When people ask me “Who are you?” My answer is always the same in this wonderful time of self-identification. I am a 56-year-old, heterosexual/binary African American Male happily married to an African American 52-year-old woman with three teenage boys.

In short, I am Black and definitely involved in “Black Love.

After that brief bio, I continue. First and foremost, I’m a Husband and Father. I’m a Story-teller. I'm an Actor (see my TV, Film and Stage credits on IMDB, Backstage, Actors Access and Mandy). I'm an up-and coming Stunt Man. I'm a Pod caster. I'm an Acting Consultant (I don't like the word teacher). I love my Facebook and LinkedIn page bio, "A Creative Dude doing Creative Things.”

The next question always seems to come almost effortlessly. “…well what represents you…” I always smile enormously at this because it tells a lot about my questioner. So I ask, “May I proceed?” The answer to this is not so unexpected. I am in a major part (about 60%) represented by my Military career, my love for my wife and for my kids.

The rest falls in line with my Creative Influences that somehow seemed in-grained into my psyche and holistic being. I am represented in some way by those I follow or think about in an out-of-this world sense; like Ava Duvernay, like Jay Z., like Fifty, Gina Yasheer, Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Sidney Pointier, Childish Gambino and Shakespeare.

I am represented in small parts by the mind of Quentin Tarantino, by the roles of Giancarlo Esposito, by the power in Bruce Lee (“Be like Water”). I am represented by the music I enjoy; Lady Antebellum, Eminem and Casting Crowns. I like Rascal Flatts and The Voice. I like Idris Elba and Hamilton: The Musical. In fact, one day I will helm the role of George Washington.

One day I will helm the lead role of The Phantom in “The Phantom of the Opera.” I am represented by the song “I hope you Dance” and Billy Crystal’s Broadway show “700 Hundred Sundays”. I’m repped by the madness of the titular character Macbeth and the slur in the way that Sir Anthony Hopkins (Hannibal Lechter) says “…Fava Beans…” to Clarice.

As a Film-maker and Content Creator, I’m inspired by Jason Bates’ Ozark (seen him work in person as a BG on an episode in Season 1). I’m inspired by Jay Z and Gina Yasheer (“Bob Hearts Abishola” (I auditioned for the role for the role of the Uncle and sadly I didn’t get it).I’m inspired by Ava Duvernay. Did you see “Queen Sugar”? I’m inspired by Lin-Manuel Miranda and others like Tarantino.

I’m inspired by the Sam Hunt song, “Body like a Back Road” and The Art of Noise song, “Moments in Love” and the every single conversation that President Barack Obama had with then Late Night TV Host David Letterman. David inspires me to this day with his new Netflix show “My Next Guest”. I am inspired by Nas, Jermaine Dupree and Montell Jordan.

I am quietly inspired by Emmett Till who super-charged a Nation posthumously. In fact, I have a created a Superhero movie with a dedication to Emmett. It says simply, “Rest in peace now, we got this.” The Super-villain is a combination of J.W. Milam and Roy Bryant (Till’s Murderers).

I thrive in Creative Environments because I am determined to. I have made a choice that “There is no surrender. I will either live free (creatively) or I will die."

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