Author Description

THE MAN I NEEDED is the story of a boy who grew up without a father, and the man who refused to let that define him. From the West Side of Chicago to college tracks and film sets, Dionte Hackler’s journey is one of grit, grace, and the relentless pursuit of becoming his own example. What begins as a search for belonging becomes a revelation about love, manhood, and the healing that comes from breaking generational patterns. With humor, heartbreak, and hard-won wisdom, Dionte reminds us that sometimes the person we spend our lives searching for… is who we’re becoming all along. Raw. Honest. Uplifting. This is more than a memoir — it’s a testament to building the life, love, and legacy you were never shown how to create.