‘A little Black excellence.’ Event in Miami aims to change the perception of Black men
The hundreds of Black men gathering Saturday at FTX Arena aren’t models. They aren’t taking pictures or doing it “just for the gram,” either.
No, the real reason they will be there is much deeper: to change the perception of Black men.
“It’s important for us to write our own narratives, our own stories,” said NeAndre Broussard, the CEO of Black Menswear, an organization focused on promoting positive representation of men of African descent.
Black Menswear will be hosting one of their famed FlashMobs Saturday morning, the second in Miami in as many years. The rules are simple: wear whatever you want — as long as it includes a suit jacket. Part networking event, part fashion show, the gathering represents an opportunity to shift the narratives surrounding Black men.
“The FlashMob series is a meetup that allows brothers to have free space to be able to empower each other, to share ideas, to network – but look good doing it,” Broussard said.
Last year’s festivities attracted men of all ages from across South Florida and beyond. The suit colors looked like something out of a skittles pack, with participants rocking various shades of purple, orange and everything in between. Such a display moved Miami-Dade Commission Chairman Oliver Gilbert III so much that he issued a proclamation declaring Dec. 18, 2021, Black Menswear FlashMob Day.
“So often you see Black men and they’re pictured a certain way,” Gilbert said. “and that picture is never with a suit on.”
Arguably more important, Gilbert added, is the opportunity to challenge the social constructs — “dark blue suit, dark gray suit and straight tie and it’s got to be black shoes or brown shoes” — around professional dress.
“They are often social constructs that [Black men] fall outside of and so as we fall outside of those social constructs, if you don’t look a certain way or you don’t wear a certain thing, you’ll be perceived a certain way,” Gilbert said. “And I think we should always be challenging that.”
The flash mobs began in Dallas in 2017. Since then, Broussard has held them across the country and even internationally in Toronto and Ghana. Black Menswear has expanded to now include a podcast, YouTube channel and even a signature wine blend. The images produced at the events, most notably the one of a little boy raising his clinched fist with dozens of men in the background, have been shared by Diddy, Tracee Ellis Ross and Common.
“That’s what really put us on the map,” Broussard said of the little boy’s image.
As far as the countless drivers who will be rather surprised at the sight of dozens of Black men strolling down Biscayne Bay Boulevard Saturday, Broussard had one thing to say.
“It’s just a little Black excellence,” Broussard quipped. “That’s all.”
Black Menswear Flash Mob
When: 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 17
Where: FTX Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami
Tickets: Tickets are free and can be found at https://events.eventnoire.com/e/bmwMIAMI2.
This story was originally published December 15, 2022 at 4:30 AM.
