Please tell everyone about your experiences and things that have happened when you were wearing one of our T-shirts. I’ll kick things off with a few experiences of my own:
There’s one T-shirt I don’t wear very often anymore: Have You Hugged a Black Man Today. Not because I don’t like the design, but because I get too much attention - at times when I’m not looking for it.
When I wear the shirt, I love the reactions I get. The positive conversations and hugs are great. But I forget I am wearing the shirt after a while. I was having dinner with friends one evening, and I remember at least 3 separate times someone grabbed me and gave me a hug during dinner. After a while, it got to be a little too much. Now I bring a vest with me, or another T-shirt to wear over the 1st one.
It’s fun to sell that particular shirt during festival time. It gives couples an excuse to hug each other when they see it on display, and it’s been one of the most popular shirts I’ve sold. But I’ve also run into some pretty angry sisters - “I ain’t huggin’ no Black man...” and “Why can’t he hug me first?” I have my suspicions and theories as to why some sisters give me so much grief over that shirt. Without getting into it too deeply, I think that the anger was already there and the T-shirt is just an excuse. I’ll leave it at that.
The most common question I get regarding that T-shirt is “How come I don’t make “Have you Hugged A Black Woman?” I thought about it but decided that it would be too dangerous. If a man is suddenly and unexpectedly grabbed by a strange woman because of his T-shirt, there’s a very good chance he will welcome it. If a woman gets grabbed, there’s an even better chance she won’t like that. I’ve been told by women who wear “Have You Hugged A Black Man” that this is exactly what has happened.
Please tell your story. Leave a comment.
I absolutely love wearing my “Too Black” T-Shirt. The reactions I get varies from those trying to read it on the “sneak tip” and those that read it boldly and pretend they don’t understand it when they are done. I’ve never gone through a grocery store check out and the cashier did not halt the rest of the line to read my shirt. Keep pushing those t-shirts to educate, motivate, uplift and maybe even encourage those that don’t appreciate or should I say know their history to read!
PEACE
Posted by on 11/11/05 at 08:11 PM
I do not know where the guy from Black America Web was coming from. I have purchased MANY shirts from Urban Profile and as an elementary school teacher these shirts often lay the foundation for a Black History Lesson that is NOT in the book. My students have asked “Who is it on your shirt,today Mr.G.?” It gives me joy to teach them or explain to them about Jack Johnson, Joe Louis, Fred Hampton, or why are all those people crammed on that ship!(Slave Ship T-Shirt). My black students really learn and my parents have complemented my using the shirts for that purpose. Also the white students are learning about contributions of blacks to this country. In other words this isn’t about profit but promotion...promotion of our history and contributions!! CONTINUE TO BE STRONG URBAN PROFILE!!!!!!
Posted by on 11/12/05 at 07:18 PM
I recently purchased Think Feel Live… Teach Black shirt and I had it on at the October Gallery in Philadelphia and I received dozen of complements. Everyone kept asking me where I got the shirt from. I love that shirt and I plan on purchasing more in the future!
Posted by on 11/14/05 at 11:10 AM
I have the Emmett Till shirt 
I always get A LOT of compliments on my shirt, however one day my own mother asks me “who is emmett till?” and before I could even answer her I start hollering about how ridiculous it is that she doesnt know him. Then I tell her about him in hopes that it will jog her memory but she had never heard of him. I was HIGHLY up set, seeing as how she was born the year it happened and lived in the same state (mississippi) as he was when he died. I thought for sure her mother would have told her, or that she would have heard stories… I WAS WRONG.
another incident with the SAME shirt....
I was at a car wash with my church and I had on the shirt and one of the women asked me who emmett till was and before i could respond she said “isnt that a football player”
::hangs head in shame::
Posted by
Kim on 11/15/05 at 10:17 PM
Hey Kim,
Please don’t be too hard on your mother for not knowing who Emmett Till was. When your Mom came up, I bet her parents probably sheilded her from much of the racism and injustice that happenned when she was a child. Can you imagine a parent explaining to a child about the murder of another child? I think Emmet was only 13 or 14 years old when he was abducted. It’s not that uncommon for parents to keep a lot of things from their children at that time. That may count for something.
Also, confusing Emmett Till w/ Emmett Smith - the football player - isn’t surprising. It’s sad, but not surprising. The relevence of his life and death isn’t talked about much anymore.
THANK YOU to all for your feedback.
Posted by
Steve on 11/16/05 at 02:49 AM
My sister had some of her college friends meet up at the local Dave and Busters. She invited me and I came with my date. One of my sister’s friends is a brother that all the sisters drool over and he’s married to a white girl. Even when my woman saw him she said, “For real?” and just started laughing.
When the food came, my woman and I went to our table. Before my woman said her “Amen”, the white girl comes over and says her usual “Hello” and will go into a usual commentary on whatever shirt I have on. She answered the shirt and said “Yes, I did this morning”. My woman just looked at her and started laughing again and kept laughing until the girl left and we had to take her food home because she kept laughing and couldn’t finish it. I might have been laughing too, but I don’t remember. I still get messages from her through my sister. Always a hello or a comment.
Posted by on 04/17/06 at 10:44 AM
THIS WEBSITE IS ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!!! HIGH FIVE TO THIS COMPANY, AND IN TIMES LIKE TODAY ALL I CAN SAY IS THANK YOU LORD THERE IS STILL HOPE FOR THE BLACK MAN & WOMAN IN THIS COUNTRY!!!!
Posted by on 08/16/06 at 01:26 AM
Wow! Thank you very much… we promise to keep pluggin’ away. (Stay tuned, I will be adding some brand new Paul Robeson T’s tomorrow afternoon.)
Posted by
Steve on 08/16/06 at 02:49 AM
Great site and WONDERFUL T-shirts!
It’s great to see that you can have a black-owned business that sells to black people! And you’re helping to spread the positivity! Well done!!!!
Posted by on 09/18/06 at 01:46 PM
Zoe,
Thank you… but please note, we sell to EVERYBODY - not just black people. You might be surprised at the variety of people that are diggin’ the T’s, of most every ethicity. I’ve been getting more and more orders from counties like the UK, Spain, and i even shipped my very first T-shirt order to Japan last month. Blew me away.
But, I knew what you meant just the same, and thanks again.
Posted by
Steve on 09/20/06 at 10:10 PM
Well good sirs I found your company in early 2004 and I was a little skeptical at first over the qaulity(prior to purchase), but once my shirts arrived (in record time) I was happily pleased. I am in the Military so I have to do a lot of shopping online due to countries I live in don’t cater to the American fashion. But that is not why I am writing I have made it a point to own just about every shirt you have, it has forced my counterparts to ask question on the topic I love to discuss the most the history of the American Negro. I just wanted to say Thank You and God bless, it is because of guys like you that I know that the sacrifices by our people will never be forgotten.
Posted by on 01/24/07 at 09:43 PM
One more quick comment the Forth of U Lie shirt was a ground breaking awakening to my entire unit I love my country and I serve it proudly, but the shock of it’s own history is classic. It got me into a few heated discussion most of which came from my upper chain of command when I walk around base of the forth with it on. Some of which were not to familiar with US history 101, slaves were not freed in 1776. Thanks for the gear keep up the great work!
Posted by on 01/24/07 at 09:51 PM
Hi Shyaam,
Ya’ know, I can’t help but notice how there is absolutely no conflict between your patriotism and your knowledge / criticism of this country’s policies / history as it pertains to us - Black folks. I find this encouraging, specifically since the (right wing) media would have the public believe that the two couldn’t co-exist.
I appreciate your comments, and I thank you for your business.
Posted by
Steve on 01/24/07 at 11:31 PM
I just wanted to say that I really love my Angela Davis T shirt. People always give me compliments on it. I know I will be purchasing more t shirts in the near future. Not only do I like the design of it but I love the way it fits on me. Thank God there is a web site like this. I have been looking everywhere for a Angela Davis t shirt with no luck, so I am very thankful and proud of this web site.
TABITHA
Posted by on 03/17/07 at 01:47 PM
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