Today we’d like to introduce you to Hasani Burton.
Hasani, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
In 2007 after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, focusing on Genetics, from Indiana University, I earned a position as a District Manager with the world’s largest privately owned medical device company. The company gave me a choice between the Detroit District or the Dallas District to manage. For me, the choice was easy. I chose Dallas.
Over several years I became very involved with public service, government and activism in Dallas after I was inspired to by the candidacy of then Senator Barack Obama for the presidency. I served as a Delegate for the Obama Campaign In 2008 to the Texas Democratic State Convention.
In 2009, in honor of my Uncle Tim, who died from HIV/AIDS related complications in the early 90’s, I served in HIV prevention efforts with the organization United Black Ellument. I met a lot of different people in this effort and enjoyed my time serving immensely. Unfortunately, there was one experience that was not pleasant. One night while out with a group of volunteers of the organization passing out condoms and HIV prevention literature, a Dallas Police Officer began to harass the group. He accused us of gang activity merely because we were all wearing Referee shirts. This was part of our prevention marketing tactics mind you. Two volunteers did not take that harassment without speaking up and the officer detained them under a Class C Misdemeanor. This did not require the officer to read the volunteers their Rights or confirm the false charge of Public Intoxication the officer booked the two volunteers under. Not only did those volunteers not have a drink but nighter of them were consumers of alcohol. I was one of those volunteers. I will never forget how someone took a positive effort to empower a community and turned it into an experience of adding me to a system I did not belong in.
In 2011 I decided to dig my roots deep into Dallas. I saw a lot of potential for a future here. I purchased a home in South Dallas. After starting the neighborhood association Bexar St Village Neighborhood Association, I met the late Councilmember Carolyn Davis who appointee me to the Landmark Commission. This changed the nature of my service and involvement in Dallas. I would later become a member of the South Dallas Fair Park Opportunity Fund Grant Committee, where we funded fatherhood initiatives, after school programs, HIV prevention programs and even the Parkland Clinic at Hatcher Village Station. Encouraged by time on the Opportunity Fund, I ran a campaign for Dallas City Council in 2015. I ultimately lost this campaign. However, the experience gave me a greater view of what is possible for our communities.
A few months after the campaign in November 2015, a drunk driver drove down the off ramp of the I-20 freeway while I was headed to Shreveport and ran into my vehicle head on. The collision shattered both my ankles, my knee, my wrists, caused a Traumatic Brain Injury and I even had to be resuscitated during surgery.
I lost my career as a District Manager. However, in 2016, I began plans for a lifelong dream, I had a founded Kemet Inspired Media LLC. The company’s first Graphic Novel titled ELEMENT: In The Beginning, was published in 2018.
In 2019 after much consideration of encouragement by friends and community members and having refined my vision for a more progressive, equitable society into a platform called the #ADOS Agreement, I registered to run for the United States Congress. In 2020 I have lived in Dallas, TX, longer than any other city of my life and consider 2020 my “True Texan Year.”
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My first struggles were moving away from the Midwest to Dallas, where I had no family or friends and being unsure where life was taking me. For the first year, I was depressed until I volunteered for the Obama Campaign.
My next struggles were genuinely wanting to revitalize my South Dallas neighborhood but losing my campaign for Dallas City Council. I thought it was a rejection of my efforts.
My greatest struggle was overcoming the bodily injury, emotional damage and the doubt of my own existence in my spirit after a drunk driver ran into me head on while I was traveling on the freeway. I truly thought I was worthless and it was the first time I ever came close to giving up on doing my part to progress equity in society. This, too, I overcame.
Tell us about Kemet Inspired Media LLC.
Kemet Inspired Media LLC is a multimedia company that is still in it’s infancy conceptually. The goal is to not only do literature, online streaming content, tv programming, music, movies and more but also nurture entrepreneurship in the arts for youths locally and across the nation. We are most proud of publishing the Graphic Novel ELEMENT: At The Beginning in 2018. However, we are most excited about purchasing commercial property at 2734 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd intersecting with Malcolm X in 2019. This property, once a run down liquor store that was a blight on the community, will be renovated in the next few years into a creative media hub and beacon of progress for the community. More information about the vision can be seen at TheKemetRising.com.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I have the tenacity and a sense of perseverance that honestly surprises me at times. There have been many times throughout my life where it would be easier to “just give up.” It would be simple to “just not care.” I’ve sometimes thought to myself, “someone else will do it.” However, every time I get to such a place, it isn’t long before something in me says, “never give up”. Or “I’ll always care.” Or “you are someone.” Then I’m right back to build on progress.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2734 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd intersecting with Malcolm X.
Dallas, TX 75215 - Website: KemetComics.com
- Email: KemetInspiredMediaLLC@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kemetcomics/?hl=en
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/kemetcomics?lang=en
- Other: TheKemetRising.com
Image Credit:
Hasani Burton
Koi Turnbull
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