Rob Chesnut’s open-mindedness to the possibilities of the internet led him to be a part of some of the most influential companies of our times including eBay and Airbnb, among others. A graduate of Harvard Law School and the University of Virginia, he began his career as a federal prosecutor for the U.S. Justice Department. Unsatisfied with the negative nature of being a prosecutor, he left to go work for eBay in the late 90s. Read More . . .

To coincide with the release of the film 1 Angry Black Man (releasing this Friday, June 5, 2020, on video-on-demand and DVD), director Menelek Lumumba and cinematographer Hans Charles are encouraging men and women to share their experiences with being perceived as “angry” or negatively stereotyped. The purpose of the challenge is to start a national dialogue around the harm of negative perceptions surrounding black men. Anyone and everyone is encouraged to participate. Read More . . .

Before he thought of himself as a writer, Larry Palmer was the ninth child of ten and lived in a 1,500 square foot house on the West Side of St. Louis. As he recalls, his family was searching for greater educational and economic opportunities for their children. In 1958, at the age of 14, this “urban child of southern migrants,” received a full scholarship to attend the prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy. He decided to stay in New England to continue his education at Harvard and Yale Law School. Read More . . .

Dr. Joanne V. Gabbin is a professor of English at James Madison University (JMU). Her story began on the Eastside of Baltimore, Maryland. “The distinction is important because when I grew up in the 1950s and 1960s, the Westside blacks turned their noses up at the working-class folks who toiled in the furnaces at Bethlehem Steel and on the docks of the Baltimore wharf,” she says. Her father was an expert cement mason who took pride in his work. “He used to point with pride to the bridges and tunnels in Maryland that he helped to build,” she says. Read More . . .

Salaam Muhammad’s artwork is shaped by his upbringing in Elizabeth, New Jersey. “My pieces are an accumulation of life lessons and experiences, history, self-discovery, observations, and knowledge,” he explains. “What started out as a mere form of expression to pass the time grew into my life’s work and a means of encouraging and inspiring the black community.” Over the years, Salaam has developed a newfound sense of spirituality. His art has a purpose that goes beyond humanity. Read More . . .

Roasted Chicken Thighs w/ Cauliflower and Sweet Potato

“Juicy and flavorable meal for your next weeknight dinner.”

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Each month we highlight a community program that aligns with the values of SoulVision Magazine. We believe engaging with one’s community is critical to fostering positive change in the world. Media Mentors was co-founded by Brian Smalls, Ebony Flake, and Randall Hazard to address the need for youth (ages 10 through college) to develop the skills needed to succeed in media while developing confidence in their creativity. The organization operates out of the Hampton Roads area (the “757”). Read More . . .

Dr. Alexander Gabbin is one of the founders of the National Black MBA Association. Today, he is a KPMG professor and director of the School of Accounting at James Madison University (JMU). He grew up in a working-class neighborhood in East Baltimore and went on to graduate from Howard University with a degree in economics and mathematics. After graduating in 1967, he married Joanne V. Gabbin, who is now an English professor at JMU. Read More . . .

Whether you are 19 or over 50, the biggest battle you will ever fight is the one you fight with yourself to become who you are supposed to be. My kids always wanted me to teach them to punch and kick. I told them first they had to learn to be still and silent. When you can’t go outside, the strong know how to go inside. When you think there is no way, the wise know how to invoke the ultimate way maker.Where there is God, there is ALWAYS a way. None of us need to be a Super-Man to be great. Read More . . .