Welcome to the Evolving Man Project’s ‘Evolved Man of the Week’ profile. Each week, we highlight an individual that embodies what it means to be an evolved man, famous and non-famous men alike. The world needs to know their stories and deeds. This week’s honor goes to activist, teacher, Twitter celebrity, preacher, writer, family man, and citizen journalist Shaun King. Shaun King was born and raised in Versailles, Kentucky. At an early age, Mr. King learned the tough reality of race in America. In high school that reality almost turned fatal for him:
“In March of 1995, it all boiled over and a racist mob of nearly a dozen students beat me severely, first punching me from all sides, then, when I cradled into a fetal position on the ground they stomped me mercilessly, some with steel-toed boots, for about 20 seconds. That day changed the entire trajectory of my life.”
Shaun King’s life was changed that fateful day, but since that time his has remained committed to truth and justice. He served as community organizer, and pastor while attending Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA. Shaun King shot to the national spotlight in the wake of Mike Brown’s death where his serious of tweets critical of the Ferguson, Missouri quickly becoming one of the led voices in the Black Lives Matter movement. Those tweets secured him a massive Twitter following and launched his career as a citizen journalist. He work focuses mostly on ending police brutality, and he’s written for and continues to write for websites like the Daily Kos and New York Post newspaper. Since rising to prominence Mr. King has founded and led two non-profits and has not been without his critics. Through it all Mr. King stays commented to justice and ending police brutality. Shaun King is a true example of #BlackBoyJoy and #BlackLivesMatter.
In his own words:
“My focus will continue to be ending police brutality. I believe it is the pre-eminent civil rights issue of modern America and that, together, we can fight against it effectively.”
In summer 2016, Shaun King was an outspoken supporter of Senator Bernie Sanders and recently split his ties with the Democratic Party. He issued a statement about him leaving the party his loving working mother brought him into many years ago:
After that, this will be my last election as a Democrat. I’m moving on and hope you do, too.”
Today we honor Shaun King has this week’s Evolved Man of the Week.
Evolving Man Project 