvis; LOL, I was about five when I started drawing things. I know because I got in trouble for drawing behind the curtains on the walls of the house and for drawing in the blank pages of my older siblings books. I have always enjoyed creating things.

CP: Who or what influenced you to become a graphic designer?

Jarvis: I think my oldest sister did, she can draw. She got a scholarship to college for drawing and I kind of picked that up from her. In addition, I learned to design websites back in college and I wanted my designs to be better than anyone else’s.

CP: Did you go to a school for graphic art?

Jarvis: No, I attended Kirkman Technical High School where graphic art was introduced and later took some courses in college at Tennessee State University.

CP: When did you start the Black Science Fiction Society and who influence you to this major project that has taken off?

Jarvis: I started www.BlackScienceFictionSociety.com back in 2008.
I have a couple of influences. One was that I was excited about Barack Obama making his mark on history and the country. I saw him really making it and that motivated me to do something I had control over. Another was the need to help provide positive images for my young son that was not filled with stereotypes. Since I had a background in web design and multimedia, I began work on the social network you see today. I must ad that the members of the site have carried it farther than I imagined, and it is due to their contributions that keep it growing and developing.

CP: What was your favorite science fiction movie?

Jarvis: My favorite Sci-Fi movie was and remains Blade. Blade was a not so popular comic book character but Wesley Snipes breathed life into that role. The movie was a top grossing film and it was great to see a Black Man in a powerful role on the big screen; We do not see that too often these days.

CP: What was your favorite sci-fi TV show?

Jarvis: Deep Space 9 is my all-time favorite TV Show. Avery Brooks was simply awesome in the series. It was groundbreaking and unique because a strong Black lead was cast. I immediately identified with the character that had strong family values, a great relationship with his son and was an effective leader. His character will be emulated in our Sci-Fi movie atwww.EarthSquadron.com

CP: Do you have any other hobbies?

Jarvis: I have many hobbies; some of them are biking, reading, drawing, permaculture and green energy. I also like to do community service when I can.

CP: Besides soul food, what other types of ethnic cuisine do you enjoy?

Jarvis: I enjoy African, Greek, Asian, Mexican and vegetarian at times. It depends on where I am and what mood I’m in at the time. I try to keep an open mind on new experiences.

CP: Who is your favorite sports team?

Jarvis: You will laugh at this but I am not into sports that much. I am a fan of Heritage Middle School track, basketball, and football teams. In addition to www.WingsofSkillYouthTrackClub.org. These are teams my son is on. LOL

CP: If you had a choice to be a superhero, who would you be?

Jarvis: Actually, I would not want to be a hero, but have the powers of the X-Ternal. The X-ternal has the ability to give others powers; I think that would be the ultimate. She was in the X-Men TV Series “X-Ternally Yours”.

CP: How many members does this black science fiction organization that you pioneered have so far and can any race join or is it strictly pro-black?

Jarvis: We are at the 4,000-member mark right now. Yes, everyone is welcome to the site. We have an open door policy that encourages diversity. We have virtually every race you can think of as members. We like to look at it like a restaurant that caters towards Mexican, African, Asian or Greek. We are cooking up Black Science Fiction for anyone that comes in the door.

CP: If anyone wanted to joined the Bsfs how could they contact you or what website could they visit.?

Jarvis: It is free to join at www.BlackScienceFictionSociety.com, so please join and tell everyone you know that may enjoy Sci-Fi to join. You will find a world of great Sci-Fi that you cannot get anywhere else.

CP: Thank you for your time Jarvis and that will wrap it up for this article on Common Perspective. I’m your host writer David Rogers.

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