D. Michael Cheers, Ph.D. is an award-winning photojournalist, documentary filmmaker, and associate professor at San José State University.

A Fulbright Scholar and co-author of Still Grazing, he began his career documenting Black communities for the St. Louis American and later Jet and Ebony magazines, covering stories across the U.S. and Africa. A contributor to Songs of My People, Dr. Cheers now focuses his lens on African American life in San Jose—preserving its institutions, histories, and voices.