Leaf, who was born in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, during the Black Power Movement, was exposed to various aspects of Black Nationalism throughout his lifetime. This contact began in his youthful days growing up in his child hood neighborhood-Round the Field-and it accompanied him throughout his adult life in Texas, Virginia, and Maryland. Sometimes, he came face to face with progressive elements of the self-help philosophical concept. Whereas, there were times when he maintained relationships with reactionary individuals. Regardless of the type of exposure involved, Leaf learned from the many contacts and, as a result, he would become increasingly Black Conscious.