Multitalented people succeed in several endeavors because they have diverse skills and experiences with an imagination and creativity that transcends beyond traditional limitations.
John Ritchie Chiles, IV is one multitalented individual who has contributed to the legal, educational and entertainment arenas during his three-decade long career. Dr. Chiles illuminates the significance of cultural awareness, personal development, and collective responsibility while nurturing a more inclusive society.
Dr. John R. Chiles, IV is the descendant of a rich and well documented family legacy. Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, Chiles credits the lessons learned from his ancestors for shaping his worldview and perceptions, which provided a solid foundation for his principles and values that helped to shape his professional endeavors. His ancestors significantly influenced their communities with contributions and accomplishments through multiple generations. Born in 1817, his great-great grandfather, Richard Chiles, worked as a servant in the Confederate Whitehouse during the Civil War. There, he was part of an elaborate Union spy network where black and white Southerners worked together to secure vital information for the American cause. Richard’s children would make their own significant contributions in United States History as well. Chiles’ great-great uncle, attorney James A. Chiles, born in 1860, received his undergraduate degree from Lincoln University in 1886. and received his Juris Doctorate Degree from The University of Michigan School of Law in 1889. He would become the first African American Lawyer in History to argue before the Kentucky Court of Appeals and The United States Supreme Court in Chiles v. Chesapeake & O R Railroad., Co. 218 U.S. 71, (1910). Chiles’ great-great aunt, Mariette Chiles, taught with the first generation of African American teachers after the Civil War in the South. She also served as a Women’s Rights and Anti-lynching Activist who worked along with Maggie Walker, Ida B. Wells and John T. Mitchell, Jr., editor of the Richmond Black Planet Newspaper in Richmond, Virginia. His grandfather, Dr. James A. Chiles, graduated from Virginia Union University in 1919, and received his D.M.D. from Tufts University on Boston, in 1923. He was a Dentist in Richmond, who, with his wife Frances, hosted many notable people of their era in their home on Clay Street, including Dr. Charles Drew. John recalls, that throughout his entire childhood, that many citizens of Richmond would remark that Dr. Chiles was their dentist. Recently, one celebrity, jazz musician Lonnie Liston Smith remarked that “Dr. Chiles pulled his teeth when he was a child.” His wife, Francis Chiles, John’s grandmother and second-generation educator, played a crucial role in fostering his passion for learning. Chiles fondly recalls, “her home was filled with books, and those books were my toys. I played with books before could read. I would carry them around and look at the pictures.”
Chiles IV completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration from Norfolk State University in 1984. He later received his Juris Doctorate from Thurgood Marshall School of Law in 1991. His love of culture led him to return to graduate school where he completed his Master of Arts degree in Humanities from the University of Houston Clear Lake in 2010.
Chiles pursued a legal career because of the ideals instilled in him by his family. However, his path includes the entertainment sector, where he found a natural match stemming from his early exposure to music and relationships in the industry. During his high school years, Chiles [played bass guitar in several bands. However, he credits his New York City visits with his aunt Dorothy (on his mother’s side), for introducing him to legendary musicians and performers in the entertainment industry at a very young age while visiting her with his brother, James, in New York City. During those visits he met such artists as Miles Davis, James Brown, The Impressions, Al Green, and the Staple Singers. He further credits his brother, Jimmy for providing the basis for his musical foundation. His parents always emphasized courtesy and respect for all people, no matter their station in life. However, there is no question who raised him to love books, his grandmother, Francis. The elementary school teacher had him reading at a very early age.
Attorney Chiles is known today as a trusted advisor who has assisted an assortment of artists, entertainers, educators, and politicians, with an array of business and legal matters. Chiles has forged notable professional relationships with well-known and renowned entertainers including Frankie Beverly, the late Betty Wright, Adina Howard, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and the late Luther Vandross, and James Avery, to name a few.
Chiles established Chilesplay Entertainment and serves as the company’s CEO. His company has produced projects in Film, Music, and Theatre. Throughout his career he has worked in different capacities with notable individuals such as actress, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Comedian and comedian and game show host, Steve Harvey, and others.
Though his primary profession is Law, Chiles maintains a passion for teaching. His love of education and community service led him to work at the University of Houston in various capacities. He has taught Law & Society, Criminal Law, Ancient Religion, Pan-Africanism, and the History of Hip-Hop classes at the university. As a college professor, Chiles challenges conventional teaching methods that go beyond structural discussions.
He has lectured in Egypt, Ghana, Amsterdam, and the Bahamas. His inciteful lectures draw from his extensive academic heritage to emphasize the significance of comprehending culture, humanism, and personal development.
By providing a comprehensive approach to history, he enables students’ cultural heritage identification as they explore diverse narratives and confidently embrace their identities. This has been displayed through educational excursions where Chiles, who has presented in Egypt, Jamaica, and The Bahamas, was appointed by the late Dr. James L. Conyers to take students on educational tours of Ghana as faculty advisor spanning a 7-year period, during which time he exposed over 100 students to World history.
Earlier in his diverse career, he formed personal connections with several influential figures in various industries. During his amateur boxing career, he became the Virginia Lightweight Boxing Champion as a member of the Richmond Athletic Boxing Club, where he was coached by the legendary Ray Brown. While a student at Norfolk State University, he trained with, and forged a life-long friendship with Pernell ‘Sweet Pea” Whitaker, Olympic Gold medalist and World Lightweight and Welterweight Champion. He often interacted Heavyweight Champions, Muhammad Ali, George Foreman and Mike Tyson.
Additionally, Chiles has encountered notable sports figures, Roger Staubach, Dallas Cowboys quarterback, the late Bob Hayes, Dallas Cowboys running back, and Lawrence Taylor, linebacker for the NY Giants. The multi-skilled lawyer and educator transitioned into an author and is set to release a book detailing his life’s story and illustrious family history. His book, True IV: Five Generations Deep, explains how various lessons his family taught influenced and motivated him to work hard and contribute to society. As an author, Chiles makes clear how a positive family and constructive home environment, coupled with a community-influenced upbringing that focused on respect for others enhanced his personality. His book illustrates how family relations are essential. He further highlights the many ways they empower, motivate and inspire the people around them. Chiles is also co-authoring a book which will offer advice on how to negotiate negative people and situations with his younger sister, Cheri.