Jermaine Hall

New York

Founder and Editor-in-Chief at LEVEL Man

Words fiend, Laker fan, CEO and Founder, LEVEL. Also a proud St. Lucian!

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Articles

Black Fatigue Now Has a Double Meaning Thanks to Racists

1 month ago | levelman.com | Jermaine Hall

We can't discuss racial justice without agreed-upon terminologyRacial discourse in America is a lot like two ships passing at night. Despite the proximity of groups, they are not communicating in earnest. There is no call-and-response pattern. Consider, for instance, within the black community, that "woke" refers to "awareness of racial justice." Yet, outside of it, the term has become a catch-all phrase to bemoan any progressive policy. Some use it as a slur to diminish Black people in particular.
Donald Trump's Miscue on the Genocide of South African White Farmers, Explained

1 month ago | levelman.com | Jermaine Hall

No graves at the site of the Trump videoThe meeting between Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was astonishing, a word I don't recall using in print before. Allegedly, a discussion of trade issues, it soon became obvious it was an ambush, allowing Trump to "prove" the genocide in South Africa of white farmers. Midway through the meeting, Trump had aides dim the lights and play a video showcasing his evidence.
Why Many Celebrate The Burning Of Largest Southern Plantation

1 month ago | levelman.com | Jermaine Hall

The public reaction to the burning of the Nottoway plantation, the largest remaining antebellum-era structure in the South, has been mixed. While many, particularly Black Americans, celebrate the visage of a Louisiana sugar plantation engulfed in flames, others bemoan the loss of this landmark. This historical preservation argument falls flat as we consider the actual use of the property.
Wise Advice From Your New Favorite TV Dad, Wood Harris

1 month ago | levelman.com | Jermaine Hall

Wise Advice From Your New Favorite TV Dad, Wood HarrisWood Harris is playing himself. On a 70s-style set in North Hollywood, the wiry actor, who is somewhat of a master when it comes to playing others, is tasked with being a 55-year-old father of two who grew up in Chicago with humble beginnings but had a gift and smarts to get accepted to NYU's storied film program. He's nailing the role.
Multi-Hyphenate Nick Brooks Wants to Be the Future of Film

1 month ago | levelman.com | Jermaine Hall

Author Nick Brooks has a comfortable relationship with adversity. He can live in it knowing that he'll find a way out often due to his superpower, putting words together and creating stories. After graduating from Howard undergrad, Brooks became an educator in the Teach for America program. He remembers being unimpressed with the reading material his 5-year-old students were consuming.
Is the End Near for Black Colleges?

1 month ago | levelman.com | Jermaine Hall

Last weekend, I attended a college reunion at my alma mater, Fisk University. It was also graduation, and the Class of '75 was celebrating their 50th Anniversary. I have two more years to go, God willing. The Class of 2025 was graduating, and I couldn't help but wonder if Fisk University or any other HBCUs would be around for their 50th? Colleges and Universities serving all people of color are coming under fire. This isn't new, but the intensity has grown.
An Easy Solve for the Broken News Show Format

2 months ago | levelman.com | Jermaine Hall

The current format is in dire need of a revampWatching Cable news or opinion shows is a frustrating experience. The host has a guest who is in a position to address the day's issue, but they never answer direct questions with a straight answer. Ask them anything, and they thank you for having them on the show and giving them a chance to set the record straight. Then, they talk about whatever they want to talk about, fending off any attempts at interruption until it's time for a commercial.
The Legality of Deporting Campus Protestors

Mar 18, 2025 | levelman.com | Jermaine Hall

People without law degrees often are quick to offer up their opinions on whether the Constitution protects what they consider hate speech. Not coincidentally, people who want the speech to stop claim it isn't protected, and people who want the speech to continue think it is. Most get the nuances wrong. That brings us to a question on many of our minds. Is the Trump administration's decision to deport students and others here on visas when they engage in anti-Israel protests on campuses legal or not?
I Stutter and I Talk Funny. You Got a Problem with That?

Jan 23, 2025 | levelman.com | Jermaine Hall

I've always had a complicated relationship with the sound of my voice. It started well before the first time I heard myself on tape - though the moment after I pressed play on that prehistoric tape recorder was one of the most ear-opening moments of my life. "Is that what everyone hears when I talk," I thought to myself as I tried to wrap my brain around the strange sound coming out of the speakers.
Makayla's Voice Short Doc Has Already Won Without an Oscar Nomination

Jan 20, 2025 | levelman.com | Jermaine Hall

Khari "Needlzs" Cain speaks in measured tones while in the chaos of afternoon school pickup. He's juggling like a champion: simultaneously conducting this interview while listening attentively to the day's report on his daughter, Makayla. Makayla has autism. The clinical diagnosis is the 22Q Deletion, called Phelan-McDermid syndrome. In layman's terms this brilliant middle child was born with a chromosome partially deleted. She is non-verbal but finding her voice through letter board therapy.