black male role models Archives - Transracial Journeys https://www.transracialjourneys.org/blog/tag/black-male-role-models/ Fri, 08 Nov 2024 20:19:46 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 https://www.transracialjourneys.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/cropped-Logo-Flare520x520-32x32.jpg black male role models Archives - Transracial Journeys https://www.transracialjourneys.org/blog/tag/black-male-role-models/ 32 32 Black Excellence: Keegan-Michael Key https://www.transracialjourneys.org/blog/black-excellence-keegan-michael-key/ Wed, 04 Sep 2024 14:53:36 +0000 https://www.transracialjourneys.org/?p=4877 By Becca Howe, TRJ Parent Image attributed to Gage Skidmore, via Wikimedia Commons Keegan-Michael Key is an actor, comedian, writer and producer, known for his sharp social satire and innovative sketches in shows like Key & Peele, which he co-created and starred in with Jordan Peele, and Schmigadoon, as well as his work in television, film and on Broadway. Key was born in Detroit, Michigan, to parents Carrie Herr and Leroy McDuffie. He was adopted at a young age by read more

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]]> Black Excellence: Colin Kaepernick https://www.transracialjourneys.org/blog/black-excellence-colin-kaepernick/ Tue, 06 Aug 2024 23:50:22 +0000 https://www.transracialjourneys.org/?p=4850 By Becca Howe, TRJ Parent On August 26, 2016, NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick took his first knee during the national anthem at an NFL preseason game. This action was part of his protest against racial inequality and police brutality in the Unites States. His actions made the whole country pay attention, and helped ignite the national debates around Black Lives Matter and what role athletes can play in social activism, as well as the meaning of patriotic gestures during sports read more

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]]> Black Excellence: Michael Franti https://www.transracialjourneys.org/blog/black-excellence-michael-franti/ Sat, 08 Jun 2024 17:36:20 +0000 https://www.transracialjourneys.org/?p=4626 By Becca Howe, TRJ Parent             View this post on Instagram                         A post shared by Michael Franti (@michaelfranti) Michael Franti is an American singer-songwriter, poet, activist and documentarian known for his socially conscious music. His work spans several genres including hip hop, reggae, jazz, folk and rock. Franti was born in Oakland, California, in 1966, the biological son of Mary Lofy and Thomas read more

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]]> Black Excellence: Jason Reynolds https://www.transracialjourneys.org/blog/black-excellence-jason-reynolds/ Wed, 06 Dec 2023 00:33:57 +0000 https://www.transracialjourneys.org/?p=4335 By TRJ Parent Rebecca Howerd Jason Reynolds is a highly acclaimed and influential author known for his impactful contributions to contemporary literature, particularly for youth, as well as his activism and his approachability and service to kids and young adults. Born in 1983 outside Washington, D.C., Reynolds has risen to prominence for his ability to authentically capture the experiences of Black youth in America while dismantling stereotypes and creating empathy and positive self- and societal perceptions of Blackness. Reynolds started read more

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]]> Black Excellence: Marcus Samuelsson https://www.transracialjourneys.org/blog/black-excellence-marcus-samuelsson/ Thu, 09 Nov 2023 02:02:21 +0000 https://www.transracialjourneys.org/?p=4261 By TRJ Parent Rebecca Howerd Marcus Samuelsson is a renowned chef, restaurateur, and author who has made a significant impact on the culinary world. Born in Ethiopia in 1971, he and his sister were adopted and raised in Sweden by parents who taught him confidence and humility. Samuelsson's empowering perspective on the power of blackness has given him the motivation and strength to stand out among his peers, while his multicultural background has been a driving force behind his innovative read more

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]]> Black Excellence: James Weldon Johnson https://www.transracialjourneys.org/blog/black-excellence-james-weldon-johnson/ Wed, 31 May 2023 14:00:07 +0000 https://www.transracialjourneys.org/?p=3917 A predominant figure of the Harlem Renaissance, James Weldon Johnson was born on June 17, 1871 to a middle class, African American family in the progressive city of Jacksonville, Florida. One of his most famous writings is the lyric to the song “Lift Every Voice and Sing” which he wrote in 1900 to commemorate President Lincoln’s birthday. In 1919, the NAACP claimed this song as the Negro national anthem. Now considered the Black National Anthem, it was initially written as read more

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]]> Black Excellence – Kiese Laymon https://www.transracialjourneys.org/blog/black-excellence-kiese-laymon/ Tue, 10 Jan 2023 21:07:09 +0000 https://www.transracialjourneys.org/?p=3368 Considered to have written one of the best 50 memoirs of the past 50 years by the New York Times, Kiese Laymon is an American author who is currently on the faculty at Rice University His memoir, “Heavy”, has received multiple accolades and awards including the 2019 Andrew Carnegie Award for Excellence. The autobiography is about growing up Black, bookish and overweight in an abusive home in Jackson, Mississippi. Why write about Laymon for January’s Black Excellence? Well, last year, read more

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]]> Black Excellence: Colin Kaepernick and Nessa Diab https://www.transracialjourneys.org/blog/colin-kaepernick-nessa-diab/ Thu, 01 Sep 2022 15:57:10 +0000 https://www.transracialjourneys.org/?p=3158 This month, Transracial Journeys would like to take the opportunity to feature Colin Kaepernick and Nessa Diab. Colin is an American athlete and activist who is also adopted! He came to great prominence as the San Francisco 49er quarterback who kneeled during the national anthem at football games to protest police brutality towards Black people.   In 2016, Kap launched the non profit Know Your Rights Camp that teaches, supports and nourishes African American children to have a brighter future. read more

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]]> Black Excellence: Todd Kennedy https://www.transracialjourneys.org/blog/black-excellence-todd-kennedy/ Thu, 09 Jun 2022 23:21:12 +0000 https://www.transracialjourneys.org/?p=2896 Todd Kennedy is our camp counselor and athletic director extraordinaire.  Our children have come to love taking tumbling classes with Mr. Todd over the past several years, and he’s looking forward to seeing his kids and welcoming new families to camp this summer. Mr. Todd has a special ministry with youth and has taught tumbling to over 9,000 kids in Cleveland, East Cleveland and Cleveland Heights.  He started tumbling at the age of eleven and grew up learning on grass, read more

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]]> Black Excellence – Virgil Abloh https://www.transracialjourneys.org/blog/black-excellence-virgil-abloh/ Wed, 01 Dec 2021 15:39:37 +0000 https://www.transracialjourneys.org/?p=2574 This month's focus on Black Excellence is a tribute to Virgil Abloh who recently passed away at the young age of 41.  His career as a designer worked at the intersections of his race, culture and fashion.  Not only was he a wonderful fashion designer, but he also worked consistently to build up other Black creatives. He left young,  aspiring designers a "Post-Modern Scholarship" fund which works "to foster equity and inclusion within the fashion industry". The first African-American to read more

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