Peace and love once again family. Here is the 5th interview in part 1 of the "Black Legacy" interview series titled "The Black Man Can", where I sent some questions to some brothers I think are doing great things for themselves, their families, their communities, and the world as a whole.
The brother in this article is Jessie Jones. Jessie is what many would call, "a gentle giant." his stature is big, towering even. But his heart? His nature? Heavenly! Jessie, in my opinion, may be one of the most pure-hearted people on the planet. Knowing him about a decade or so, engaging with him in different spaces, I realize he's such a pure dude.
Please remember to leave a comment and then share this article with your friends after reading it yourself. Thank you.
Jessie Jones is an educator and advocate dedicated to uplifting his community. Raised in NYC, he drew inspiration from his father, aunt, and older cousins, shaping his path toward mentorship and service.
With a career focused on supporting individuals on the autism spectrum, Jones has made a lasting impact, previously working with college students before seeking new challenges. Deeply connected to his heritage, he believes understanding history is key to self-discovery and growth.
For Jones, legacy is about action, not just what’s left behind. He empowers young Black men to set clear goals, embrace discipline, and lead with integrity. His vision is one of unity, progress, and self-determination—where Black men take charge of their future and redefine success on their own terms.
Personal Legacy Journey
Q1: Tell us about your upbringing. What early influences shaped who you are today?
A1: I grew up in New York City in and out of the projects in both Manhattan and The Bronx. As far as the early influences that shaped me today I credit my father, my aunt and some of my older cousins, most of which are on my father's side of the family.
Q2: What inspired you to pursue your career path? Were there pivotal moments that changed your direction or perspective?
A2: Well I currently work with kids and adults on the autism spectrum. Before that I was working with students in college. I eventually left the college job due to feeling like I hit the ceiling and needing a whole new challenge.
Q3: Who have been your biggest role models or mentors, and how have they impacted your journey?
A3: Actually my biggest role models are two of my older cousins on my fathers side of the family. One of them is a lawyer and the other is a brain surgeon.
Community Impact and Responsibility
Q4: How has your work contributed to the Black community?
A4: I feel like my work has had a profound positive impact on the black community due to almost all my work experience directly impacting the black community.
Q5: In your opinion, what does Black male leadership look like today, and how can it grow stronger?
A5: It looks like Fathers being leaders in home and the community.
Q6: How do you empower others, particularly younger Black men, to succeed and leavetheir own legacy?
A6: You empower others to succeed and leave their own legacy by empowering yourself to leave your own legacy.
Black Culture and Heritage
Q7: What does Black culture mean to you?
A7: To me Black culture means constant evolution of a person. Constantly digging through history to find out how deep it goes.
Q8: How do you stay connected to your heritage, and why is it important for others to do the same?
A8: How do I stay connected to my heritage? I first had my DNA tested to get the breakdown of all that was within my bloodline. That's the first step. The next step is something that I was already doing as a kid, and that was to constantly ask the elders in my family about my history. Unfortunately, at that time, there was not many answers that I got.
Q9: What does the word "legacy" mean to you as a Black man?
A9: The word Legacy to me means not just what just what you leave behind. But what you did while you did it how you did it.
Vision for the Future
Q10: What are your hopes for the future of the Black community?
A10: My hopes for the future of the Black community is that we stop feeding into negative stereotypes and embarrassing ourselves.
Q11: What advice would you give to young Black men seeking to define their purpose and build a meaningful legacy?
A11: The advice I would give to young Black men seeking to define their purpose is as follows. Get and be very clear about what you want out of life. Don’t play games because you do not have time to waste. Get a plan together. Be so serious about your goals that you literally strike fear into your obstacles. Play to win and play for keeps.
Rapid-Fire Insights
Q12: What is your favorite book or movie about Black excellence?
A12: My favorite book is actually the one I'm reading right now, written by Will Smith his self entitled book. My favorite movies about Black excellence are "Our Friend Martin" and actually "Hotel Rwanda".
Q13: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
A13: The best advice I’ve ever received came from a friend of mine from middle school when she wrote in my yearbook “Remember to do what is right and not what is wrong.”
Q14: What’s one word that describes your legacy so far?
A14: One word that describes my legacy so far is fascinating.
Q15: What is your favorite childhood memory?
A15: My favorite childhood memory it's actually a tie between two memories. One was attempting to drive a bulldozer at my Dad’s construction job. The second one was at Dr. Zizmor’s office hitting the power button thinking it was a playstation 1 console.
Q16: What was your dream as a child?
A16: As a child I dreamt of different things but mostly about being rich. I also dreamt about marine life.
Thank you family for reading another article in this extremely important series, "The Black Man Can", which is just part 1 in a 3 part series. Parts 2 and 3 are gonna be just as good.
Please remember to leave a comment and then share this interview with people in your network. Thanks so much.
Peace & Love,
Lashawn "Suga Ray" Marston
Founder, Lashawn Marston Enterprises
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