Cephas Williams is fed up with poorly-told narratives about black people.<\/p>\n
Wearing his hoodie \u2013 the iconic symbol of\u00a0his movement, 56 Black Men \u2013 the campaigner and entrepreneur\u00a0told\u00a0Michael Hayman on Capital Conversation that now is the time to stand up and ensure black people can tell their own stories:<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople writing our story in the media don\u2019t truly understand what it feels like to be a black man. Part of our mission is to put lived experience at the forefront of the conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n
In order to take control of the narrative, the campaign photographed professional black men \u2013 from plumbers to politicians \u2013 in hoodies, to demonstrate that the stereotype of the black, hooded man as \u201ca perpetrator of violence\u201d is both false and damaging.<\/p>\n
Through these images, which included the Tottenham MP David Lammy, Cephas hopes to ultimately empower black men to create a platform that amplifies them, supports them, and puts them in the spotlight.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t being done, so I did it\u201d, adds Cephas who argues that we ought to be living in a reflective world. These images, he hopes, ask for this kind of reconsideration.<\/p>\n
The campaign, which is backed by global advertising provider ClearChannel UK, wants to make much more than a short-term impact: \u201cWe need to be clear about who we\u2019re fighting against and who we\u2019re fighting for. So long as black men face a prejudice, we will continue the conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cephas is also the founder of photography and video studio Drummer Boy, which \u2013 like 56 Black Men \u2013 is concerned with self-representation for the black community, providing affordable studio space for black creatives amidst increasing gentrification. \u201cIt\u2019s about great architecture and bringing it to the community.”<\/p>\n