Chance Lewis shares his au-some journey raising his son, Justin. M.O.B.B. United presents — The Spectrum of Fatherhood on The NEW Talk: For Moms of Black Boys! We are sharing the everyday ebb and flow of life raising a son on the spectrum as we challenge the perceptions many have about raising an exceptional child.

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Being a mom of black sons gives me no option but to live in integrity,authenticity and with an intentionality that other moms might not understand. My sons will always know that no matter how old they are, their mom shows up for and honors their life, their talents, their character, their humanity and existence, which upholds our legacy as a family.

I’m passionate about finding ways to educate and develop our youth into becoming the best versions of themselves. When presented the opportunity to co-lead the MS chapter for MOBB United, I was elated. An organization that connect the youth with fun engaging activities is a great addition to this community. It’s a privilege to contribute to the MU family.

My Sonshine, Landon, is the driving force for my involvement with Moms of Black Boys United. I love that MOBB United provides support on both a national and local level for not only my son but for me as well. The safe space to share my personal experiences as a "boy mom" with a diverse network of boy moms who understand the highs and lows of raising a black son in the world we live in today, and can offer advice based on their lived experiences or to simply be a listening ear is invaluable. I believe that we are stronger together, so I'm thankful to have been chosen to help bring this amazing organization to Mississippi. I'm excited about all of the "black boy joy" that will come from this new chapter. 

I am a Black, Blue Mom of three, with two sons. I was motivated to proactively find Community stakeholders who would present a platform to bridge the gaps between the police and the people. My goal is to protect my sons while simultaneously presenting the challenges faced by my colleagues in blue, which is a delicate balance.

My background did not lend itself to racial diversity when it came to African American and Black history and culture, nor do I live in a particularly diverse area. When I had my Black son, I was determined to make sure he was exposed to his heritage and culture. Moms of Black Boys United was my first step to ensure he would be surrounded by women and kids who look like him. What I found was so much more. I found a family of women who advocate for each other, support one another, fight for each other's sons, lead their communities, speak on national issues, engage in research, formulate educated opinions, and create spaces hospitable for all people. When my son began facing challenges with his school, MOBB United was there in full force, backing me up, and guiding my steps to ensure he had an equal shake. I have found a community of people who care as much about my son as I care about theirs. Moms of Black Boys United was an incredible surprise and an even more spectacular gift, one that I cannot wait to share with others.

I've been a lifetime member of MOBBUnited since July, 2016. As a Mom of 2 plus a bonus son, all young adults now, I am especially aware of the struggle to advocate for them on a daily basis. I know for sure that my sonshines' light has been affected by the weight of "living while Black" in America. They have attended too many funerals and not enough weddings. I've had to deal with school officials, athletic coaches and other parents showing implicit bias.  Through my work with MOBB United, I can convert my frustration with a broken system to help change the perception of our Black boys and men. I love developing ideas and  creative campaigns with intentional imagery using faces and voices that get our follower's attention.  I can also participate in action-oriented steps like rallies, special events and voter registration campaigns that allow me to do more than post a quote about a trending hashtag on social media. With the 501 c3 and c4 working together, we continue to push the narrative in a positive direction, one accomplishment at a time. 

As a mom of Black sons, I am proud to be a part of the change needed to make this world a better place for them to live and thrive.

My why is a result of my unwavering and increasing fear, frustration, and anger of being a mother, daughter, significant other, sister, aunt, and cousin to black boys and men in this country who are mistreated by law enforcement and/or perceived to be criminals by others solely based on the color of their skin. 

In 2016 I found myself fighting alone. My son was nine years old and facing health challenges when he had his first police contact in his elementary school. I felt helpless as I saw the fear in my son's eyes. In his life there was so much I could not control, and now I could not control how the school was hurting him. I was in the middle of fighting, trying to preserve the hope in my son's eyes, the joy he once had when I was added to a group of women who were screaming the same thing. MOBB United gave me a place to turn my outrage into action and I felt less alone.

I have watched this world incrementally dim the light from my son's eyes. Trying to restore the glow and remind him of his greatness is why I am still here.

My two sons deserve to thrive, receive grace, love, peace, joy, and to have a future free of harm!

While living in Los Angeles I began marching with BLM, and fighting for justice.  At the same time, I was editor of a news outlet where I learned about the "system" of incarceration.  So I helped garner visibility of unfair cases online.  To this day, my passion for the safety and well-being of our boys and young men continues.  

The short answer is - Because I don't want my son to have to give his children and grandchildren 'The TALK'. 

The longer answer is that this organization is special. The work we do is vital and hard... filled with vicarious grief. The women MOBB United has attracted as leaders and volunteers are skilled, passionate, caring, and deeply committed to our mission. The sisterhood, friendships, and community of support we've created since we came together in 2016 is unlike anything I've experienced before. It sustains me in the work, and I am proud to be part of this group.

Being a mom of black sons gives me no option but to live in integrity,authenticity and with an intentionality that other moms might not understand. My sons will always know that no matter how old they are, their mom shows up for and honors their life, their talents, their character, their humanity and existence, which upholds our legacy as a family.

I've been a lifetime member of MOBBUnited since July, 2016. As a Mom of 2 plus a bonus son, all young adults now, I am especially aware of the struggle to advocate for them on a daily basis. I know for sure that my sonshines' light has been affected by the weight of "living while Black" in America. They have attended too many funerals and not enough weddings. I've had to deal with school officials, athletic coaches and other parents showing implicit bias.  Through my work with MOBB United, I can convert my frustration with a broken system to help change the perception of our Black boys and men. I love developing ideas and  creative campaigns with intentional imagery using faces and voices that get our follower's attention.  I can also participate in action-oriented steps like rallies, special events and voter registration campaigns that allow me to do more than post a quote about a trending hashtag on social media. With the 501 c3 and c4 working together, we continue to push the narrative in a positive direction, one accomplishment at a time. 

I want my sons to survive and thrive.