Whether he's wearing the full King Ezekiel wig or sporting a well-shorn do, as seen above, Khary Payton's smile is infectious. He is a fan favorite among the TWD Fandom, and for good reason; he is just a great guy, and you will love him even more after reading the following article about his next project. The actor is well-known in the TWD universe and for his numerous voice acting roles, most notably for voicing Cyborg in the animated Teen Titans Go! Now, Payton has stepped behind the camera to bring light to the 50-year struggle his mother endured.
Gwendolyn Middleton Payton entered Macon, Georgia's Mercer University as one of the 55 African American students to attend the university in the fall of 1968, with a student population of approximately 5,000. Her goal was to receive a double major in biology and art. Dr. Marshall Daugherty, head of the art department, told Payton that African Americans (but he used an extremely derogatory term) weren't smart enough to receive a degree in his department.
He prohibited her from receiving said degree because he deemed her art "too controversial" and excluded her portfolio from the senior exhibit, a requirement for graduation with the Art degree. The art in question, "The ReBirth of Colored Folk," is featured in a Tweet by her son, Khary Payton (below).
My mother, Gwen Payton, was a double major in biology and art when she painted this nearly 50 years ago. She was denied her BA in art because her work was considered “too controversial” by the head of the department. So she graduated with her degree in biology... pic.twitter.com/Gsdvh3lJrq
— Khary Payton (@kharypayton) September 24, 2020
G. Payton completed all the requirements to obtain the degree, but even 41 years later, the Dean of the School of Liberal Arts stated she would have to complete 32 more hours to receive her well-earned degree. Luckily, she met Professor Dr. Sarah Gardner in 2019, who believed she was due the honor of the degree. The current Dean of the School of Liberal Arts, Dr. Anita Gustafson, agreed that G. Payton did complete the requirements, save the senior exhibit, to be bestowed the degree. She agreed to exhibit her works, and 50 years later, Gwendolyn Payton received the degree she worked so hard to achieve.
Read more about her story at 13WMAZ. Or listen below.
Now, her story is being told through a documentary, The Faith of the Dreamer, directed by her son, actor Khary Payton, in his directorial debut. Megan Shannon DeFranza served as producer, with Paul Van Ness as director of photography and his assistant, Rod Phillips. They were joined by Dan and Brenda Van Ness as executive producers, with Paul Russell serving as the theme tune recording artist.
The Faith of the Dreamer - One Woman's Story of Racial Trauma and Healing has been selected for presentation at the Burbank International Film Festival, taking place from September 23 to 28, 2025. Tickets for the screening go on sale beginning July 1, 2025, at this link.
After K. Payton's initial post of his mother's art in 2020, fans begged to purchase prints of the piece. You can purchase yours here.
"Opposition to the truth may derail the dream, but the faith of the dreamer prevails."Gwendolyn M. Payton - 2020
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