#59 | The Mentorship Lineage of Black Male Educators: Jacob Cory Gold, Dr. Willie Williams, Reginald Williams — Belief, Masks, and the Seeds That Outlive You

Three Black male educators. Three generations of impact. One powerful through-line: belief.In this conversation, Jacob (Cory Gold), Dr. Willie Williams, and Reginald Williams unpack what it means to teach while carrying a mask, showing strength, joy, fairness, and love… while holding grief, pressure, mental health, and the realities of being a young Black man in a profession where you’re often the only one. You’ll hear how mentorship travels: teacher → student → teacher → the next student… and how small moments in schools become lifelong turning points.Listen and apply these takeaways to your school:Belief as a daily practice: what it looks like to “clock in” for kids like a coach—showing up early, present, and intentionalFairness vs. equality: how “being strict but understanding” builds trust (and why students can smell a facade)The mask exercise (front + back): what educators show the world vs. what we carry behind the smileWhy teaching is still a “dangerous” profession for Black folks: the weight of history, politics, and protecting students without drowning themPlanting seeds that go home: phrases, routines, and presence that outlive the classroom and come back 15 years later(0:00) Class in session + meet Jacob “Cory Gold,” Dr. Willie Williams, and Reginald Williams(1:30) Jacob introduces himself: “walking in the light” as a spiritual being inside school buildings(2:10) Dr. Willie: meeting Jacob as a high school student who needed someone to slow him down(4:10) Reginald: why he became a teacher, representation, trust, and seeing leadership up close(6:45) Mask exercise explained: 3 words on the front, 3 on the back(7:25) Reginald’s mask: fairness/justice, passion, strict-but-understanding + joy, intention, hiding the lows(10:30) Jacob’s mask: joy, intention, light, love + poverty background, hunger check-ins, leading with questions(15:10) Dr. Willie’s mask: God, love, strength + protecting students politically, mental health, and dating as a Black male educator(22:00) Ashanti’s mask: caring/serious/passionate + worry, self-doubt, family weight(26:40) The big question: “How does belief in your students show up every day?”(31:05) Reginald: the “lightbulb moment” and why students want their teacher back after a sub(33:10) Jacob reflects on impact: gratitude for seeing the “increase” across generations(41:00) Reginald on planting seeds: being uniquely yourself, meeting students where they are(44:45) Willie: teaching as “dangerous” historically + the need for community among Black male educators(50:15) Dr. Willie: more eye-level conversations + Book #18: The Black Male Resiliency ExperienceConnect with the GuestsDr. Willie WilliamsBook: The Black Male Resiliency ExperienceCompany: Accepted Admissions (educational consulting)Jacob (Cory Gold)Shares “All Things Light” content (YouTube/Instagram)Reginald WilliamsEducator (Year 3) + community builder through clubs/activities/coaching energyJoin/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.orgJoin our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode IdeasEmail us: [email protected] your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/Connect with Ashanti BranchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaksX: https://x.com/BranchSpeaksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/Support the Podcast & Ever Forward ClubHelp us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/supportConnect with Ever Forward ClubInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclubFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclubX: https://x.com/everforwardclubLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/#unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #totm