Changing the Narrative: Fatherhood, Literacy & Black Empowerment
Welcome to Rise Urban Nation with host Taryell Simmons. In this powerful episode, we sit down with Dr. Khalid White, an educator, entrepreneur, author, and filmmaker who founded Black in Power. Together, they explore the transformative power of culturally authentic storytelling, the vital need to redefine narratives around Black fatherhood, and actionable approaches to closing the early literacy gap for youth.
Dr. White shares his realization that Black history is a dynamic, living entity that evolves and recreates itself in real time.
The journey of creating the groundbreaking book and documentary Black Fatherhood: Trials & Tribulations to dismantle negative mainstream stereotypes.
Reflecting on how publications like Jet Magazine and the HBCU experience at Morehouse College cultivated self-confidence and cultural pride.
Highlighting how culturally relevant children's literature can combat the school-to-prison pipeline.
Discussing the completion of an ambitious ten-year creative goal producing ten books and five films independently.
Living Cultural History: Black history is continuously made and remixed by contemporary storytellers and digital media rather than remaining confined to the past.
Redefining Black Fatherhood: Moving beyond the traditional caretaker role to nurture emotional caregiving and build dedicated support systems for fathers.
Early Literacy Solutions: Tackling the literacy crisis by providing young Black and Latino readers with engaging literature that reflects their lived experiences.
Dual Educational Impact: Bridging the gap between formal academic spaces and grassroots community education through cultural humility.
Mission-Driven Entrepreneurship: Building independent creative platforms without waiting for external permission or mainstream validation.
Create representation intentionally so younger generations can envision diverse career and life possibilities.
Support fathers holistically by addressing their emotional, mental, and social well-being alongside traditional provider roles.
Introduce children to culturally relevant reading materials early to foster lifelong literacy and critical thinking.
Run your own race in entrepreneurship instead of comparing your journey to metrics on social media.
Dr. Khalid White is an accomplished educator, author, filmmaker, and the visionary founder of Black in Power. He holds degrees from Morehouse College, Harvard University, and UC Davis, and serves within the California Community College system. You can connect with his work on LinkedIn at Khalid White, on social media at @BLKMPWR, or via email at [email protected].
Taryell Simmons: What happens when we take control of our narrative, not the version history books watered down or mainstream media profits from, but stories rooted in truth, culture, family, and empowerment? Representation matters. What our children read matters, what fathers model matters, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are matter deeply. Welcome back to Rise Urban Nation, where we unite, uplift, and ignite stories that empower our communities and move culture forward. Today we have Dr. Khalid White sitting down with us—an educator, entrepreneur, author, filmmaker, and founder of Black in Power. Dr. White, welcome to the show.
Dr. Khalid White: Thank you for having me, Taryell. Thank you for inviting me to the Rise Urban Nation platform. I appreciate that.
Taryell Simmons: A decade ago, I was doing workforce development with opportunity youth. The constant challenge was that young people and parents had limited beliefs about what they could achieve because they could not see themselves in those career pathways. I realized young people cannot be what they cannot see, and storytelling matters. Older generations told me that with this podcast, we are capturing Black history in the making. In the green room, you shared profound insights on that. Could you share your perspective?
Dr. Khalid White: In terms of making Black history, you are absolutely doing that. Kudos to what you are doing with Rise Urban Nation. I have taught Black history for nearly two decades. Black history is a living, breathing entity that is constantly recreating and re-presenting itself. It is dynamic and always changing. Representation matters. It is not just what happened in the past with pioneers like Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Dr. King, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Angela Davis. What you are doing today in 2026 and beyond is capturing and creating Black history. Where we once told stories through oral traditions or books, you are continuing that tradition on podcasts and digital forums.
Taryell Simmons: We are doing this together. In an era where some attempt to erase Black history, recognizing it as living and breathing ensures it never dies. Let us look at your journey from Morehouse College to becoming a movement builder across education, entrepreneurship, culture, and community. What first inspired your passion for education and storytelling?
Dr. Khalid White: As a child, I always loved reading, especially Jet Magazine. It was a compilation of culture, entertainment, narratives, and music. Later, I read Ebony, The Source, and Vibe. In my early twenties, I read The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah, which showed me that I could tell stories that captivate audiences. Attending Morehouse College built my self-confidence and self-identity by surrounding me with Black excellence. It opened my eyes to possibilities.
Taryell Simmons: Tell us about your first major storytelling project, Black Fatherhood.
Dr. Khalid White: As a father, I constantly saw negative stereotypes portraying Black men as absent or deadbeat. That was not my story or the story of the proud fathers in my circle. I wanted to highlight that counter-narrative. I interviewed men and women about their family journeys for my book, Black Fatherhood: Trials & Tribulations. We also produced a documentary film. It touched thousands of people and evolved into community classes, workshops, and support groups working alongside school districts.
Taryell Simmons: You mentioned Jet Magazine earlier. The way they built their business by partnering with Black-owned businesses was brilliant. And of course, the Beauty of the Week feature showcased Black college students.
Dr. Khalid White: Absolutely. Seeing women who were students at Tuskegee, Howard, Spelman, or Tennessee State planted seeds about historically Black colleges in my mind. The Johnson family created an empire across Jet, Ebony, Essence, and Black Enterprise that showcased us positively.
Taryell Simmons: How did your time at Morehouse shape your worldview?
Dr. Khalid White: It exposed me to the entire diaspora—students from across the nation, the Caribbean, and Africa. I saw intellectual peers, artists, athletes, and entrepreneurs. A classmate even developed a new form of concrete during college. Seeing classmates become doctors, lawyers, and leaders expanded my understanding of what was possible for myself.
Taryell Simmons: You have studied at Harvard University and UC Davis. How do you bridge formal academic spaces with community education, and what has that taught you about educational equity?
Dr. Khalid White: Operating both inside and outside classroom walls gives me freedom and dexterity. While I have academic credentials from institutions like Harvard and UC Davis, reaching the broader community requires flexibility. Education is reciprocal—each one teach one. Cultural humility means recognizing that I do not know everything; students bring immense knowledge, language skills, and lived experiences into the room. True learning occurs when everyone feels their contributions are valued.
Taryell Simmons: What was the original vision behind Black in Power?
Dr. Khalid White: It was founded as a cultural mission to empower the Black diaspora. Initially, we used apparel and merchandising to fund independent books and films so we could maintain full creative autonomy. During the pandemic, I transitioned fully into essential storytelling services—writing children's books like Little Brother, Little Sister and bilingual titles Hermanito and Hermanita. The mission is to project uplifting, authentic imagery that communities can rally around.
Taryell Simmons: What challenges have you encountered building a business rooted in culture?
Dr. Khalid White: Mainstream spaces sometimes perceive cultural empowerment as exclusive, which is untrue. Empowering a specific community does not mean excluding others; it means highlighting narratives that have been historically overlooked.
Taryell Simmons: What harmful narratives concern you most regarding youth literacy?
Dr. Khalid White: The myth that Black or Latino youth do not want to read. Young people want to read when the material reflects their reality, culture, and interests. Early literacy directly impacts critical thinking and relates to addressing the school-to-prison pipeline. Children need to see themselves as part of the story and part of the solution.
Taryell Simmons: Why is fatherhood support central to this work?
Dr. Khalid White: When a father is supported, the entire family benefits. Dads need spaces that address their social-emotional needs. We must support fathers not just as economic caretakers, but as nurturing emotional caregivers across diverse family structures.
Taryell Simmons: You set an ambitious ten-year goal in 2015 to produce ten books and five films. How did you accomplish that?
Dr. Khalid White: By staying focused and doing the work. Projects included Black Fatherhood, an LGBTQ activism project with Dana Johnson, children's literature, anthologies on the HBCU experience, Black Voices from the Ivory Tower, and the documentary Glass Ceilings profiling singer Martha Corrine.
Taryell Simmons: What key lessons has your journey taught you about empowerment and entrepreneurship?
Dr. Khalid White: Empowerment is personal and requires genuine connection. For entrepreneurs: if a vision is placed in your heart, pursue it. Do not wait for friends or family to validate it before you begin; build it first. Do not compare your journey to metrics on social media. Run your own race with clear intention.
Taryell Simmons: What lasting impact do you hope Black in Power leaves on future generations?
Dr. Khalid White: I want future generations to know that our self-portrayal matters. We must define our own worth and create for ourselves without waiting for external permission. When we create with intention, the cultural and global impact is boundless.
Taryell Simmons: Dr. White, how can our audience connect with you and support Black in Power?
Dr. Khalid White: You can find me across social media and YouTube at @BLKMPWR, on LinkedIn as Khalid White (Khalid Akil White), and via email at [email protected].
Taryell Simmons: Thank you for joining us on Rise Urban Nation. To our listeners, subscribe, share this episode, and remember: when we control our narrative, we control possibility. Peace.
Dr. Khalid White: Peace.
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