Halfstack Highlights Ep. 50: Artist on a Mission for Positive Change

Dewayne Lucas credits his art for saving his life.  The author, producer, director, songwriter, and film editor was being raised by his single mom on the south side of Chicago in a neighborhood racked with poverty and violence.  After several family members and friends fell victim to violence, Lucas’s mother packed him up along with his four brothers and one sister, and moved to Milwaukee. Although they enjoyed a brief respite from the violence, they soon found themselves surrounded by drugs and violence.

Where the Ebonics Man Comic Meets a Live Action Musical

“I hunkered down at school and began to find comfort in my art and music,” explains Lucas.  As he developed his craft, fellow students took notice.  They asked Lucas to perform on street corners and neighborhood parties.  “It got to the point where gang members would pick me up and drive me to various parties to perform my music.  In a way, I was protected from a lot of what was going on in the neighborhood because I was the entertainment.”

Lucas returned to Chicago to help his cousin run a fine art gallery on the City’s West Side.  He continued to develop his art, selling s few works.  Lucas organized an artist showcase back in his old neighborhood. The showcase provided neighborhood artists/musicians a safe platform to share their art.  The showcase lasted for just over a year before Lucas closed it.  “I had the desire but, in hindsight, I didn’t have the business skills I needed to continue.  One thing I am proud of though.  The showcase was the longest running one in the neighborhood with no incident of violence.”

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Dewayne, his mother and siblings during their early years

Lucas returned to school and earned a degree in entrepreneurship.  He left school on a mission for positive change. He created Ebonics Films with the goal to inspire creative solutions by providing an outlet for youth talent expression, as an alternative to violence.  He created Ebonics Man, a new superhero who uses his music as a superpower to defeat evil.  Lucas developed a comic book with Ebonics Man that combined his comic book art with a CD of his music to promote the tale.  He promoted Ebonics Man at Wizard World Comic Con-Chicago and plans to participate in more conferences.  Future plans include more comic books, more music, and a musical stage play.

Dewayne Lucas (image to the left) was interviewed for HalfStack Highlights.  During the interview, he talks about his journey, his art, and his mission for positive change.  Check out the interview at the link below.

To learn more about Lucas, Ebonics Man and more, visit www.ebonicsfilm.com