First Impressions: Off-Screen Conversations with a Bachelor on Race, Family, and Forgiveness

Matt James had no idea what was in store when he agreed to be the first Black lead on the 25th season of ABC's beloved television show The Bachelor. You may think you know everything there is to know about him, but that was only his first impression. When The Bachelor franchise announced Matt James as the first Black lead, it was celebrated as long-overdue progress on the primetime show. America fell in love with Matt--the Christian, former NFL athlete, and nonprofit CEO--who charmed millions of viewers each week. But the off-screen conversations around the show revealed the realities and inescapable challenges of being Black in America and the depth of racism that still exists. On the show, Matt could only go so far in sharing his own story with America. In First Impressions, Matt shares his views on controversial topics like race and opportunity that defined his season on The Bachelor. Matt lives at the intersection of these important issues and shares the wisdom his experience has g