This week on The Local Take I speak with Shantrelle P. Lewis the curator and author of The Dandy Lion (Re) Articulating Black Masculine Identity an exhibit at the Hammonds House through April 28th.
Shantrelle Lewis explains that she grew up in New Orleans and the men in her family always dressed. Men from the South, had their own dress code and she was surprised to see men dressed so casually when she attended school at Howard University. She wanted to explore the culture of African-American men who dressed and was able to find this subtle nod to tradition with a cultural twist throughout the African diaspora.
Her exhibition includes photographs from South America, Africa, Europe and the United States. At the opening of the exhibition at the Hammonds House, men were asked to come dressed and it was a wonderful showing of this sub-culture in our community.
Shantrelle goes on to explain that many activities have happened at the Hammonds House including a seminar for young men in their teens to attend and get tips on grooming and dress from other African-American men.
For more information on The Dandy Lion Project
For more information on activities around this exhibition check Hammonds House
For more information on Shantrelle Lewis