Meet Ryan Jor El | Author. Speaker. Host. Beacon of Fatherhood

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ryan Jor El and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ryan, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
In the summer of 2017, I was on the phone with a friend, saw a Black Girls Rock commercial and decided I wanted to host an awards show for fathers. Often times the media portrays the “deadbeat dad” image and quite frankly, black fathers outperform their counterparts, as it relates to child rearing.

After my call, I took out my black notebook and wrote down the scope, and scale of the event, potential venues, hosts, honorees and anything it would take to make it happen. When I receive a download, I simply go with it. Planning is definitely important as well, but I say it all the time, it doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be out!

Shortly after, I proposed my idea to a college friend who decided to handle the marketing and promotions for our very first event, which took place February 23rd, 2018. This past Fathers’ Day, was our fifth annual event and we are finding even more ways to impact the community by esteeming the black patriarch.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
After spending twenty years in the fashion industry, I discovered that my greatest generational impact is going to come from fatherhood. As a creative, we always have new ideas, innovation and are often times considered crazy, until it works or we reach some level of success.

As it relates to my new purpose of being a “Beacon of fatherhood,” my non-profit, Black Fathers Rock (BFR) sets to change the narrative surrounding black fatherhood and provide resources to strengthen the family. The challenge is, I ALWAYS have to qualify this; think BLM vs Blue Lives Matter. Women tend to say, “I’m not a black father,” or “My father wasn’t around.” That may be true, but you wear Nike and don’t play a sport; you rock Louis Vuitton and Gucci because you like their brands and support them; well, it’s the exact same thing. If you wear our Black Fathers Rock apparel, it’s because you support the brand, the message and the movement; it’s more than race.

As far as lessons learned, I preach, “It doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be out!” If I showed you my first BFR logo, you would laugh; but hey, at least I put it out and someone was able to see it and create the logo as it appears today.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My wife and I love new experiences, trying new restaurants and being around great energy and people. Some of my favorite restaurants in Charlotte are Fin & Fino and Beef n’ Bottle, so that would be in the equation. Additionally, we are quite the artsy city, so catching a show at one of the Blumenthal theaters would be a must!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to thank everyone who’s supported me over the last two decades. From selling clothes out of my car, to having my own men’s accessory collection; from fashion blogging to celebrity interviews and television. I’ve had support from near and far and am grateful people believe in my dreams.

More importantly, I’m grateful for Peyton and Grayson, my kids, who made me a father and gave me a platform to impact a generation of fathers. Without you two, I wouldn’t know what it is to truly love in a way that’s impactful and inspiring.

Instagram: instagram.com/ryan_jorel

Twitter: twitter.com/ryanjorel

Image Credits
Images provided by Brandon Rashad and Moon King Moments