He began writing in the early 1970s while studying full-time for a degree in psychology at a local college.
His first writing job was in 1977 as an associate editor at Encore Magazine, a pioneering black newsmagazine that dealt with current events, and hard journalism.
His writings included investigative reports and it was one such investigation—about the life of rural black farmers in the Deep South—that brought Fleming notice and led to a scholarship to Columbia University’s School of Journalism.
After leaving the School of Journalism, he worked with former CBS News president Fred Friendly, former boss of the legendary Edward R. Morrow, as a staff writer for the PBS TV show Media and Society, a program that brought together panels of prominent people, politics, religious, cultural, legal, and discussed the issues of the day.
At the end of 1991, Fleming turned from the grueling work of hard journalism in order to write and teach.