And Still Champion is much more than an anthology about individual achievement and overcoming insurmountable odds. These stories are confessionals from seven men who invite us into the harsh, challenging, and sometimes bitter realities that Black men choose and are sometimes forced to navigate. The use of the word champion is intentional. The Hebrew translation depicts a mighty man . The proto-Germanic and English language describe someone who fights on another’s behalf, someone chosen to represent a group of people and an ongoing winner in a game or contest. It is the testament of each man, that after all they’ve endured, they can still lift their hands in victory. Though they each muster strength to rise again, we witness the intervention of family, friends, and even strangers that make their emergence possible.
This work exposes the truth most aren’t willing to tell; the kind of real talk that captures the raw existence that characterizes their upbringing. And what each man discovers along the way is that God is in the details, orchestrating a path to purpose. Exploitation, criminal behavior, reckless living, and bad choices are not always the end of the road. Sometimes our darkest moments lead to divine encounters that alter the trajectory of our lives. These narratives celebrate the endurance of flawed Black men anchored in an abiding faith. There are no facades.
What you read is what you get. Real Men. Real Talk. And Still Champion.
Foreword Excerpt by Sekou Laidlow
With the benefit of hindsight, each contributor to this pivotal work understands the value of controlling their narrative. In each essay, you will discover a common theme that permeates every stage and each choice that plays out in the journey to a fully realized humanity - the quest to be seen, heard, and affirmed. Whether it be childhood neglect, pursuing wealth at any cost, or the depths we are willing to go to garner mere respect, they all rotate on the axis of these three needs. From childhood to adulthood, we witness each man closing the gap between the myths that have come to suffocate their existence and the stories that authentically reflect their humanity. Between these pages, the frustration of proving we are more than what is perceived comes into perspective. Life’s humility tempers the consuming hatred that dictates the pain we inflict on those we love. Each man discovers the limitations of the will and reconciles with the process of the journey.
