Together We Shine: THE BLOODLINE TRUTHS COLLECTION

by Jaquan Atkins (Editor)

Overview

Together We Shine
By Jaquan Atkins

Together We Shine is more than a book—it's a beacon. A living testimony that Black households not only exist, but thrive. Written by Jaquan Atkins—a devoted husband, proud father, and founder of the Richmond-based nonprofit Mac Made Fathers—this work is a deeply personal tribute to fatherhood, family, and the journey toward generational healing.

Crafted with love and intention alongside his wife, Keyana Atkins, this book serves as a sacred blueprint for what real love, leadership, and legacy look like in a Black family. From the pages of poetry to the letters of legacy, this book tells the truth behind the titles: husband, stepfather, protector, king.

In a world quick to erase or divide Black families, Together We Shine stands bold and proud, offering proof that Black love is not only real—it's revolutionary. This book speaks to the fathers fighting to stay in their children's lives, the wives who hold the home down through storms, and the children who rise from love, not lack.

Inside these pages, you'll find:
�� Legacy Letters—heartfelt messages written for sons, daughters, future grandchildren, and stepmamas
�� Poetry that speaks from a father's heart and a child's voice—featuring original pieces from daughters Royalle & Averiana
�� Wisdom from the Bloodline—powerful sections including:

How to Love a Black Man Through Growth

Keyana's Rules for Co-Parenting with Grace

10 Lessons Jaquan Would Teach His Son First

How to Heal Without Revenge

When Silence Ain't Peace

�� You'll also be introduced to Mac Made Fathers, a Richmond, VA-based nonprofit created to support fathers who are navigating the court system, broken co-parenting dynamics, or rebuilding after incarceration. Jaquan Atkins turns pain into purpose, showing other fathers that presence is power, and no situation can steal your legacy when you lead with love.

Whether you are a single mom raising kings, a father on the journey back to his family, or a couple striving to build something strong for your children—Together We Shine will inspire, validate, and uplift your mission.

This is for the families who keep showing up.
The men who fight through silence.
The women who carry vision.
The children who grow up knowing love is louder than anything.

We don't just survive anymore.
We shine.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940184471617
Publisher:	Barnes & Noble Press
Publication date:	06/07/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	15 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, Jaquan Atkins is a living testimony that redemption is real, legacy is earned, and love—when rooted in truth—can heal even the deepest wounds.

A six-year convicted felon, Jaquan’s journey didn’t start with books and blessings—it started in survival mode. Labeled by the system, hardened by the streets, and overlooked by society, he spent years behind bars in a place designed to break him. But even in confinement, God was constructing a greater version of him—a man molded by fire, destined to father a movement.

Since his release, Jaquan has rewritten every chapter they tried to close on him. He is now a licensed CDL truck driver, a homeowner, and a full-custody father who stands ten toes down for his son and his three bonus daughters. The courts may have tried to silence him, but Jaquan speaks louder now—through his love, through his actions, and through his words.

He is the founder of Mac Made Fathers, a Richmond-based nonprofit that provides Black and Brown men with the tools, support, and brotherhood they need to remain active and present in their children’s lives—regardless of the obstacles. Built from the mud, this program is for fathers navigating the courtroom, surviving baby mama drama, or reclaiming their role after incarceration. Mac Made isn’t just a name—it’s a movement.

Alongside his queen, Keyana Atkins, Jaquan co-creates in love and legacy. Their bond birthed more than a household—it birthed a vision. Together, they are reshaping the narrative of what a thriving Black family looks like. Their union inspired the release of Jaquan’s debut book, Together We Shine, a powerful collection of poems, affirmations, letters, and generational wisdom written for fathers, mothers, children, and the families still healing out loud.

Jaquan writes for the fathers who stayed.
For the ones who came back stronger.
For the sons who needed their dad.
For the daughters who never stopped hoping.
For the wives who held the house down.
And for every Black family still fighting to stay whole.

From prison cell to published author, from absentee to authority, from Richmond’s streets to a legacy built in love—Jaquan Atkins proves that no past is too heavy to hold a future.

He is Mac Made. Man Made. Bloodline Built.
And Together, We Shine.