Blount is the founder of the “The Urban Thinker”, which symbolizes the connection between Black consciousness, Black philosophies and generating questions. He is the vice president of I.M.P.A.C.T (Intelligent Men of Color Purposefully Accomplishing College Together), a member of the Black Alumni Association of Arcadia University and the Association of Black Social Workers.
How do you feel about being nominated?
I am humbled because people are recognizing my accomplishments in the field of Black male achievement, nonprofit, volunteerism, and mentorship. I am honored because of the group of individuals I am becoming a brother to and member of, who see something in me that will change the space we are in.
What is your inspiration?
My mother, Octavia Blount, instilled in me to be more than what society deems me to become. She is an internal motivator for me to succeed in school, in life and as a Black man. My family keeps me going as the foundation rooted in love in which I flourish. But, it is the youth I serve who inspire me to be great model for them
What are you engaged in?
My why or reason I am so passionate about what I do is simply stated by #ChangetheIMAGE and #ChangetheNARRATIVE of the Black man. At the end of the 2013-14 school year, I saw the drive for the excellence of young Black men in the Philadelphia School District disseminating, which helped me realize I could no longer be a spectator of the systems failing Black boys and men.
Thus, I, along with my family support, was able to found The G.A.A.M.E. (Graduating African American Males of Excellence) Project and big brother to the sister component – TheA.Q.U.I.R.E. Project (Ambitious Queens Uniquely Identified for Rising to be Educated), a school-based youth mentoring and youth development program designed to build the retention and graduation rates of young African American males in high school through providing/engaging in educational and social supportive interventions and discussions. I am also actively building my brand The Urban Thinker which symbolizes the connection between Black consciousness, Black philosophies, and generating questions.
What are your plans?
I want to complete Temple University’s Sociology Ph.D. program, to expand The G.A.A.M.E. Project to other schools, to include consulting services from one-on-one and group discussions with students to educating teachers and administrators on how to understand the young Black men and the trauma, needs, and behavior of inner-city youth, and various solutions. My goal is to establish a nonprofit that will generate and open doors for youth. I want to start a campaign or city wide tour focused on changing the narrative and image of the young Black man to create one that says I am more than meets the eye.
What does the Diaspora mean to you?
A statement by W.E.B. DuBois, “How does it feel to be a problem?” Black men are already not valued. This can create tension for some Black men and the angry Black man is an example of a label we all are forced to defend. We have targets on our backs, we work twice as hard and we overcome challenges, defy stereotypes, and celebrate. Being Black means being a mystery, unique, different, and strong.
Don’t give someone the ammunition to make you seem less than who you are,’ is a quote that was expressed by my mother throughout my life. She told me that to change the image of the Black man we must first be a leader, be a trailblazer and recognize we’re capable of accomplishing anything in life.
