Breaking Myths, Presence, Perception & the Truth About Black Fatherhood | C.A. Truthwell
By Lana Reid | June 3, 2026 As part of the Black Men Matter Series, Lana Reid sits down with C.A. Truthwell, author of Breaking the Myth, to discuss the realities of Black fatherhood and the narratives that continue to shape public perception. Truthwell explains how fathers are often labeled as absent despite being actively involved in their children’s lives, whether they live in the home or outside of it. Read More
7 Baby Steps from Grown Boy to Manhood | Dr. James Hall
By Lana Reid | May 6, 2026 As part of the Black Men Matter Series, Lana Reid sits down with Dr. James Hall—author, physician, and founder of the Mighty Men Academy—to discuss fatherlessness and the journey from malehood to manhood. Drawing from his book Grown Boys: 7 Baby Steps to Manhood for a Fatherless Generation, Dr. Hall explains why so many men struggle with direction, identity, and responsibility, and how Read More
Behind the Mask, Mentoring & the Power of Community for Boys | Ashanti Branch
By Lana Reid | April 15, 2026 As part of the Black Men Matter Series, Lana Reid sits down with Ashanti Branch, founder and executive director of Ever Forward Club, to discuss the lunch conversations that sparked what would become more than two decades of mentoring, emotional development work, and youth leadership support. Branch reflects on what those early conversations with young men revealed about the need for community and Read More
Simply Because It Is There
When I was eight years old, my parents gave me my first diary for Christmas. It was the first of many I would fill over the years, writing faithfully into my early twenties. After that, they were stacked away in boxes in the garage, largely forgotten. Recently, I pulled them out and started thumbing through the pages. The very first entry read: “To anyone who finds this diary, do not Read More
Tube-E Movie, Streaming Culture & Why “So Bad It’s Good” Films Keep Winning | Will Adams
By Lana Reid | April 1, 2026 As part of the Black Men Matter Series, Lana Reid sits down with Will Adams, indie filmmaker and owner of LokeKey Productions, to discuss his satirical comedy Tube-E Movie and what it reveals about modern streaming culture. Adams explains why audiences are increasingly drawn to films they openly critique, how “so bad it’s good” has become part of today’s entertainment vocabulary, and why Read More
The Link Between Sports, Education, and Black Genius | Dr. Dwayne B. Thomas
By Lana Reid | March 25, 2026 As part of the Black Men Matter Series, Lana Reid sits down with Dr. Dwayne B. Thomas, founder of Thomas Leadership Solutions, LLC and The Academic, Coaching, Enrichment, & Sports (ACES) Network, to examine the relationship between sports, education, and Black intellectual development. A former United States Marine, educator, and leadership strategist, Dr. Thomas explains why strategic thinking celebrated in athletics is often Read More
How Economics and Mental Health Shape Black Men’s Lives | Bertrand Ngampa
By Lana Reid | March 18, 2026 As part of the Black Men Matter Series, Lana Reid sits down with Bertrand Ngampa – author, coach, and technology leader – to explore the connection between economic reality and mental well-being in Black communities. Drawing from his broader ideas around wealth, access, and opportunity, Bertrand explains why economics and mental health are often discussed separately even though, in practice, they deeply shape Read More
From Morris Brown College Psychology Student to Future Entrepreneur | Andre Glaze
By Lana Reid | March 11, 2026 As part of the Black Men Matter Series, Lana Reid sits down with Andre Glaze, a psychology student at Morris Brown College, to discuss higher education, leadership development, and his long-term entrepreneurial goals. Andre reflects on his academic journey, what attending an HBCU has meant for his personal and professional growth, and the lessons he is learning both inside and outside the classroom. Read More
Building the Next Generation of Black Orchestral Percussionists | Raynor Carroll
By Lana Reid | March 4, 2026 As part of the Black Men Matter Series, Lana Reid sits down with Raynor Carroll, Founder and CEO of the Alliance of Black Orchestral Percussionists (ABOP), to explore why Black musicians remain underrepresented in orchestral percussion and how mentorship can expand opportunity in classical music. Raynor shares the realities of pursuing orchestral careers, the time and financial investment required, and how ABOP’s mentorship Read More
When Your Calling Doesn’t Fit Other People’s Labels
Sometimes what you are called to do is unconventional, and other people will not have a label for it. That absence of a label is rarely neutral. When people cannot name something in a way that fits their comfort zone, they often rename it in ways that reflect their discomfort instead. They assign motives you never claimed. They reduce your purpose to whatever narrow frame feels safest to them. They Read More