MUC Presents: The More People Hated Me…
In the latest episode of The Man Up Club Presents on Holy Culture Radio, host Mr. D (aka Xross) sat down with dancer and community advocate Dakota Jewel for a raw, deeply moving conversation about childhood trauma, grief, and the power of love. This dialogue pulled no punches, offering listeners both a sobering reality check and a powerful message of hope.
The Man Up Club Mission
Before diving into Dakota’s story, Mr. D reminded listeners of the mission behind The Man Up Club: to help young men graduate from high school, stay out of the prison pipeline, and pursue higher education or trade programs. The organization mentors youth in four areas—life skills, social skills, academic discipline, and civic responsibility. Every episode of the show amplifies voices of young Black men across America, and this week’s conversation carried a special weight.
A Childhood of Transitions
Dakota began by describing his childhood as “everywhere and nowhere.” Raised without a father, moving between homes, and often feeling unwanted, he carried deep wounds from being sent away at an early age. His words reflected the painful reality of many children in foster and adoptive care: a longing for stability, love, and affirmation.
He spoke candidly about being labeled “too emotional” in a culture where pain was often silenced under the mantra, “what happens in this house stays in this house.” That silence, he shared, fueled anxiety, depression, and even violent tendencies. Yet, Dakota resisted the narrative that strength means numbness. For him, real strength is learning to name emotions, embrace vulnerability, and recognize when it’s okay to cry.
Dance as a Lifeline
One of the most powerful parts of Dakota’s testimony centered on dance. What others once mocked became his God-given gift—a way to channel grief, tell stories, and even save his own life. “I cry when I dance,” he said, describing art as a space where emotions flow freely and healing begins. Dance, for him, is more than movement; it is a form of survival and worship, a way to transform pain into beauty.
Loving Through the Hurt
What stood out most in Dakota’s story was his radical commitment to love. Despite losing homes, family relationships, and even his infant daughter, he refuses to perpetuate cycles of hate. “I don’t have to like you to love you,” he explained, emphasizing that love can be expressed through healthy boundaries or through simply treating others with dignity.
He challenged the narrative that young Black men must be hardened by trauma, instead offering an alternative: to “love to life” rather than “love to death.” His perspective was a breath of fresh air in a culture that often equates masculinity with aggression and silence.
Addressing Grief with a New Lens
The conversation closed with Dakota’s profound reflection on grief. Using the image of a balloon, he described life as energy that never disappears but instead transfers. When a person dies, their energy returns to the world and continues to live through those who loved them. “No person fades unless you allow them to,” he said, offering listeners a transformative way to process loss.
His wisdom was not theoretical but lived. Having buried more than twenty loved ones in a single year and experiencing near-death himself multiple times, Dakota knows grief intimately. Yet he insists that these hardships are not wasted—they shape resilience, deepen compassion, and remind us that diamonds are formed under pressure.
Building Legacy and Community
Even at just 25 years old, Dakota has embraced the responsibility of building a legacy of service. Whether through his work in violence interruption, feeding the homeless, or inspiring young people to pursue their gifts, he is committed to giving back what he never received. The Man Up Club’s programs in music, culinary arts, gardening, and construction provide platforms for young men like Dakota to not only heal but thrive.
A Final Word
This episode of The Man Up Club Presents was more than an interview—it was a testimony. Through vulnerability, Dakota Jewel modeled what it means to confront pain, embrace healing, and lead with love. His story challenges all of us to rethink masculinity, confront generational cycles of silence, and pour into the lives of others with compassion.
As Mr. D reminded listeners, “You have to go through things in order to become better.” And Dakota’s life is proof that even in the face of overwhelming adversity, choosing love over bitterness can change not only your own story but the stories of countless others.
Holy Culture Radio is operated by The Corelink Solution, a non-profit organization that aims to create a safe space for healing, foster unity in our communities and empower the next generation of creatives and leaders through spreading the gospel.
If you’d like to support our work, please make a donation. No amount is too small. You can also shop our online store to help spread awareness of our mission. Again, thank you and remember to be encouraged and be blessed.
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 – Opening reflections on energy and loss
1:02 – Introducing The Man Up Club and today’s guest, Dakota Jewel
2:30 – Dakota’s childhood: foster care, instability, and feeling unwanted
5:08 – Breaking the silence: “What happens in this house stays in this house”
7:15 – Emotional suppression, anxiety, and learning vulnerability
10:23 – Discovering dance as a God-given gift and lifeline
11:40 – Crying through art: redefining strength and masculinity
13:00 – Trauma, memory gaps, and the need for accountability
16:00 – Radical love: why Dakota chooses compassion despite loss
19:20 – Serving the homeless and giving voice to the unheard
20:55 – Identity struggles: “Too Black to be white, too white to be Black”
23:00 – Racism in small towns and surviving systemic injustice
25:43 – Loving through the hurt: forgiveness, boundaries, and resilience
29:16 – Loving to life vs. loving to death
30:20 – Dakota’s experiences with grief and near-death
33:50 – Lessons from loss: choosing to love and keep moving forward
36:59 – Sacrifice, legacy, and community work
38:50 – Man Up Club’s programs: music studio, culinary arts, construction, and gardening
40:45 – Mentorship, opportunity, and youth engagement
43:20 – The value of connections: doors opening through relationships
44:50 – Preparing for God Flow Fest and community impact
45:11 – Closing thoughts on grief, energy, and legacy
48:30 – Final reflections and call to resilience
Related Radio Show: The Man Up Club Presents…
