Discover Black Boy Joy in the Classroom

First Impressions and the African American Male: A Guide to Experiencing the Truth about Little Brother

Are you an educator or mentor with middle-school age Black boys under your care? Read and share this guide with colleagues for cultural context and classroom activities:

https://amzn.to/3TZxssP

The topic is love. The lessons are many.

First Impressions and the African American Male: A Guide to Experiencing the Truth about Little Brother, the curriculum companion to the award-winning Little Brother film series, opens the discussion into life as a Black boy in the United States. Contributions from educators include classroom and group exercises for both teachers and students.

Little Brother is a documentary series filmed in chapters, produced by Nicole Franklin and J. Tiggett. Each 15-minute chapter gives voice to African American males ages nine through 13 who reside in different regions of the United States.

Music on this link: Christian Simmons

First Impressions...Our Love of Black Boys

Having a ball writing on the weekends. Until my next release, I thought, why not release my master's thesis in the meantime on my Amazon Author Page? I read it through recently and it still stands--the joy, the pain (and personal pain) and the inevitable. For those who want to connect more with Black male youth in your classrooms or environments, please give this guide a read and a share--especially, if like me, you love James Baldwin. Thank you, Drs. Raymond Winbush and Jeff Menzies for the forward. Thank you, J. Tiggett for the #film journey! And to all of the Little Brothers who made these chapters (and beyond) possible, you are truly, truly loved. Please click the link to "Follow" my Amazon Author Page, choose First Impressions and the African American Male: A Guide to Experiencing the Truth about Little Brother and read on #Kindle for FREE! #BlackBoys #AfricanAmericanMales #AfricanAmerican #Author #ThisIsAmerica #LittleBrother amazon.com/author/nicolefranklin

Little Brother film guide

New Gig! Let's go!

Week one down. Grateful for the opportunity to work for an institution that serves so many. Honored that Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has entrusted me with the Director of Communications role. Let's go, Team. Thank you to everyone who helped me get here! Go, Cougars! #SIUE

#UrbanWarriors for #STL

Even though I've moved on from City Hall, I'm really proud of the Mayor's Youth Cabinet my colleagues and I formed this past summer under the direction of Vernon Mitchell. Lakesha Robinson, Nashad Carrington and an impressive roster of guest speakers really brought their A game to some very impressive teens. These bright #UrbanWarriors (they came up with the cool name!) really wowed Mayor Tishaura Jones today. Well done, All! I'm thrilled to continue volunteering with this pilot program. We're building an information network where Civics is the focus--teen to teen. #STL #UrbanConservation

Forks, Spoons and A Revolution?

You read that correctly. LISTEN to our audio drama, The Forks, by writer/director Myra Sito Velasquez and enjoy a unique take on table manners—from the utensils themselves! It’s wild…it’s kooky…it’s political…and fun! Kudos to the actors who had a ball on the mic. And a big shoutout to our engineers, editor and composer. We recorded The Forks right out of COVID and had the best feeling when we wrapped: This one is a winner. We indeed have won one award and look forward to more! Check us out on Spotify by clicking here. Great job, Team! #ProudProducer

Photo by Daryl Tillman

A Fun Film Chat with the Gals

So awesome when friends invite you on their show and you just chat it up! Wait a minute. This is the morning of the day I started having COVID symptoms and went into the ER the following evening….uuggghhh. But look how well Sherri Pullum puts her guests at ease! Thanks, Sherri, for inviting me hang out with you and your fantastic production team! #WomenInFilm #SeeHerNow #IndieFilm #Directing

A Return to the Piano?

Maybe for me someday soon. But for those who miss those mandatory childhood lessons and want to get back to a routine, hone their skills or just relish in the ability to provide pure enjoyment for yourself or those within listening range, my Mom is still teaching. Adults preferred at this time. Want to give it a try? Give us a call!

Reparations and More BEFORE YOU GO

While our BEFORE YOU GO podcast is on hiatus until we reveal Phase 2 in 2024, we are sharing clips with our historic guests on both our PINTEREST and YOUTUBE channels. Please click on, relive some memories and share, share, share. And please check out our full episodes by CLICKING HERE on BEFOREYOUGO.TV!

In this clip, the late Rep. John Conyers responds to the anticipation that must have occurred with proposed reparations bill, HR40, during the election of President Barack Obama, the nation’s first Black president. Let’s listen in—and share!

Employee Appreciation Day -- Appreciated?

Employee Appreciation Day has passed but hopefully this weekend those who were appreciated publicly or privately at work are still celebrating!

I try to make sure this special day stays on the calendar for all who love our indie film TITLE VII—the story of the worst display of employee appreciation to exist. And we’re proud of it. TITLE VII brings all harassment incidents to the forefront in a very fun film filled with debauchery.

For those who do not have so much fun at work—and for good reason!—are you looking for a place to vent? Please share here in the comments. We would love to hear from you. Let us be a sounding board. TITLE VII gets plenty of people talking!

Want to screen our film? See where BY CLICKING HERE. We stream on kweliTV and if you’re not a member of the streaming channel you’ll have plenty of time to sign up to screen it for free!

In the meantime, we want to share Scene 12 from the film. This scene is our intro of disruptor Darryl Montgomery, which comes after a very intense introduction to the film with our lead badass CEO, Hillary Kelsey.

TITLE VII is a rollercoaster of a ride. One bad day the office, where CEO Kelsey runs the show, turns everyone's world upside down. And it starts with the meeting of two alpha personalities with an agenda who end up in an epic battle. One will lose. Or--in the workplace of Sanger International--will this be a losing bet for all involved?

For those who have watched our film, here are five questions:

1) Prior to this scene, what had just occurred that caused Hillary Kelsey's knees to appear soaking wet?

2) Word has probably traveled, that Ms. Kelsey does not hire Black employees other than herself. So how does Daryl Montgomery come to interview at Sanger International in the first place?

3) Does Ms. Kelsey ever get her new assistant Cathy's name correct?

4) Who is "the Asian guy"?

5) Were Hillary and Michael ever "a thing"?

Directed by me, Nicole Franklin, please visit TITLE VII and support all cast and crew ON OUR CINE PAGE.

Thanks to the team, we have an award-winning film and one for which those who dissect workplace culture will remember forever. #TITLEVIIFilm #WomenInFilm #EmployeeAppreciationDay #NationalBossDay

Walking is Working!

And I’m walking while I work! I have a new gig and whenever I have a chance to take those minimum 2,000 steps per day I promised myself, I take them. Why? Well, I’m walking for $5 swim lessons at our Bayer YMCA!

Will you help me in my quest to save lives? Children—especially African American children who have to search far and wide for affordable lessons—should not die by preventable tragedies such as drowning. Let’s change that.

I’m working really hard to keep up my end of the bargain. Please CLICK HERE to contribute any amount (we take small change!) that you can. I’ll keep walkin’! Let’s go!!

Los Angeles Is Calling the Crypto Curious

When the #LosAngeles Urban League calls and asks if you would talk about #digitalcurrency as part of their Black wealth series, I say, "Time to profit, and help others--with crypto"! 

Join us for the workshop "Crypto, Cash In or Cash Out?" on Thursday, April 13, 2023 @ 6pmPST! Sign up here and Zoom in from around the globe! We'll answer all your questions and set you up for a #giveaway!! And if you know anything about me, I'm all about the giving so everyone benefits, especially our less fortunate. See you there!

#BWAARP #BlackWealth #BlackWealthAttainmentAndRetentionProgram

Let's Walk to Make Things Right

I’ve got a Bayer YMCA fundraising page! I'm a proud Board Member of this Y in the heart of St. Louis, MO. Because of our donors, children in the neighborhood have access to life-saving swimming lessons, for only $5 for the entire course!

I've taken the course--it rocks!

I really enjoy building up my ability to swim laps back and forth (Whew! What a workout!), but now I have to get back to those 10,000 steps per day. I've gotta build up to it, though. How about 2,000 steps per day to start? I'll keep going till I reach $1k in donations. Sound good? Would you be able to give your $5 gift today? Please CLICK HERE to donate. Let's go!

Swimming Backwards

That’s what happened this past weekend. I’m up to three laps—fully from shallow end to deep end—then suddenly this last outing I felt like I lost my kick. When I swim sideways it’s there. Head-on, it’s gone.

The lifeguard says, “That happens! But you’re still doing great!” I still fear the deep end, though, and slightly panic.

As I’ve written on this site in previous posts, I’m a newbie in 6ft territory. And I’ve started stretching at home again in hopes of being able to reach my toes comfortably (from years of neglect, which shames the former dancer in me) and building up my stamina. Thankfully, I feel longer (??). But I think the way I hold my body changed, though. I just couldn’t figure out how to maneuver my laps this last time.

I also have to trust myself—trust my kick! I’ll be back at it in about 48 hours. I want to work my way up to five laps and then 10 by end of March. Swimming takes a lot of energy, focus and strategy. CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT MY PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS. Walking is much easier, but I’m enjoying the challenge since starting my fear of water lessons just last June. I think I still am enjoying it… Have any of you ever lost ground in the world of water?