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Destyn Land
Write. Teach. Inspire.
I always thought something was wrong with me.
I grew up in Saint Paul, MN, in the historically Black Rondo neighborhood. From a young age, I always felt different. Unlike many of the boys, I didn't enjoy rough play; instead, I preferred watching movies with the Olsen twins or reading Teen magazine.
I thought I would eventually "grow" into more traditionally masculine interests, but that never happened. I felt like an anomaly, and over time, shame became a significant part of my identity.
How it all began...
During my senior year of college, I stumbled across the TED Talk "A Call to Men" by Tony Porter. After watching this video, I realized that there was nothing wrong with me; rather, it was the confines of masculinity that had led me to believe otherwise.
I went on to graduate school to study Youth Development Leadership, where I began asking questions about how Black boys' understanding of masculinity impacts their health and well-being. In 2020, for a course taught by Dr. Marek C. Oziewicz, I developed the "Rethinking Black Boyhood" YouTube series, which deepened my interest in the topic of masculinity.
A Conversation with Black Men on Masculinity
Project Cover Art (2020)
-Destyn L.
Why We Must Rethink Manhood
After graduating from the University of Minnesota with my Master of Education, I realized it was essential to keep the conversation going. Although I had completed my degree, I felt like I was just getting started. In 2021, I launched the podcast "Rethinking Manhood," which is now heard in over 60 countries and 600 cities.
This was the 1st cover art I had for the podcast!
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