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From Brooklyn, with Love: The VERY BLACK Project.

“The Very Black Project (TVBP) isn’t merely a t-shirt, but a consciousness movement absolutely.”

Birthed in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, in 2014, the concept behind TVBP was driven by late night “Kitchen talks” between artist and cancer survivor André D. Singleton, and Art Director Justin Fulton, who both grew up very black and very gay in America.

Reflecting the very contemporary and, at times, very wounding experiences both Singleton and Fulton have endured, the project’s aim is to “encourage relatable dialogue around the vast experiences of ALL people who have ever felt alienated due to race, sexuality, gender, physical appearance or disability, with a focus on blackness.”

At its core, TVBP shifts the narrative surrounding autonomy and black visibility at a time where black people are incredibly vulnerable. Channeling frustrations and negative experiences into a single bold statement comprised of only two words - two very powerful words - printed on an otherwise plain tote, TVBP is part of the rhetoric central to black people reclaiming of the most visible component of their identities.

“We are using the body as a vehicle for solidarity while asserting a very important social commentary. At its core we believe that to be #VERYBLACK is to be unapologetically proud of who we are in a world that furtively teaches us to hide from our stories and our importance. It’s a true practice in Self-love and healing as a collective and individually. We can all be connected if we try.”

Shop TVBP.

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(via okv0gue)