My Seven Black Fathers

A Young Activist's Memoir of Race, Family, and the Mentors Who Made Him Whole

By: Will Jawando

Narrated by: Will Jawando

Length: 7 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

2022 Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year, Long-listed

This program is read by the author, Will Jawando, who has been called “the progressive leader we need” by the late congressman John Lewis.

"Will Jawando's account of mentorship, service, and healing lays waste to the racist stereotype of the absent Black father. By arguing that Black fathers are not just found in individual families, but are indeed the treasure of entire Black communities, Will makes the case for a bold idea: that Black men can counter racist ideas and policies by virtue of their presence in the lives of Black boys and young men. This is a story we need to hear." —Ibram X. Kendi, New York Times–bestselling author of How to be an Antiracist

Will Jawando tells a deeply affirmative story of hope and respect for men of color at a time when Black men are routinely stigmatized. As a boy growing up outside DC, Will, who went by his Nigerian name, Yemi, was shunted from school to school, never quite fitting in. He was a Black kid with a divorced white mother, a frayed relationship with his biological father, and teachers who scolded him for being disruptive in class and on the playground. Eventually, he became close to Kalfani, a kid he looked up to on the basketball court. Years after he got the call telling him that Kalfani was dead, another sickening casualty of gun violence, Will looks back on the relationships with an extraordinary series of mentors that enabled him to thrive.

Among them were Mr. Williams, the rare Black male grade school teacher, who found a way to bolster Will’s self-esteem when he discovered he was being bullied; Jay Fletcher, the openly gay colleague of his mother who got him off junk food and took him to his first play; Mr. Holmes, the high school coach and chorus director who saw him through a crushing disappointment; Deen Sanwoola, the businessman who helped him bridge the gap between his American upbringing and his Nigerian heritage, eventually leading to a dramatic reconciliation with his biological father; and President Barack Obama, who made Will his associate director of public engagement at the White House—and who invited him to play basketball on more than one occasion. Without the influence of these men, Will knows he would not be who he is today: a civil rights and education policy attorney, a civic leader, a husband, and a father.

Drawing on Will’s inspiring personal story and involvement in My Brother’s Keeper, President Obama’s national initiative to address persistent opportunity gaps facing boys and young men of color, My Seven Black Fathers offers a transformative way for Black men to shape the next generation.

A Macmillan Audio production from Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

©2022 Will Jawando (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"A passionate 'love letter to Black men' . . . Candid and uplifting . . . This book is a clarion call to families and communities to provide crucial support to young people, particularly young Black men." —Andrienne Cruz, Booklist (starred review)

"[A] rousing debut . . . Jawando brilliantly uses the arc of his life to root out how 'Black male mentors... make America a more just place for Black boys and a better place for all Americans' . . . Vivid and moving . . . Stirring . . . A powerful call to action in these fraught times." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"[Jawando] deftly uses his personal story to provide a trenchant structural analysis of how American racism plays out in Black men’s everyday lives. His talent for creating striking imagery and memorable scenes draws readers into his masterfully constructed world. Jawando treats his past self with compassion without ever skirting responsibility for his mistakes." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Excellent

I first heard about this book through an interview on the “Ratchet and Respectable Podcast.” I was immediately drawn in by the sincerity and similarities of this story (especially concerning navigating the duality of having an immigrant background/ dealing with immigrant parents in America). I would recommend this to men, most certainly, but also to women who love and raise and help raise black men.

Great inspirational story!

Best wishes Will. It’s been great watching your success. I’ve enjoyed reading your book and can’t wait to see what your future holds.

A Father of a Book

outstanding book and it challenged me to come to terms with my childhhood past with my father. it also reaffirms the fact that my dad didn't know what to do all the time but based on his past he did the best he could do. this book is very engaging and relevant for all boys and me ...no matter what color. it is also a great book for women as this book provides insights on raising boys. outstanding.

You Can’t Determine Your Legacy

The author put a lot of thought into what all of these men brought to his life. You never know what your legacy will be.

Very Moving

What a wonderful way to pay homage to people who helped shape your life. It is obvious he learned good lessons from each one.

Extremely inspirational and insightful!

I purchased the book for 23 men in our family, as the author’s stories are reflective of the loved ones in my life.

I stayed up all night to listen!

This book was amazing! Don’t hesitate to listen to this story. I couldn’t sleep til I was finished!

Village Mindset

Will Jawando’s life memoir serves not only as a historical chronological recount of his past from an inner city young black male to civic leader, husband, and father but also a call-to-action of black men community to uplift, educate, and mentor the next generation of young black males.

The duality of the messaging compels us to take an in-depth examination of the influence of the world around our young people and reflect within ourselves on how we can do more and be better.

This book reveals the dire importance of the village rising a child, and how vital it can be for a small act of intentional presence in the lives of our children.

Entwined into these pages is birthed a riveting tale of Will’s journey of finding himself and his purpose paired with lessons from his seven black fathers and how understanding his personal facets helped mold him into the well-rounded family and community-focused individual he is.

A must read that will emphatically inspire and motivate self-reflection and action. Excellent storytelling. Excellent read. Excellent book.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Touching but so needed

I am buying this book for all the men in my life. It's great to see a man writing to encourage other men, not just another "what women should do" book.

A Must Read Narrative

This was a good old-fashioned underdog success story. Will overcame so much adversity to achieve his goals and dreams. But, it was way more than that because Will introduced me to life of a somewhat ordinary story of growing up black in America. As a white middle-aged guy who grew up in the Midwest, I didn't hear or see too many stories like this. Many of the narratives I heard came from the news or entertainment industry. Those are misleading at best. This should be required reading in high school. Well done, Will.