What started as a simple tweet by a young man in Michigan has quickly blossomed into a viral social media campaign.
It all started earlier this week when graphic designer Jermaine Dickerson proposed the following idea to his 5,000 Twitter followers:
https://twitter.com/jermainedesign/status/942590584174383104
He followed that up with another post:
How about we take this to the next level?
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https://twitter.com/jermainedesign/status/942785294507573248
In an interview with Blavity, Dickerson, who is openly gay, says the idea was inspired by the struggles he often faced with showing affection towards other Black men growing up.
“Growing up I just found it really hard to express intimacy with the male role models in my life, it was hard for me to express a certain level of emotion,” he says.
Related: The Ultimate Collection Of Cuddling Bros Photos
Dickerson says he wants straight people to “be held accountable” for fostering heteronormative ideas of what male intimacy can look like.
“As I got older and began to learn about heteronormativity and all these things that sort of negate intimacy among Black men, I took it upon myself to try to deconstruct some of those oppressive ideals,” he says.
All sorts of guys have been getting in on the campaign…
Fathers and sons…
My husband and son ? @MJXCKSOUNDS #BlackBoysEmbrace pic.twitter.com/IMSmpmYdPj
— Diam (@diam_jackson) December 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/AllGrownUp17/status/943647543019290624
Uncles and nephews…
This is my nephew, we are 5 years apart in age and I'm super affectionate towards him and I couldn't care less what anynody has to say or think about it! #BlackBoysEmbrace pic.twitter.com/3vkviSKCgN
— Dexter (LTS) ? (@Kingdex001) December 19, 2017
Friends…
https://twitter.com/LuiThinks_/status/943809915897905153
https://twitter.com/dfsparks/status/942910524299214848
Brothers…
My brothers. 2 straight. 1 gay. All Jamaican. Unlearning is in my family bloodline. #BlackBoysEmbrace pic.twitter.com/oEl7DpUOFh
— asadullah saed (@AsadullahSaed) December 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/zimbabwekenya/status/943256810559074305
Boyfriends…
#BlackBoysEmbrace My Everything pic.twitter.com/NDlQM0GX8b
— Demi-Glacé Slayer (@bleuxichiro) December 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/jermainedesign/status/943608357239296001
Some throwbacks…
#BlackBoysEmbrace pic.twitter.com/1Dal9rsbpV
— Stevie Mat (@stevie_mat) December 19, 2017
And a few kids…
My sons #BlackBoysEmbrace pic.twitter.com/zWibF3ZhVV
— DeeJay Demand (@DeeJay_Demand) December 18, 2017
Let’s all join in for a collective “Awwwww.”
Related: New study finds straight dudes in bromances often hug, kiss, and share their most intimate secrets
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