Before I was designing apparel that blends politics with pride, producing digital content that challenges systems, or dreaming up campaigns that make people feel seen, I was just a kid at Tougaloo College with a deep love for learning—and a curiosity that never quite sat still. I was the type of student who asked the follow-up question. The one who stayed after class. The one who genuinely wanted to know not just what something was, but why it was.
That curiosity found a home—and a challenge—in the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC).
HCASC wasn’t just a game. It was a place where Black brilliance was centered, celebrated, and sharpened. It was where I learned that being smart wasn’t something to hide—it was something to lean into. HCASC made intelligence feel competitive and cool. It made knowing things feel like a superpower. And it gave me access to a network of students across the country who were just as hungry to represent their schools and communities on a national stage.
But perhaps more importantly, it taught me how to think across disciplines. To move fluidly from Black history to pop culture, from current events to science, and back again. It taught me to see the connections between things. And in many ways, that’s the heartbeat of creativity—finding the thread that ties seemingly unrelated things together and making something new out of them.
Later, I would return to HCASC as a coach, helping other students tap into their brilliance and confidence. I saw myself in them: eager, uncertain, but full of potential. Coaching and advising reminded me that cultivating Black genius is just as important as expressing it. And that sometimes, all someone needs is permission—to ask the question, to try the answer, to believe that they belong in the room.
That belief stayed with me when I helped to co-found Black With No Chaser. At BWNC, we are committed to curating content that speaks directly to Black people with honesty, intention, and love. We center our work in culture, politics, and community—and we do it our way. My role as Chief Creative and Design Officer isn’t just about making things look good—it’s about making things feel real. Every shirt we print, every frame we edit, every line we write is a chance to remind our people that they matter.
And guess what? I still draw on that same curiosity HCASC encouraged all those years ago. I still read widely. I still ask questions. I still care about getting the details right. Because in a world that often reduces Black men to one-dimensional narratives, I know how powerful it is to be seen as complex, curious, and creative.
Cool, curious, and cultivated. That’s what HCASC gave me. And that’s what I try to give back—through the work I do, the art I create, and the communities we build.
To the students in the HCASC program now: lean all the way in. Ask the follow-up question. Do the extra reading. Find your tribe. These moments will shape you far beyond the buzzer. They might just give you the blueprint for your future.
To the alumni: your journey doesn’t stop at graduation. Whether you’re leading in boardrooms, classrooms, or creative spaces—you are living proof that Black brilliance is infinite and unstoppable. Stay connected, mentor somebody, and continue to be a spark for the next generation.
And to everyone who’s ever felt like being smart wasn’t “cool enough”: I promise you, curiosity is the flex. Let it take you places.