11/06/2025
SPEAK MPLS caught up with Kevin Powell and Evangeline Lawson at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus, a stop on tour for their film When We Free the World. We got the chance to attend the film screening and follow Powell around campus, where he gave a lecture to a Writing for Strategic Communications class. The film is a feature-length documentary that explores the question “what does it mean to be a man?” It works to amplify the voices of Black males of all walks of life while discussing manhood, especially in today’s landscape. So, what does it mean to be “a man?” Manhood is often homogenized, attempting to put all men into a tight and un-changing box. The film, composed of a number of interviews stretching across 9 chapters addresses the broad spectrum of what it truly means to be a man — and it isn’t a “one size fits all” situation. With striking visuals and a soundtrack completely composed of music by Black men, the film highlights 70 Black male voices and provides insight, experiences and emotions across five generations of Black men.
For the first time in their careers, Kevin Powell and Evangeline Lawson took on filmmaking. Powell and Lawson, both serving as the co-directors, producers and writers of the film are more than just first-time filmmakers. The couple is multifaceted, as Powell has a background spanning from journalism to authorship after getting his start writing at Rutgers University as a student. From writing for Vibe Magazine to authoring 16 books, Powell strives to use his talents to improve the lives of others. Lawson is a seasoned photographer and writer who took her artistic knowledge to filmmaking. As they tour the country with their new film, they hope to engage everyone who sees the film – as it isn’t just for Black men, but for everyone no matter who they are.
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