Dwayne Bryant

Beautiful People!! THANK YOU for your calls, texts, emails, voice notes, songs, attempted songs, WhatsApp and Amazon deliveries!!

I’ve literally been working all day and just coming up for air. Thank you so much for all the Bday Wishes!

You have made today VERY Special.

Memphis in May:

This week, I had the great honor of supporting one of my mentees at Memphis is May BBQ showdown.

HUNDREDS, if not thousands of chef masters compete to get selected and only a few actually make it.

My big-little brother, Dakari was one of the selected few. He and his BBQ Mentor, Justin Robinson prepared food under the banner of “Holy Smoke”.

The Smoke has to be Holy because I ate beef and pork, something I had given up since college.

The highlights for me was watching the intensity of the team preparing, prepping, and presenting their 4 course meal. They were in the Open Fire competition, which to me is one of the hardest.

Duuuuude!! They prepared lobster / seafood bisque, whipped potatoes, pinwheel (first time hearing that), pork shoulders and chops, Brussels , and this dessert that would make you ok with gaining 5 pounds.

It was a peach, blueberry, black berry cobbler. The crusted topping - quit playing! cooked over fire. He put the lid on top
Of it and poured charcoals on it to make the crust crusty! I was like:

Awwwwwwh, Heckie Nawh! I tasted it and my mouth said, WhatThaWHAT?! Pure deliciousness.

When it was time for the judging, watching them make sure EVERYTHing was perfect was intense!

Roll and Chris were pure poetry in perfect motion. Wiping away anything that didn’t belong. Their camera crew captured each moment with their double barrel cannons. Literally seconds before the judges were ready, they cultivated the ambiance and dishes with pristine ex*****on.

Dakari helped to prep the food and the heat was so intense, his partner Justin grabbed a towel and wiped the sweat from his face seconds before it dripped on the food.

The judges gave their remarks… the one I remembered the most was, “I wish I could marry the cobbler”.

Then it was time for the finals. Only FOUR would be selected. Dakari was the youngest in competition and Holy Smoke was the only Black team.

There were teams from Brazil, Australia, Vietnam, Ireland, Denmark, Polynesia and some other places. Dude! This was the real deal in competition.

There would be 4 finalist.
When the judges selected their 3 teams, it was time to give the final award… as they were approaching, I was filming.

I wanted to capture the moment when Dakari became a finalist in his FIRST international competition.

As they approached, brother Dakari and Justin stood strong and confident. The selection committee walked by.

My heart said, Waaaaaaaait!!! He’s right here!! I just knew they were going to turn around and award Holy Smoke! I used all my will power and when a tear began to fall from my left eye, I realized they weren’t coming back.

Weber received the final medallion.

I watched my big little brother…. I saw him standing strong, and now I saw his jaws clenching. I knew the exact feeling. The disappointment, the emotions of am
I watching this happen?! I wish I could have shielded him from that disappointment.

Funny thing is, I don’t have any children, but my paternal instinct is STRONG. I gave him a minute to absorb everything.

I walked into the tent and asked him to join me. He did. I said, “great one… tell me exactly how you FEEL. He shared. Then he said it’s hard taking this L. I said what is the L? He looked and said the Loss.

I looked at him and said, MY mentor, John Maxwell said, sometimes you Win, sometimes you Learn. My brother.. this L, is a Learn and not a loss.

He looked at me with a smile. I grabbed his peanut head and reminded him that the Greatest Basketball player of all times didn’t make his high school
Basketball team on first tryouts. He took that “L” and went home and practiced and began winning championships and is THE most famous basketball player in history. Literally, a global phenom.

After sharing some
Areas of opportunities to improve,
Dakari stood up, went to the other tents to congratulate the winners.

THATS what I’m talking about!! You have to be a good winner and a great Learner.

I told him
There was NO reason to have his head down. His mom, grandmother, friends from high school were all there cheering for him.

Remember that name: Chicageau BBQ. They were so awesome that Santa came from
The North Pole with Rudolph to taste the food. I asked Rudolph if he knew what Venison was?

Something tells me things are about to heat up! Or get cookin for holy Smoke.

Today, I’ve moved beyond just being a mentor and big brother, today, I became a Fan… Dakari! You’re the Man!

Interesting… I didn’t see ANY of this in the Michael Jackson Movie. I do remember this era… didn’t know the details though.

Hmmmmmmm…..

Candace Clips 34K likes, 4.4K comments. "Michael Jackson: The Truth"

MICHAEL & DAVID

Wednesday night, after a series of engagements with students at Youth Villages in Memphis, I invited a friend, CJ to see MICHAEL with me.

We were suppose to see the 7:30, but that time wasn't working out, so we went to see the 10p.

While inside, we were getting popcorn, a black male teen stared at me... I felt his energy and became highly aware of my environment. He had on a hoodie, so I looked behind me... maybe he was looking at someone else.

After the movie, (YOU HAVE TO GO SEE MICHAEL!! If you are a 70's - 80's babie, it will take you back! CJ and I were dancing in the theatre... so much fun!)

As we were departing, this young man in a hoodie walked toward us... CJ froze. I could feel her fear, and gently motioned her with my arm to stand behind me.

The boy, same teen in the hoodie with tatoos on his neck, was whispering something. I said, "HEY Man! I can't hear you... if you're asking for something, you have to speak up!"

He continued to walk toward us, reached into his pocket and pulled out a ..... phone. I'm watching everying like a Hawk. Is he alone? Is he with someone?

Strangely enough, I wasn't afraid. I said, I saw you inside. Were you waiting for us to come out the theatre? He said, I was waiting for YOU.

Then he walked closer and said: "I just wanted to say, Thank You. You were the guy who came to HOPE (Hope is a high school detention center. The boys have committed crimes and don't go home). I listened to everything you told us and I just wanted to say Thank you for showing up for us!

I asked, "what are you doing now?" He said I have a job and am staying out of trouble.

I told him to "come here" and gave him a BIG HUG!! I said, "Brother, you don't know how much this means to me that you would wait. He asked for my number, I gave it and said, let's stay in touch.

Before he left, I asked, "What is your name?" He said, David.

I said, David was a mighty warrior in the bible... read who you are.

When we departed, CJ started crying... alas, she was able to see WHY I've been flying to Memphis for the past three years. No cameras. No vidoes of my engagements, just IMPACT.

MOST I my boys have stated because they didn't have a father, or a man to show up for them, that's why the committed the crimes they did. I wanted to take away all the excuses and BE the man who would show up. I explained to them, "you are so important and valuable, that in order for me to get here, I have to book a flight, layover in Atlanta, rent a car, get a hotel room, wake up early, drive to you, fully prepared with a dynamic life changing lessons, the present 6, 1-hour workshops each day, fully exhausted, come back the next day and do it all over again, then come back in two weeks and do it all over again for three years.

I wanted my boys to know, there is a man who WILL come for you. Many of us will.

If you show up for our youth, text your intitials or send a shoutout.

DB
Highlights for Children

Today, I needed some pampering and self-care. When the lady placed my feet together, I couldn’t help but recall the scripture that said Jesus’ feet were like brass, burned in an oven.

When I look at my beautiful legs and feet, I am convinced, they look closer to Jesus’ description than anything I’ve seen on television.

When Jesus returns with feet and skin like mine, I wonder if the Christian Nationalist will bow down, repent, and worship or find a rope?

What do you think they will do?

I want to ask a question most people are afraid to say out loud.

Which US demographic uses and sells the most drugs... and which demographic gets arrested more often for it?

If that question makes you lean back or feel a bit defensive, I want you to lean in. Because that exact tension is the "Trust Gap" between our School Resource Officers / Patrol Officers and the students they have sworn to protect.

The Data is clear: Federal health surveys consistently show that drug use and sales remain relatively equal across racial lines. For example, recent past-month drug use for White Americans (approx. 24.7%) and Black Americans (approx. 24.2%) is nearly identical. Yet, the arrest rates tell a completely different story. Black Americans are arrested for drug offences at nearly 3 to 4 times the rate of White Americans, a disparity our students see every single day on their feeds and in their neighborhoods.

Why am I bringing this to the NASRO 2026 stage? Because we cannot build a "Strategic Blueprint" for safety on a foundation of silence. When students perceive a double standard in justice, our effectiveness as mentors and protectors vanishes.

In my session, "The NEW Conversation," we aren't just looking at statistics; we are looking at humanity. We are going to discuss how to acknowledge these systemic realities to build the kind of high-integrity authority that actually resonates with today’s youth.

We aren't just changing tactics; we are changing the narrative.

To the leaders in the room: How do we close the gap between "The Law" and "The Community" when the data shows such a clear disparity?

Let’s get uncomfortable so we can get better. See you in Orlando.

Data Source: U.S. Office of Justice Programs (OJP) - Racial Disparities in Drug Arrests

DwayneBryant.com

Do you spend HOURS each day on social media, You Tube, watching the news...scrolling through everyone else's life instead of living your own?

That isn't accidental, it is by design. You are an intentional victim of the Algorithm.

Do you say how busy you are, yet don't accomplish much? Trust me, I've been there. It is time to take back your time and accomplish YOUR goals. Reach your Destiny.

Create something that can benefit the world, instead of listening to AI videos thinking they are real or being triggered by the same news cycle.

These things were literally designed to steal as much of your time as humanly possible.

This video clearly spells out how neuroscientists and corporations are intentionally stealing your time.

We have to be more intelligent than the system. The system will only produce simple minds who are like a scratched record... constantly repeating the same things.

Take a listen. Fix your focus and put down the foolishness.

Give Me 35 Minutes to FIX YOUR FOCUS - Reclaim Your Attention | STOICISM ► Subscribe to the channel💪https://www.youtube.com/ Me 35 Minutes to FIX YOUR FOCUS - Reclaim Your Atte...

I am excited to announce that I’ll be taking the stage at the 2026 NASRO National School Safety Conference this July!

When we talk about school safety, we usually look toward the front door or the perimeter. But there is an internal threat that is statistically more dangerous to our officers than any suspect they will ever encounter in the streets.

I have a question for you: True or False? Are police officers more likely to die from su***de than in the line of duty?

The answer is a staggering TRUE.

The data is clear: the number of officers lost to su***de consistently exceeds those killed by gunfire or accidents. While line-of-duty deaths have seen declines, the mental health crisis remains a silent, pervasive challenge that we can no longer ignore.

Why does this matter for our schools? Because an SRO’s greatest tool isn't their belt, it’s their emotional intelligence and their ability to build authentic relationships. If our officers are battling burnout, trauma, and secondary stress in isolation, they cannot be the "trusted adults" our students need.

At NASRO 2026, during my session "The NEW Conversation: A Strategic Blueprint for Strengthening SRO-Student Relationships," we aren't just talking about tactics and procedures. We are talking about the holistic health of the officer.

High-integrity policing starts with high-integrity self-care. We cannot strengthen our schools if we are losing our heroes to a battle they feel they have to fight alone.

Let’s get the conversation started right here: How is your department or school district supporting the mental wellness of its SROs? What "best practices" have you seen work?

Let’s bring this conversation out of the shadows and into the light in Orlando. I’ll see you there!



DwayneBryant.com