Author-Kenneth Thompson, Sr.

When Mr. Thompson shared his new book was being released on August 3 and shared the cover, I reached out and asked if he would share his new book with our Ujima readers. I wanted to share the book because as a community, many young black men grow up without a father in their life. Thompson books speaks to that and his personal journey to becoming a father.

Ujima: What inspired you to write Full Circles and share your story? How long did the process of writing this book take?

Thompson:  I was inspired to write Full Circles because I came to understand that my life was filled with moments that brought me back to places, people, and experiences from my past. I knew my father, but I did not truly know my father, and that left a “Hole in My Soul.” Becoming a father gave me a greater sense of purpose and challenged me to become the father I had always wished to be. Along the way, mentors, family, friendships, and community members helped shape the man and father I became. Full Circles is my way of sharing those experiences and showing that our lives are often connected by circles, some painful, some joyful, and some that we do not recognize until much later.

The book was not written overnight. It represents years of experiences, reflections, conversations, and personal growth. In many ways, I have been writing Full Circles throughout my life; I had to find the courage and the right time to put those experiences on paper. Writing became therapeutic because it required me to revisit places in my life that were both meaningful and vulnerable. Ultimately, I wanted to tell my story not simply to look backward, but to encourage others to recognize and celebrate their own “Full Circle” moments.

Ujima: The title Full Circles says a lot in just two words. What does it mean to you?

Thompson: Full Circles represents the moments in life when something comes back around—sometimes in ways we recognize immediately, and sometimes only after years of reflection. For me, it is about recognizing how people, experiences, relationships, and lessons from my past helped shape who I became. Some circles were painful, some were unexpected, and others were blessings that I did not fully appreciate until later. Most importantly, Full Circles represents my journey as a son becoming a father. I knew my father, but I did not know my father. Becoming a father gave me the opportunity to close a circle—to become the father I wished I had. The title also reminds me that life is not always a straight line. We revisit places, people, and experiences, but we return with greater wisdom and perspective. For me, a “Full Circle” moment is when you can look back, recognize the journey, appreciate how far you have come, and say, “I understand now.”

Ujima: You write openly about growing up without your father. Was there a moment when you decided you wanted to be a different kind of father? Was there one specific change you made sure to do differently?

Thompson: I don’t know that there was one single moment when I decided I would be a different kind of father. It was more of a realization that grew as I got older. I knew my father, but I did not know my father, and that distinction left a hole in my soul. When I became a father myself, I realized I had an opportunity to give my son something I had longed for—my time, my presence, my attention, and the assurance that I would be there. The one thing I made sure to do differently was to be present. I wanted my son to know me, not simply know that I was his father. I wanted to listen, show up, participate, teach, encourage, and create memories with him. I learned that fatherhood is not primarily about providing things; it is about providing yourself. Looking back, becoming a father gave purpose to my existence and allowed me to begin closing a circle that had been open for much of my life.

Ujima: Throughout your life, mentors and community members stepped in when you needed them most. Is there someone who changed the course of your life whom you can share with our readers? Do you find that many of our black young men today need mentors and the community to help guide them to success?

Thompson: Several men helped shape the course of my life, but two who stand out are L.D. Washington and Nathaniel Cannon. They were more than mentors to me; they were examples of what wholesome manhood, responsibility, leadership, and service could look like. They invested time in me, believed in me, challenged me, and gave me opportunities to see something bigger than what I could see for myself at the time. Their influence became part of the foundation for the man, father, mentor, and community advocate I would become. In many ways, I am carrying forward what they poured into me. I absolutely believe that many of our Black young men today need mentors and a community willing to walk alongside them. Mentorship is not about trying to save young men or telling them what to do. It is about helping them discover who they are, recognizing their potential, holding them accountable, and giving them examples of what is possible. Sometimes a young man needs someone who will say, “I see something in you, and I am willing to invest my time in helping you find it.” That is why I believe mentoring is a responsibility we all share. We cannot continue to ask young men to find their way while leaving them without a compass. It takes fathers, mentors, families, schools, churches, coaches, and communities working together to help young men navigate their circles of life and reach their full potential.

Ujima:Your journey took you from East Austin to becoming a leader in education and a national advocate for fatherhood. Looking back, what has been the most meaningful part of that journey?

Thompson: Looking back, the most meaningful part of my journey has been being a husband and a father. Everything else, the leadership roles, education, advocacy, and opportunities to serve have been a part of my journey, but my family has always been at the center of it. Becoming a father gave purpose to my existence and challenged me to become the man and father I wished I had. I am also deeply grateful that my journey has allowed me to influence the lives of others. I have had the privilege of being mentored by men of wholesome character and, in turn, becoming a mentor to young men and fathers. My advocacy for fatherhood has never felt like a job; it has been a way of giving back while paying it forward. When I look at the people, families, and communities I have been able to influence, I realize that my greatest achievement is not a title or position. It is knowing that something I said, something I taught, or simply the time I invested may have helped someone become a better father, a better man, or a better human being. That is my Full Circle.

Ujima:What do you hope readers—especially fathers, sons, and young people—take away after reading Full Circles?

Thompson: I hope readers understand that our beginnings do not have to define our endings. Full Circles is my story, but I believe there are pieces of every reader’s story within these pages. We all have experiences, relationships, disappointments, mentors, and moments that shape who we become. Some of those experiences may leave a “Hole in Your Soul,” but that hole does not have to remain empty forever. For fathers, I hope the book reinforces the importance of being present. Our children need more than what we provide materially; they need our time, our attention, our guidance, and our love. For sons and young people, I hope they understand that they can choose a different path, even when their circumstances are difficult. And for everyone, I hope Full Circles encourages you to look back at your own life, recognize the people and experiences that helped shape you, and celebrate the moments when you realize how far you have come. Most of all, I want readers to understand that a Full Circle moment is not necessarily about returning to where you started—it is about becoming who you were meant to be.

Ujima: Without saying too much, is there one moment in the book that you think will stay with readers long after they finish it?

Thompson:Yes. I believe the moment that will stay with readers is when I confront the reality that I knew my father, but I did not know my father. That realization is deeply personal because it helped me understand the “Hole in My Soul” that I had carried for much of my life.  Without giving too much away, I think readers will recognize that sometimes our greatest Full Circle moments come when we turn our deepest wounds into a reason to love, serve, and live differently. I believe that moment will stay with readers because, in one way or another, we all have something in our lives that we knew but never truly understood until we became ready to face it.

Ujima:If someone is thinking about reading Full Circles, what would you say to encourage them to pick it up?

Thompson:I would say, pick it up because you may see yourself somewhere in these pages. We all have Full Circle moments in our lives, moments when something from our past comes back around, and we finally understand its meaning. Some moments bring joy, some bring pain, and some remind us of how far we have come. Full Circles is my story, but it is also an invitation for you to reflect on your own. It is about family, fatherhood, friendship, mentors, resilience, and the choices we make when life does not give us the beginning we hoped for. You may laugh, you may reflect, and you may even see parts of your own “Hole in Your Soul. “So, if you are looking for a story about overcoming, becoming, and finding purpose in the journey, pick up Full Circles. You may discover that your life has more Full Circle moments than you realized—and perhaps learn to celebrate them.

  Ujima: Is there anything you would like to share that was not asked? 

Thompson: Yes. I would say that writing Full Circles was more than telling my story; it was part of my healing. Writing can be therapeutic, but it can also require vulnerability. I had to revisit experiences, relationships, and moments that created what I call a “Hole in My Soul.” Some were difficult to put into words, but I believe there is power in being honest about the journey. I also hope readers understand that Full Circles is not a story about having everything figured out. It is a story about navigating life, learning from the people and experiences along the way, and choosing what we will carry forward. I hope that readers will look at their own lives differently, recognize the people who helped shape them, and celebrate their own Full Circle moments. We all have a story, and sometimes the most powerful part of the story is realizing how far we have come.

 Ujima: Where can our readers pick up or order your book?

 Thompson: Amazon

  Ujima: Where can our readers find you on social media? 

  Thompson: Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn

Make sure you order your copy of this book and share with your sons, nephews and anyone who wants to learn more about Thompson’s journey.