#54 | Heart Before Head: The Emotional Work Behind Academic Success – w/ Dr. Calvin J. Hadley – Assistant Provost, Howard University

What if the breakthrough for Black boys and men in education isn’t more pressure… but more belonging?In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Dr. Calvin J. Hadley, Assistant Provost for Academic Engagement and Student Partnerships at Howard University, joins Ashanti for a real conversation about what’s happening to Black male enrollment, why emotional safety has to come before performance, and what it looks like to build a community where men don’t have to “hold it down” alone.In this episode, they cover:Why Black men often aren’t given the tools to understand, and move through their emotions (and how that shows up as a “mask”)“Mirror-cleaning” work: what young Black men see when they look at themselves and how to blow limitations off the hingesEmotional intelligence as a muscle many men never got to exercise (and why naming weakness matters)The Men of the Mecca faculty/staff check-ins: “45 minutes of real check-ins”… and why grown men end up cryingHealth avoidance, cultural fear, and why “put your oxygen mask on first” isn’t a cliché it’s leadership“Emotion overrides intellect”: why we can know what to do—and still not do itThe crisis of Black male presence in higher ed (Howard’s context + HBCU averages)Belonging, rites of passage, and the “Burning of Fear” ceremony, writing fears down and burning them together“Look to your left and right…”: brotherhood as responsibility, not just connectionTimestamps(0:01) Intro: who Dr. Hadley is + what this episode tackles (enrollment, emotional barriers, belonging, masks)(0:01) Welcome + Dr. Hadley introduces himself (son of Harold & Ernestine, two-time Howard grad, father/husband, Assistant Provost role)(10:33) Dr. Hadley: Men of the Mecca language—“taking off the mask” + not being taught emotional tools(12:30) “Mirror cleaning” + the “N-word mask” and how limitations get internalized(16:11) Emotional honesty: “I’m fairly emotional… I start crying on podcast” + “intellectual juggernaut / emotional first-grader”(24:40) Men of the Mecca: student support → faculty/staff arm → a space to check in for real(26:12) Annual physical moment: a room full of high-achieving Black men hanging their heads—health avoidance and cultural fear(27:45) “Put your oxygen mask on first”: why educator wellness is student success work(29:35) “Emotion overrides intellect”: you can’t teach, lead, or heal past what hasn’t been felt(41:13) Rites of passage + “Burning of Fear”: write fears down, burn them, and build responsibility through brotherhood(57:47) How to connect/partner + Dr. Hadley shares his email; closing invitation to make a mask anonymouslyConnect with Dr. Calvin J. HadleyEmail (partnerships / school districts / collaboration): [email protected] University work: Men of the Mecca (student + faculty/staff community-building)Resources & Ways to EngageThe Million Mask Movement – Create a mask anonymously: https://millionmask.orgEducator Portal – Bring mask-making and emotional data into your schoolGlobal Young Men’s Conference – Youth voice, belonging, and healing spacesEver Forward Club – Brotherhood, connection, and mentorshipConnect with Ashanti BranchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaksTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/Connect with Ever Forward Club:Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub⁠Facebook:⁠ https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub⁠Twitter:⁠ https://twitter.com/everforwardclub⁠LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/⁠Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Clubhttps://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support#unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #BlackMaleEducators #BlackBoys #BlackMenHealing #EmotionalSafety #StudentSuccess #HigherEd #HBCU #Mentorship #Belonging #MensWellness #TraumaInformedEducation