Meet Johnnie Moultrie | Published Author, Activist, Mentor, Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Johnnie Moultrie and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Johnnie, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Success, a way for me to measure my goals, and plans to present a phenomenal ending to what was worked so hard for. I don’t think about the now, but the future. What haven’t I accomplished yet, and what do I want to accomplish. This is what goes though my mind when someone ask me about success. I’m almost there but i’m just getting started! My process, my drive, my motivation is what I determine my success. Was the time I took to establish these concrete ideas another successful stepping stone to my desired outcome. What Black Boys Need within itself encompasses a variety of brands that span across so many platforms. The book BLACK: Building Legacies and Creating Kingdoms became one of my biggest projects I’ve worked on which I would consider successful in another step of me getting to where I would like to see myself. What made that a HIT was the story I decided to tell behind the title. I let down barriers, I let my guard down, I was willing and able to tell the story many people were afraid to do. I stopped caring what people thought and started writing. My brand became my story, my legacy, and what is now my success.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Power, determination, and drive are all words to describe the force behind what I do as a young author originally from New Jersey. Most commonly known as Johnnie D., the dream of getting my voice out and speaking to others with confidence and strong will has always been a priority of mine. Attending North Carolina A&T State University provided opportunities to prepare a platform of cultural acceptance and equality in a world where the American Dream unfortunately meant you were not a person of color in an ever changing society, and your career status was based on what you looked like, where you came from, and the social class you belong to. With experience, I learned what it meant to be aware of cultural and societal differences birthing What Black Boys Need, the podcast, apparel, YouTube network, and book. What Black Boys Need and BLACK:Building Legacies and Creating Kingdoms both are a conversation piece about giving our black kings and queens hope in the midst of hate, bravery in the midst of brutality, and a higher expectation in the midst of envy. It’s more than a podcast, it’s more than a brand, it’s a lifestyle. A life dedicated to finding the importance of change. As I continue to write my life story, I have dedicated my life to bridging the gap and understanding the racial inequalities of the world, and building a cultural structure to withstand the force that goes against the power of African American success.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If you want to experience the best time, it’s a must we start out at Fin & Feathers for brunch. Fin & Feathers is a local Atlanta restaurant that offers the best experience starting when you walk in the door. As soon as you enter, it’s vibe and it goes down. From there we’re going to head to Piedmont Park for music festival fun! This is where we can eat more, socialize with local friends, and get more a family vibe while just enjoying each others company. Then comes a day party and experience fun in the sun. The day parties take everything to the next level because it’s where we get a chance to let loose and really engage with a variety of people from every walk of life. After the day party we head to hang with some friends and get a spades tournament together. Laughing, playing, and slamming cards on tables and watching them spin. We then get ready to eat dinner at The BQE Restaurant & Lounge and head out for a night out on the town.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate this Shoutout to my family, and all my What Black Boys Need kinfolk! Everyone counts in this one. I’ve played such an impactful role on so many young people and even adults that as i look back on the journey that has gotten me to where I am today, it’s nearly impossible to narrow it down to one person, or even group at that. The same way I find myself pouring into people, they pour into me. I remember telling the story of how my organization got started. It was the words of a first grader that wanted his voice to be heard, his actions to be uplifted, and in his mind he didn’t want to appear like a short person who was overlooked. That meant a lot to me because I took on that responsibility to be his outlet. To be the voice of all young black kings to scream out YOU ARE SEEN! YOU ARE HEARD! My family taught me how to use my voice. My mom, dad, sister, brother, cousins, aunts, and uncles all saw something in me that lead me to believing in myself. Every interaction, every conversation was about getting to the top. They taught me to never stop, stay hungry, stick with your plans and follow your dreams. No matter how wild they are. When I took that leap of faith, the world saw a drive in me that was unstoppable. Shoutout to God! That was a God given thing.

Website: https://www.whatblackboysneed.com

Instagram: @officialjohnnied

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnie-moultrie-45a54470/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnnie.moultrie

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAPi83sb5QfE1aW5DrjbS3Q

Other: Buy BLACK: Building Legacies and Creating Kingdoms https://tinyurl.com/mrxhhd9j Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Johnnie-D-Moultrie/e/B09M26G4L4/ref=aufs_dp_fta_dsk

Image Credits
Ronald Smith of RDotSmith Photography