In late 2017, I was reading to my 8-month-old son and searching for a book that told an everyday story featuring a Black boy. I took inventory of our home library, hoping to find a book, but I came up empty. That moment sparked something in me. Instead of waiting for someone else to write it, I created my own. Black Boy Joy was published in 2018, followed by additional books in 2020 and 2022. But after publishing that first book, I realized I wanted to produce more than a single story, and I wanted to do my part to change the narratives placed on Black boys through the eyes of their mothers.
In addition to my role as a mother, I began my journey in urban education in August 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic, the state-sanctioned murder of George Floyd, and my responsibilities as the 95th Anniversary President of the Junior League of Charlotte all shaped my perspective. At the same time, I was the only Black leader in my corporate consulting firm’s office. These layered identities of mother, scholar, leader, and advocate were constantly at play, yet I struggled to integrate them. I compartmentalized my experiences, trying to leverage my expertise without fully embracing the power of my intersectional lens.
Enrolling in the Master’s in Urban Education with a certificate in Anti-Racism gave me the confidence to name my experiences, articulate my perspectives with clarity and conviction, and embrace my identity as a thought leader through my Racial Identity journey. It equipped me with the tools to critically examine systemic inequities and develop strategies for change by learning the History of Racism. I learned how to research, analyze, and construct arguments that disrupt deficit-based narratives about Black boys in America from Race and Education in Schooling and Anti-Racism Activism . More importantly, I learned to stand in my own truth after completing my Action Research Project.
Graduating in May 2022 with a five-year-old and a nine-month-old, I was so proud of myself for completing this step of my journey in the midst of the other priorities I was balancing. Although I had achieved what I set out to do, I kept thinking, “I’m not finished yet.” That led me to apply for the doctoral program, which I began in August 2023.
The doctoral journey has provided me the clarity and confidence to own my multidisciplinary identity. I understand how applying that lens to my work allows me to research authentically. In 2024, three pivotal moments solidified this realization:
Through these experiences, I have embraced every facet of my expertise—whether speaking at international conferences, serving as a keynote speaker, or engaging in panel discussions. I have realized that my work is not confined to one space; rather, it blends data, advocacy, and storytelling to drive meaningful conversations about education, equity, and systemic change.
Through a multidisciplinary lens, I center the voices of Black mothers and explore how data-driven insights and lived experiences can shape more inclusive and effective educational systems. My research aims to challenge deficit-based narratives by highlighting the strengths, agency, and strategies employed by Black mothers in navigating educational spaces. After completing the Professional Seminar and Grant Writing, I have taken steps to expand my organization, Me3 Project to have a 501c3 component. I have also started to build out my consulting business, AG Advisory Services and have had 2 paid engagements in 2025.
My work is rooted in qualitative methodologies and critical theoretical frameworks that allow me to amplify the experiences of marginalized communities. I am committed to researching, publishing, and sharing findings in ways that inform policy, elevate discourse, and drive action. This commitment is reflected in my ongoing research projects, articles, and book chapters.
As a mother scholar, my research, advocacy, and academic pursuits are deeply intertwined with my lived experiences as a Black mother navigating educational spaces for my children. My commitment to motherwork extends beyond personal advocacy aimed at amplifying the voices of Black mothers. Through my roles as an Adjunct Professor, podcast host, and Board member, I bridge the gap between theory and practice. Additionally, as a mother scholar, I am working on a plan to convene Black mothers on an annual basis to discuss the state of education for our children and the impact of our collective voice on urban education reform.
I want to reshape the narrative around what it means to be an engaged Black parent in the education system. My work challenges assumptions, elevates Black families’ experiences, and offers actionable solutions that create more inclusive, affirming, and equitable learning environments.
As I continue in this program, I remain forever grateful for the professors, mentors, and peers who have challenged and stretched me. Their support has strengthened my commitment to asset-based research and advocacy for all Black children who deserves for the world to see them through the eyes of their mother: brilliant, capable, and full of limitless potential.