We salute the men listed in our annual list of INFLUENITAL BROTHA’S not only for the exceptional in work in their related fields but also for their commitment to uplifting of our people and community.
Dwayne Reed – Educator / Author
Dwayne Reed is America’s favorite rapping teacher from Chicago and the author of the Simon B. Rhymin’ series. He is known for his viral music videos and hit songs, “Welcome to the 4th Grade” and “Welcome to Kindergarten.” When he’s not writing, rapping, or teaching, Dwayne can be found presenting at educator conferences across the US, or loving on his beautiful wife, Simoné, and their children, Chase and Cambridge.
Dr. Mark A. Williams – ENT Specialist/Recording Artist/Author
Dr. Williams is the founder the Ear, Nose & Throat Specialists of Nashville. For a brief period of time, Dr. Williams served as the Division Chief for Otolaryngology in the Department of Surgery at Meharry Medical College. For eleven years, he served as an Adjunct Associate Professor for the college.
In addition to being an excellent and compassionate surgeon, Dr. Williams is an avid singer and songwriter. He has recorded two nationally released and award-winning CD projects that consist of all original songs: “Everything” and “When A Man Worships”. His passion for singing compelled him to found the Voice Care Center of Nashville where he provides outstanding medical and surgical care for performance and professional voice users, or anyone who is having voice problems.
He is also a published author. He lastest offering is entitled
Dr. Williams is a devoted husband and father. He and his wife, Darice, have three children: Demarcus (1993), Aaron (1997) and Courtney (2006). They believe strongly in service to God and to community.
Justin Giboney – Attorney
Justin Giboney is an attorney, political strategist and ordained minister in Atlanta, GA. He is also the Co-Founder and President of the AND Campaign, which is a coalition of urban Christians who are determined to address the sociopolitical arena with the compassion and conviction of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Mr. Giboney has managed successful campaigns for elected officials in the state and referendums relating to the city’s transportation and water infrastructure.
In 2012 and 2016, Georgia’s 5th congressional district elected him as a delegate for the Democratic National Convention. A former Vanderbilt University football player and law student, Justin served on the Urban League of Greater Atlanta Board of Directors. He’s the co-author of Compassion (&) Conviction – The AND Campaign’s Guide to Faithful Civic Engagement and has written op-eds for publications such as Christianity Today and The Hill.
Dr. Eddie Glaude, Jr – Educator / Author
Dr. Eddie S. Glaude Jr., is a passionate educator, author, political commentator, and public intellectual who examines the complex dynamics of the American experience. His writings, including “Democracy in Black: How Race Still Enslaves the American Soul”, “In a Shade of Blue: Pragmatism and the Politics of Black America”, and his most recent, the New York Times bestseller, “Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for our Own”, takes an exhaustive look at Black communities, the difficulties of race in the United States and the challenges we face as a democracy.
Glaude is the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of African American Studies, a program he first became involved with shaping as a doctoral candidate in Religion at Princeton. He served as the inaugural chair of the department for more than fourteen years. He is also on the Morehouse College Board of Trustees. He frequently appears in the media, as a columnist for TIME Magazine and as an MSNBC contributor.
Combining a scholar’s knowledge of history, a political commentator’s take on the latest events, and an activist’s passion for social justice, Glaude challenges all of us to examine our collective American conscience.
Eddie D. Melton – Mayor of Gary, Indiana
Eddie D. Melton is the 22nd mayor of the City of Gary, Indiana. He was born and raised in Gary and is a proud graduate of Gary Public Schools. He earned an athletic scholarship to play quarterback for Kentucky State University. At KSU, he pursued a degree in business management and joined the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
Throughout Mayor Melton’s career, he’s held leadership positions at the Legacy Foundation and NIPSCO. He also served as chairman of the Indiana Commission on the Social Status of Black Males and the Indiana State Board of Education, representing the First Congressional District of Indiana. In 2015, Mayor Melton worked alongside President Barack Obama’s Administration in implementing “My Brother’s Keeper”, addressing persistent opportunity gaps facing boys and young men of color.
In 2016, Mayor Melton was elected as State Senator for Indiana’s 3rd District. He won re-election in 2020. In 2023, Mayor Melton won the Democratic nomination for Mayor of the City of Gary and assumed the office of Mayor of the City of Gary January 1, 2024. Mayor Melton lives in Gary, Indiana, with his wife, Crystal, and their four children.