He broke down in tears surrounded by stoic classmates: Truth behind ‘black boy joy’ video that captivated America
An Atlanta Netflix star shared the emotional moment her son graduated from college after years of struggle.
Lori Hanford’s 23-year-old son Sean graduated from Kennesaw State University in Georgia on December 19 with a degree in Entrepreneurship.
Hanford is known for starring in the Michelle Obama produced Netflix dating show The Later Daters which premiered in 2024.
She is also a celebrity correspondent for ATL Plus Magazine, an educator and behavior coach.
She captioned the video of Sean’s graduation ‘black boy joy’ and it quickly went viral with more than 200,000 likes on Instagram. The footage showed him sporting a cap and gown as he wiped tears from his eyes while Pomp and Circumstance played.
‘The tears he [shed] was a reminder of how he got here,’ Hanford explained on social media. ‘The road was not easy but he persevered.’
‘God gave him the fortitude to push through even when he thought his life was falling apart.’
Hanford raised her son as a single mother and revealed that she had often struggled to pay for his meal plan at times during college.
Netflix star Lori Hanford posted a video of her son Sean wiping away his tears at his college graduation
Hanford (center) starred in the Netflix dating show The Later Daters which was produced by Michelle Obama
Sean Hanford graduated from Kennesaw State University on December 19 with a degree in Entrepreneurship
The newly-minted Kennesaw State grad wrote online that his graduation was a tribute to ‘the seasons of uncertainty that came long before this moment.’
‘Before I even stepped onto a college campus in 2021, there was a moment when I genuinely didn’t know how I would afford the future I felt called to,’ he said.
‘…and God made a way I never could have planned.’
Hanford raised Sean and his sister Kennede alone.
Sean received several scholarships, worked a full time job and mentored young boys to keep himself afloat.
Despite the financial pressures and busy schedule, he managed to become a real estate agent and was even featured on his mom’s Netflix show all before graduation.
Lori and Sean Hanford explained that their family experienced financial difficulties during his time in college
‘Really thanks to my ma, she connected me with a whole bunch of great people, great mentors,’ Sean told WSB-TV.
Hanford signed her son up for the Steve Harvey Mentoring Program for Young Men.
According to the website, the program ‘helps young men realize their potential’ and introduces participants to role models who prepare them for the future.
Anytime Sean wanted to give up, his mother told the outlet he got a text from a pastor or even Steve Harvey himself, encouraging him to keep up the hard work.
The Steve and Marjorie Harvey foundation scholarship paid for Sean’s first year of college.
Harvey even chimed in under Sean’s viral graduation video.
‘A product of mentorship all praises to GOD to GOD be the glory… I love you soldier you did it,’ the celebrity host wrote.
Hanford raised her two children as a single mother
Sean graduated with honors and almost no debt. He hopes to own his own real estate brokerage in the future.
He already joined forces with his father George Hanford to start their own business – The Hanford Group – which provides broker and realtor needs in the Atlanta area.
Hanford told WSB-TV reporters that she shared the now viral moment to show other young black men what can be accomplished.
‘I wanted the world to see that black boys, they can do it, they can persevere,’ she said.
‘I didn’t think it would be a viral moment, but I wanted to capture a black boy crying and being emotional because I think we teach our sons not to cry, that makes you weak.’
The Daily Mail contacted the Hanfords for comment.
