J. A. Faulkerson is a Northern Virginia–based author, poet, screenwriter, child and family advocate, and social entrepreneur whose work explores leadership, community empowerment, social justice, and the enduring power of compassion. Through fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and film, he challenges audiences to imagine transformative solutions to some of society’s most pressing issues while celebrating the resilience of the human spirit.

Faulkerson is the author of several acclaimed works, including the science-fiction novel Adinkrahene: Fear of a Black Planet, the fatherhood and leadership guide Real Men Raise CHAMPIONS: Unleashing Your Inner COACH, and the personal development resource Young Achiever Playbook: Planning to Achieve. In 2015, Adinkrahene: Fear of a Black Planet was recognized as a finalist for the prestigious Phillis Wheatley Book Award in the First Fiction category, an honor presented annually during New York City’s renowned Harlem Book Fair.

In recent years, Faulkerson has expanded his literary portfolio with two poetry collections: The Wise Man Say (2023) and March of the Compassionate Neighbor (2024). Both works honor the legacy of the Black leaders and everyday citizens of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s—individuals he affectionately describes as “Compassionate Neighbors.” Through these collections, Faulkerson celebrates a philosophy rooted in unconditional love, service, and neighborly compassion. His poetry calls upon people across the globe to carry that legacy forward by choosing understanding over division, unity over conflict, and love over hate. In 2025, his poems Agent of Change and The Wise Man Say were published in the Mid-Atlantic Review.

Faulkerson’s latest novel, BLACK: The Bear on Our Backs, launches the ambitious BLACK Novel Series, a sweeping saga that chronicles the rise of BLACK Global, Incorporated—a Black-owned workforce development firm dedicated to reconstructing Black labor today for the jobs of tomorrow. Blending social commentary, corporate intrigue, and speculative fiction, the series explores the opportunities and obstacles facing a movement determined to redefine economic empowerment while confronting powerful forces intent on preserving the status quo.

The BLACK Novel Series serves as the literary prequel to Faulkerson’s planned RECONSTRUCTION Film Series, a cinematic universe that further expands the stories, characters, and themes introduced in his novels.

Beyond his creative pursuits, Faulkerson has dedicated much of his professional life to youth development, family advocacy, fatherhood engagement, and community leadership. Drawing upon his experiences as a Child and Family Advocate, Social Entrepreneur, and former TRIO Upward Bound and YMCA Director, he brings a unique perspective to conversations about education, fatherhood, workforce development, leadership, and social change.

J. A. Faulkerson is available for speaking engagements, workshops, podcasts, conferences, and community events, where he shares insights from his journey as a creative writer, advocate, and visionary committed to helping individuals and communities achieve their fullest potential.

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J. A. FAULKERSON IN THE NEWS

The Artist Exchange Radio Show with Nate VashtiBlue Couser  (May 20, 2017)

Dr. Kaye Show Interview with Troy Hill (March 2, 2015)

NewsOne Now with Roland S. Martin (June 12, 2014)

Black and Married with Kids (BMWK) with Heather Hopson (November 8, 2012)

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