Apr 2, 2026 | News
Two years ago, after attending the Black Boys’ and Men’s Symposium, Mrs. Willandra Macklin Malone came back with an idea that stayed with her.
Representation matters.
She started with a simple question. What would it look like if our students regularly saw successful Black men in their classrooms? Not as visitors passing through, but as readers, mentors, and leaders standing at the front of the room. What would change if our young Black boys could see that reflection more often?
Mrs. Malone recognized an opportunity. Some of our students do not often see themselves reflected in academic leadership inside the classroom. She wanted to help close that gap in a real, tangible way. What began as a small effort in her classroom quickly grew into a tradition at Fremont.
Now, on the third Wednesday of each month, Fremont opens its doors to Black men from across the Battle Creek community. They come from all walks of life. Professionals, business owners, public servants, coaches, fathers, mentors. They sit with students and read, but it does not stop there. They share parts of their story. They talk about their path, their challenges, and what keeps them moving forward.
Students look forward to these days. They ask who is coming. They talk about the visits long after they are over. They begin to connect what they are learning in the classroom to what is possible beyond it. They see people who look like them doing meaningful work, leading, building, and showing up in their communities.
What started in one classroom is now part of Fremont’s culture. Two years in, the program continues to grow, both in participation and in the way it shapes the student experience.
Black Men Read is about literacy. It is also about connection, visibility, and opening doors that students may not have known were there. At its core, it is a reminder to our students, especially our young Black boys, that they belong in every space they can imagine for themselves.
Their story is still being written and at Fremont they make sure whatever their dreams are they are prepared to take on the world by asking questions and solving problems with confidence and purpose.