How have the Arts impacted your life?
At an early age I grew to love all genres of music. One of my elementary school teachers exposed me to classical music and I have loved it ever since. But in the same vein it allows me to have an even greater appreciation for the awesome talent and creativity of today’s Hip-Hop/Rap and R&B artists. Additionally, my appreciation for the Arts has been a positive force to aid my understanding of science and math.
Tell us about 5J Entertainment.
5J Entertainment is committed to educating, informing, entertaining and promoting positive images through various forms of media. We believe in exploring the little-known stories and unknown narratives that are unheard, unknown and in some cases distorted or misunderstood. Our goal is to provide a higher understanding of the culture and factors that create those narratives.
5J Entertainment is a visionary company working to bring encouragement and inspiration to audiences through storytelling, utilizing history, facts, data and vivid imagery.
What value does the Arts bring to our young people?
The Arts provide tremendous exposure and opportunities for our young people, while unleashing their amazing creativity. New experiences provided by the Arts are invaluable and in many cases life-changing. I firmly believe the quality of our society, culture and our way of life directly correlate to our appreciation of the various elements of Art. The Arts change minds and hearts while providing hope to so many who might otherwise be lost.
What inspired the documentary “What About Me”?
The impetus behind What About Me was born out of a burning desire and sense of responsibility to inspire and expose African American Men to the indomitable power, spirit and will they possess.
What About Me is a riveting look into the experience of African American Men and their history in America. Black men and boys have endured extreme racism and prejudice in every aspect of their lives from, economics, jobs, politics and even social existence to this very day. Yet, we are still succeeding. However, the struggle continues and our stories, emotions and traumas need to be explored, heard and discussed.
It is extremely important for us to tell the stories and control our narratives of many rarely seen and untold stories of black men and boys. This documentary looks to inspire, connect and encourage black men to remain strong and seek out each other to bond and unleash their ideas, creativity and wonderful talents. Oftentimes in America, we see a narrative from our media of young Black males that is all too unflattering. Their hopes, dreams and aspirations have been muted…Until now.
What About Me is a catalyst for African American men today to share their stories and conversations while preparing a roadmap and trailblazing a path for those young men following in our footsteps. Our men and boys are looking for leadership, mentors and strategies to help them navigate the many challenges they will face in their lives as African Americans.
What other stories do you plan on creating and why?
We are dedicated to transformative ideas and embracing innovation to tap into the hearts, minds and souls of individuals to provide greater understanding and acceptance while bringing people together. Ultimately, we want to be the North Star and play a role to show the path forward through our work. One of our goals will be to tell the untold stories about individuals and bring history to life related to the experiences of African Americans in this country. Truly understanding history is so important to a people and their culture as they contemplate the future.
How do you process the racism in the industry?
It is important to understand the broader picture and then seek to break that picture into smaller pieces so that a strategy for action can be formed. This approach prevents you from becoming overwhelmed by such a daunting task. However, you can start to take action and introduce new tactics to achieve wins. It is also important to come together and gain allies.
What advice do you have for young men today?
Young men should seek as much knowledge and education as they can along with becoming self-aware. It is very important for them to pursue their dreams. But it also okay to ask for help and it is okay to seek out mentors to help them in their quest to succeed. Young men should do everything in their power to be prepared for this rapidly changing world.
How do we follow you?
IG – @d.john_jackson
Twitter – @DJohnjackson
FB – D John Jackson
Short Biography:
D. John Jackson is the Founder, Owner and Principal of 5J Entertainment which will be releasing the ground breaking documentary entitled, “What About Me”. Jackson is the co-creator and executive producer of the documentary.
He is a proven strategist and futurist with a wide-ranging background and comprehensive global experience including being a distinguished lecturer and motivational speaker on a broad range of topics from leadership, history, science, engineering and emerging technologies to global economics and teamwork while also being a corporate executive of a Fortune 100 company.
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