Cortez Charles Confronts the Black Men's Mental Health Crisis on The Pop-Up!
To kick off International Men’s Mental Health Week last week, The Pop-Up! host Deaunte Damper welcomed Cortez Charles, the founder of The Fatherhood Accountability Movement (FAM). Charles shared an open look into his personal journey, the systemic pressures facing Black men, and the life-saving necessity of emotional healing.
Growing Up with the "Masculine Mask"
The discussion began by examining the emotional environments many Black boys inherit. Charles reflected on his own childhood, describing a family environment dominated by rigid expectations of masculinity.
"I have a mask," Charles said, noting that his family consisted of very masculine brothers. "It was, 'you don't cry,’ and if you do, you find somebody else to go cry to. So there was never really a safe place for myself.”
Without a safe space to process vulnerability, Charles admitted that as a young man, he channeled his inner turmoil outward. He initially shunned potential mentors because he had grown comfortable operating in a state of constant frustration and expressing himself through anger.
It wasn't until later in life that he could appreciate the community figures who refused to give up on him. He paid tribute to a late community recreation leader who consistently checked in on Charles. The leader’s willingness to "pour into" Charles during moments of isolation left a lasting mark on how he views community support today.
The Pivot Point: 2020 and the Birth of FAM
When asked about the impact of the 2020 pandemic on the community’s mental health, Charles described it as a definitive crossroads: "It’s going to make us or break us,” he reflected.
Faced with isolation, Charles realized he was in one of his most physically and emotionally unhealthy states, battling an ongoing struggle with alcohol. A moment of clarity pushed him to choose a path of wellness, starting simply by walking every day to manage the heavy mental weight of the year. To keep himself accountable, he began posting videos online, quickly realizing his personal vulnerability was inspiring others who were silently struggling.
Out of that period of intense reflection, FAM was born in 2021. Co-founded alongside his wife, the organization was built to restore and heal family dynamics. Driven by his own upbringing, which included a step-father and a biological father who was largely absent, Charles wanted to create a sustainable movement that normalized emotional check-ins within households.
Moving Beyond "Celebration" to Real Support
A central theme of the episode was the difference between superficial community engagement and sustained, long-term support. Charles challenged the cycle of temporary public outpourings that occur only in the immediate wake of tragedy, such as gun violence or drug crises.
"The real work is after these celebrations," Charles saud, pointing out inconsistencies in how communities follow up. He emphasized that keeping himself grounded and stable requires looking past the emotion of the moment and focusing on providing continuous, concrete resources for impacted families.
One of the long-standing pillars of this effort is the Seattle Turkey Bowl, a tradition brought from West Monroe, Louisiana, which Charles' family has operated since 2015. Blending flag football with community service, the annual November event provides service hours for youth and a space for families to commune and honor local leaders.
Creating Safe Spaces for the Next Generation
Today, FAM actively builds spaces designed to prevent men from bottling up emotions until they react destructively. To make these resources accessible, FAM runs two consistent programs:
FAM Community Check-In Groups: Held on the second and fourth Sunday of the month at the Black & Tan Hall.
FAM Fitness: A "walk and talk" held on the first and third Sunday, featuring a 2.5-mile steady-pace loop around Seward Park followed by a workout at Planet Fitness.
"Avoid the Crash"
When asked by Damper why the focus on Black men's healing is so urgent, Charles did not mince words: "Black man healing is important to prevent the crash—to avoid the crash. If we don’t get on our journey towards healing, we are on a crash course. And it’s us versus us".
To connect with the movement, follow the organization on Facebook at The Fatherhood Accountability Movement.
Tune in to The Pop-Up! weekdays live at 9 p.m. on all Converge streaming platforms.
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