THE NEW STEREOTYPE [TNS]… A REVOLUTION IN FASHION !!!

larry.byrd
Aug 27, 2017 · 4 min read

When and why was The New Stereotype created?

The New Stereotype is a recreation composed by Marquelle Turner. His first quarter of last year, he was studying abroad in Europe. When he returned to the US at the end of April, he became fixated with the social, economic, and political climate of America. It was almost as if he had lost complete touch while away. He spend hours on YouTube “catching” up on the news and developed an affinity for social issues that developed an affinity for social issues that “polluted” America. As race relations continued to rise, he knew he wanted to do something that was not only impactful but authentic to his passions. He loves fashion (more so style) and he understood early on the impact of imagery. He wanted to get a group of black men together and take a picture dressed in a way that people might not expect and in places where many blacks may not expect to work. It is in this way, he wanted to see how he could create “New Stereotype” and paint “New Pictures” of the black male. Not only as a whole, but also within our very own communities.

What is your message?

There are so many negative stereotypes and while we are all so different, there is a unity in the sense that we are positive examples of black men. We are not thugs, but are Gentlemen of Color. Our goal is to show black men in a different light.

How are you going to communicate your message to the public?

This project relies heavily on the support and fluidity of social media. Our primary mode of communication is through interviews for blogs, posts on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and mostly recently video. Using social media makes it easier to share at a faster rate; however, one of the goals for 2016 is to explore print and television.

Who is your target market? Both male and females?

Both men and women are the target audience of all nationalities and ethnicity. We’ve seen support from many different groups and even international support as far as London and Portugal. Women and men drive the project for different reasons but both find relevance in the project. While the support is broad, the biggest supporters are black men and women. It’s refreshing and inspiring to see the level of support. For example, to date “The Reclaim” has 17, 956 shares of Facebook and 528,000 views.

Please tell us about the men and women in The New Stereotype?

The main goal of this project is to highlight and celebrate the many diverse layers within black life. The men and women in the project have dynamic stories and represent a melting pot of several cultures and subcultures. Participants have ranged from places such as St. Lucia Alabama, The Netherlands, Toronto Canada to even St. Thomas Virgin Islands. Participants also work in various industries; including but not limited to , education, law, nonprofits, fashion, hospitality, event planning, media and retail. One of the most common shared traits includes a sense of pride for being black.

What are your immediate and long range goals?

Initially, the project started with a goal of just releasing photos. Those goals have evolved and this year events are being explored in addition to civic engagement.

Where can the public find out more about The New Stereotype?

You can find the project on several blogs, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and video. Our best publication are from:

Video

“The New Stereotype: The Reclaim” on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/147184226

Blavity Blog

http://blavity.com/the-new-stereotype-is-creating-positive-imagery-of-the-black-man/

K.R.E.A.T.E. TV

Is there anything you would like to add to this interview?

Kemoi Charles

@iamkemoi8

Christian Centonze

@centonze_25

Brandon Bryant

@wallstreet.paper

Aundreus Patterson

@aundreus

Russel Sampson Jr.

@russy06

Aaron Robinson

@ajthegent

Marquelle Turner

@marquelleturner

Terell Shaw

@tallrell

Photography Team:

Shola

@aqut

Videography Team

Videographer:

Marcus Rosendoll

@marcusrosendoll

*SPECIAL THANKS TO KEMOI CHARLES FOR HIS TIME AND PHOTOS**

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