Striking the Masc.
A production meant to capture “the black man” in a perspective of positivity, “the black man” having the most creative mental aspect and showing how black men in our society from different lifestyles and perspectives live amongst each other, inspiring others to have a conversation about their ways and question the difference between mankind; striking the idea of toxicity within masculinity.
Men are always a resistant topic to talk about in society because if you don’t know, we may be the reason a lot of things happen within it. But I think we’re always trying to do more or less than we can with a situation just to feel that we are more and can do more on terms of where we stand in the world.
Black men, have primarily been the biggest target to the entirety of the world for hundreds of years now. For some it may seem as if we were the ones who had to be the “strongest” just because of who we are and therefore we had to undergo being enslaved, tortured, bullied, and shamed just to turn around and excel in everything from sports, to fashion, to music, and inventions. But society can take that humanity away from us just because we have a bad day. That then can provoke the toxic masculinity that stems so deeply within our roots.
At times it is made to seem like the black man is an emotionless, reckless, harmful, monster. Except we do know how to be more and it shows through out the culture we have; how we walk, how we talk, how to stay strong mentally, the style we have, the etiquette we use, the way we present ourselves, the intelligence, all in eyes of the black men. The way we set the tone inspired by the many black women who make the world spin, just by being exactly who we are, is tearing down the barriers of toxic masculinity.
So with the help of my partners at Striker Studios, I devised a way to show the mindsets of different men, from every aspect of our diverse culture. These young men share ideals about the many questions we should be asking ourselves because honestly, we are the change in so much of the future that starts today. But our skills aren’t being toned as resources to help each other grow. This is where it starts. This is Striking the Masc.
The outfits in the visuals were curated by a stylist that goes by the name of Cheyenne. Her uniqueness is another arch of creativity that added to the project. She has a keen eye for detail and a talent for putting together unique and fashionable looks for her clients. Stay tuned for more of her work on her social platforms.
Models by Instagram: @ayooo.phil @luv4jojo @marcell.ei @k_powell2@nerovalley @kminftc @davondiorrr @boujieboytony@elijahsarchiive @authentickriss @kinstonali @nco3_
Camera Crew: Striker Studios @strikersstudios @tktrb_ @glory4tune @cltbradleyy
