Remember A.J. Calloway from BET’s music video show, 106 & Park? He and Free were like the new Donnie Simpson and Sherry Carter of the early 2000’s. They were able to bring back a flava that had been missing ever since Video Soul and from 2000 to 2005, they held it down for BET in that arena.

If you remember that, then you also remember their tearful departure in 2005, when Free abruptly left the show and then phoned into the show live on air the next day to bid her goodbyes to A.J. and their fans. AJ cried on camera that day, as the audience watched in shock that their favorite hosts were no more. A.J. left when Free left as well.

AJ & Wife’s Third Addition To The Fam’

Fast forward to today and both former 106 & Park hosts have moved on to other things. Free moved on to becoming a radio personality and other ventures. AJ is now the NY Extra host and has won two Emmy awards (in 2014 and 2016) for killing it in that arena.

Aside from A.J.’s professional life, he’s expanded his personal life as well, marrying his longtime girlfriend, Dionne, in 2013 (his second marriage). Soon after marriage, they quickly began building their family. They had 2.5 kids up until very recently, with their daughters, Ava and Amy, and one on the way. But now a belated congratulations are in order for the Calloway’s after welcoming their third child, son Albert L. Calloway III, on March 28 (2017)!

AJ’s Extreme Concern…

After Albert III’s birth, AJ took to Instagram to express an all too real collage of emotions he was feeling at that time- extreme joy, gratitude…and also fear, anger, and sadness. See why in his IG message below…

The love showed to us has been unbelievable. Thank you all for it all! Bringing a son into this world is something special yet sobering in the same instance because I know what he will have to face because of his face. It's a shame that such concerns even have to be mentioned in the same breath of the joy of bringing a new life into this world, but racism in America is real still and that's repulsing. I pray for a better world for him. I pray I can teach him to be better than me. I pray he lives in a world where humanity finally learns how to be humane. I pray for the sanctity of his sanity when confronted with inequalities. Most of all I pray for his health, well-being and over all safety. In Jesus name -Amen

A post shared by AJCalloway (@ajcalloway) on Mar 30, 2017 at 6:36pm PDT

Happy Sunday… Wait for it… #TheBest

A post shared by AJCalloway (@ajcalloway) on Apr 2, 2017 at 12:32pm PDT

As an African American man, I understand exactly why AJ feels the way he feels. It’s sad that there should be anything felt other than gratitude and joy after the birth of one’s child. But the reality is one that can’t be overlooked in todays society. Therefore it’s wise to do what AJ has done, and that is to stay in tune with it, as opposed to acting as if it doesn’t exist. I think that awareness can possibly make a life or death difference later on down the line- sad, but true. Much respect to AJ for bringing his brutally honest emotions to the forefront.