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PayDay It Forward

In the spirit of goodwill bestowed upon us, let's extend a guiding hand to the next generation of young gentlemen.

Attitudes & Emotions Helping Others Men35

Marketing angleinferred

Activate community mentorship and affirmation campaigns targeting young men through local organizations, nonprofits, and educational institutions to drive awareness and positive social impact.

Relevance 35low intent

Share mentor stories: spotlight local professionals who've lifted up young men in their community
Words of affirmation challenge: encourage followers to post one genuine compliment or validation for a young man they know
Community spotlight: partner with schools/nonprofits to highlight young men making positive contributions
Mentorship sign-up drive: use the day to recruit volunteers for youth mentoring programs

History

PayDay It Forward began as a way to get communities to show kindness to their young men and honor them.

The event starts with the story of a young black man named Paylor James Daniels, nicknamed “PayDay”. Following his tragic murder just after turning 18 years old, Daniels mother decided to found this day to raise awareness about young, black men who are so often the targets of racial violence. Daniels mom encourages everyone to look past the hoodies that teenage boys might be wearing and see the humans there who may just need a helping hand or a kind word!

Many people want to share their goodwill with young men, but often don’t dare to do so.

There’s an enormous amount of untapped kindness out there, and it’s a resource that could benefit society if people could utilize it. PayDay It Forward is an attempt to make that happen.

How to celebrate

Honor Young Men

In society today,y oung men often face considerable pressure in their lives, from education to careers and relationships. PayDay It Forward is an opportunity for everyone to share their gratitude for these members of the community and to show them compassion.

Words of Affirmation

Many young men don’t often hear words of affirmation that build them up. PayDay It Forward is an opportunity to praise the men in your community and make them feel like valuable members of society.

Offer Validation

If you suspect that a young man might feel alienated or left out of the community, then you might want to validate their presence. Letting them know that you value their role in the community and are grateful for the work that they do is an important act of inclusion. The more people that are invested in the success of a community, the better that community will be! How will you take part in PayDay It Forward?

FAQ

How do positive words of affirmation affect young men’s mental health and self-esteem?

Research on adolescents and young adults shows that genuine words of affirmation from family, peers, and mentors are linked with higher self‑esteem, better school engagement, and lower levels of depression and anxiety. Supportive feedback helps shape a young person’s “self-schema,” or internal story about who they are and what they can become, which can buffer the impact of stress, discrimination, and negative stereotypes that many young Black men encounter.

Why can racism and discrimination have such a strong effect on young Black men’s confidence and life chances?

Psychologists and public health researchers describe racism as a “chronic stressor” that can erode mental health, increase the risk of hypertension and other illnesses, and influence how young Black men see themselves and their future. Experiences like racial profiling, harsher school discipline, and fear of violence can create what some scholars call “racial battle fatigue,” which is linked with symptoms of anxiety, withdrawal, and lowered academic and career expectations.

What kinds of community support make the biggest difference for young men of color?

Studies consistently find that strong, trusting relationships with caring adults, safe after‑school spaces, culturally affirming mentoring, and opportunities for leadership are powerful protective factors. Community programs that center young men’s voices and reflect their cultural backgrounds are associated with lower rates of violence involvement and better mental health outcomes, especially when they combine practical help such as tutoring or job training with emotional support and positive recognition.

How can bystanders safely respond when they see a young man being unfairly targeted or stereotyped in public?

Experts in bystander intervention recommend first assessing safety, then choosing low‑risk actions such as documenting the incident, checking in with the targeted person, or interrupting with a neutral question to defuse tension. Many advocacy organizations advise focusing on supporting the person being targeted rather than arguing with an aggressor, and, when appropriate, reporting discriminatory treatment to supervisors, school officials, or civil rights hotlines. Training in bystander skills has been shown to increase people’s likelihood of intervening and reduce harmful incidents.

What is “adultification bias,” and how does it affect young Black boys and teens?

“Adultification bias” is a term researchers use to describe the tendency to view Black children, especially boys, as older, less innocent, and more responsible for their behavior than their white peers. Studies have found that Black boys are more likely to be perceived as threatening and less in need of protection starting in late childhood, which helps explain racial gaps in school discipline and in how authority figures respond to them. This bias can limit empathy and reduce the positive affirmation and second chances that other children receive.

Why is it important to see young men as individuals rather than as stereotypes like “thug” or “criminal”?

Stereotypes about clothing, speech, or neighborhood can cause people to make split‑second judgments that have serious consequences, from unnecessary calls to law enforcement to missed opportunities for mentoring and employment. Social psychology research shows that when people are encouraged to see others as complex individuals with families, interests, and goals, they are less likely to dehumanize them and more likely to show empathy and fairness. Small acts such as learning a young man’s name, asking about his interests, and offering specific encouragement can help counteract harmful generalizations.

How can families and mentors give validation to young men without encouraging harmful behavior or entitlement?

Practitioners who work with youth recommend focusing validation on effort, character, and growth rather than on status or material success. That means affirming qualities such as perseverance, kindness, creativity, and responsibility, and being specific about what the young man did well. At the same time, clear boundaries and constructive feedback help keep praise grounded in reality. This approach, often called “authoritative” support, is associated with better self‑control, academic performance, and mental health than either harsh criticism or uncritical praise.