Today we’d like to introduce you to Chuka Akpom.
Hi Chuka, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
Two years into my time in Dallas, coming out of what had been the darkest period of my life, I found myself examining our culture and particularly the state of manhood. What I witnessed was that many of us men (like myself) are socialized against experiencing the healing power of our vulnerability and seeking out the spaces that facilitate that. We’re often asked to compromise our humanity, forsaking our mental and emotional needs in order to exist within the guardrails that society has set forth, which handicaps us and our ability to learn and grow. I experienced this firsthand and started Renaissance Man Book Club to create a space for us men to grow in community, challenging ourselves and each other by way of literature in hopes that we may self-actualize through this journey.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s been tough trying to materialize a vision out of thin air. I have many people that believe in what I’m trying to create and have freely lent their time and talents to bring the vision to life but it’s challenging trying to lead a team through unchartered waters, asking people to follow you when you don’t exactly know where you’re going. There isn’t a clear roadmap or example that I can follow; it’s literally all faith and vibes. As much of a planner as I am, there’s just certain things that I can’t predict or control. With that said, I’ve had to trust God in a way that I never have before and believe that every hurdle is meant for edification and not disruption.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
Renaissance Man Book Club is a Dallas-Based 501c3 nonprofit focused on bridging the gap between academia and entertainment surrounding the holistic wellness of black men. What that means is we’re trying to make “self-work” dope and culturally relevant. Barbershop Talk is where this mission fully manifests. This is our quarterly signature event where we repurpose the concept of the “barbershop” to serve as a place of healing in community by way of literature. The event is a free book-based discussion for black men in partnership with BLACKLIT Bookstore where we provide free haircuts, food, and haircare products all in collaboration with other black-owned businesses. Through this event we also invite local therapists to be a part of the conversation and highlight local artists and poets to showcase their work and expand their audiences with people whom their craft directly relates to. We piloted this event in November 2022 and are excited to evolve it into a Dallas staple.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Building out a vision is an iterative process, and you have to give yourself the grace to allow that. I still feel like I’m at the beginning of my journey, so that’s something I try to remind myself. On a similar note, I’ve had to learn to pace myself and my expectations. I’m a big thinker and have seen what this business looks like at full scale, but it takes time to get there, and I can’t expect people to see it as such without having seen it as such. I’m learning to embrace the time it takes to get there…wherever “there” is because it’s in that time that the internal growth is occurring, and the foundation is being laid. I’ve come to realize that success and longevity of your business depends on the foundation that supports it, so this part of the journey can’t be rushed.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranbookclub/
Image Credits
Derek Edwards
Keith Miller
