Jamial Black

Background

About Jamial Black

Throughout history, we’ve learned that it truly takes a village, patience, and a lifetime commitment to fulfill the calling of community leadership. My journey as a first-generation scholar, educator, and advocate has been guided by this truth. For over a decade, I’ve served in educational roles from the East to the West Coast, always with a focus on equity, voice, and possibility. My late uncle, Dr. C. George C. Debnam, a pioneering physician and community leader, instilled in me the belief that leadership is service—and that healing, education, and justice must walk together. As Founder & Executive Director of Roots of Wisdom Scholars, I lead culturally grounded programs that provide mental health support, mentorship, and academic empowerment for middle and high school students—especially students of color navigating systems that too often fail them. I also work nationally with groups like Profound Gentlemen and the Center for Black Educator Development, building spaces for Black male educators to thrive. Whether through my published op-eds on education and racial justice, or my daily work in communities, I remain committed to being a voice, a bridge, and a solution to the challenges our students face. My philosophy is simple: enable, inspire, and uplift young learners of color to find power in their voices, discernment in their actions, and purpose in their lives. Founder & Executive Director, Roots of Wisdom Scholars Public Voices Fellow & Published Op-Ed Writer Honored with the Dr. Andrew A. Best Trailblazer Award, Segal AmeriCorps Education Award & national fellowships