Cornel West, Eric Michael Dyson and Julianne Malveaux are a few of the people who have done the Black Boys Shine! shout-outs. These shout-outs, which can be seen on the Black Boys Shine! website (blackboysshine.com), are messages of support for the Black Boys Shine! movement, as well as tangible examples of what Black boys can achieve.
Leatherwood welcomes all supporters of Black Boys Shine! to record a shout-out so that Black boys know they are loved. Because at the core of the Black Boys Shine! movement is love.
“Darnell loves his family, friends and community. He shows great love to me as his wife and as a father to our boys as he does everything possible to support, care and provide for us. He gives of himself selflessly and sets an example of unconditional love to lead and guide our boys through life,” said Leatherwood’s wife Margo, who is a doctoral candidate at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.
“Currently, there are two major goals for the Black Boys Shine! movement. We want to connect with Black Girls Rock! I believe it is vital that we support each other. And we also want to connect the Black Boys Shine! movement to HBCUs, starting with Morehouse College. HBCUs are the educational heartbeat of the Black community, so Black Boys Shine! must be on every HBCU campus.”
Black Boys Shine! is a success because Darnell Leatherwood will not accept Black boys living anything except their best lives. For that to happen, Black boys must be reminded every day that within them is a light that the world needs to see burning brightly to conquer the darkness.
