100 Black Men’s ‘Pinstrips or Prison Strips’ Billboard
100 Black Men Incorporated, an prominent civic organization and service club committed to the empowerment and education of African American youth– now in their forty-seventh year–has created a new anti-violence campaign geared towards young Black men.
The organization’s “Pinstripes or prison stripes” billboard, now posted around the Baton Rouge, Louisiana area is their message to young Black men. It’s apart of the Project Exile federal program.
100 Black Men has partnered with Project Exile to reach youth during a critical times in their lives says a report from a local Louisiana news station. The organization’s goal is to post more “Pinstripes or prison stripes” around the country.
If you’re in the area and want to volunteer, call 225-356-9444.
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Wow! I am glad that an organization is willing to put themselves on the line for a hush hush cause.
Great message, short and impactful.
Young black men NEED the Hard truth!
Wow!
Cute. I like it.
Very good.
Great billboard, need it here in Texas.
that is a wonderful billboard with a strong message and should be everywhere in the states
idk… maybe i’m totally missing the message of this, but…
….so where telling black men that they can either be trapped in slave labor or they can be sent to prison? i say slave labor because black men’s bodies are commodified for what labor they can give to this capitalistic society. black men are not guaranteed a living wage and are forced to work until they die, especially in today’s society. neither of these “choices” presented on this billboard are really choices. when you are forced to get a job/career solely to provide for yourself not for personal growth, because of capitalism, this is not a choice at all. black men must make their own path, not be confined by “choices” such as these. black men can change the world and that involves neither allowing your labor to be exploited in this capitalistic society nor being subjected to a different form of slavery in the prison industrial complex. sigh. i completely disagree with this billboard & clutch advocating for it.
Job = money
Money = the funds to make your own way and not going without basic necessities like food and shelter.
Your argument is ridiculous and poorly thought out. I’m tempted to think you’re one of those fake conscious people that thinking making a way for yourself is “giving into the Man” so you just stay home, playing video games and living off your Moms or your baby momma. Get a clue.
Mikilikemouse wrote: “when you are forced to get a job/career solely to provide for yourself not for personal growth, because of capitalism, this is not a choice at all.”
******************************************************************************************************************
Waahaahaahaahaahaaa!
That entire comment (especially the above quote) sounds like a sorry ‘conscious’ bum’s wack-@ss justification for being lazy, living in their mom’s basement/girlfriend’s spot, and not getting a job!
Of course all are free to “make their own path”…on their own dime!
IA!!
This billboard makes it seem as if there is no path in between. I agree with mikilikemouse, there is no choice at all. A pinstripe suit should not automatically equate success as if these are the only two paths that a Black man can take.
Wow
You are taking that pinsuit thing way out of context. The message is just merely saying to be self reliant and do good by our community. My goodness
I see the billboard letting brothers know that THEY CAN CHOOSE which direction their life goes. Billboards are expensive, so I am sure they wanted to get the point across in as few words as possible. For the men that this board speaks too, I hope they get it.
For those of us who wish to facilitate change, we will view this as a positive attempt to reach a group that is otherwise forgotten, bashed, and ridiculed.
Its no wonder people do not take a stand. Pick something else to busticate.
Let the church say AMEN!
I understand slightly where the opposition is coming from. In this case, however, I believe the suit is symbolic of a man’s success, whether he chooses to become a photographer, a business man, an independent barber, artist, janitor, what have you. Clearly, the prison uniform is symbolic of making the wrong choices in life and paying the consequences. All I believe it is saying is you must choose to win and not be bought by greed. There is a very prevalent slave culture in our country and those who choose to shortchange themselves by selling drugs and doing all the illegal things we (black people) are targeted for, then we are voluntarily enlisting ourselves in a modern slave trade. It is only when we decide to become self sufficient and define our own success, that we will be free.
On another note, I believe every man should own a suit. But maybe that’s just me.
Agreed.
I totally agree.
I love it.. they need this up north n NJ…
Those whining about the billboard fail to see that we ALL answer to somebody. Mama’s request to take out the trash and clean up, the boss at work to get some work accomplished, etc…at least those involve choices. There are DEMANDS made on you in jail too and guess what? No paycheck at the end. My problem with the billboard is that too many young black males have no fathers around. The results are predictable, then the young man has to pick himself up by his own bootstraps and make something of himself. Meanwhile, Absent Deadbeat never had to answer, own up, or pay. Focus on THAT dude too. His ass needs a billboard or two.
They DO have some hear in VA, not enough though. They have more “Don’t go there- isn’t she a litlle young” for the pedophiles as well. That one personally makes me want to scream, but that’s another story. Va has one of the highest rates of girls 18 and under having babies by men 25+….sick isn’t it!
@akai & @lisa: actually, if you must know i am a college student earning a degree in ethnic studies who plans on starting a non-profit (helping to eradicate rape) after i graduate. & yes i do believe that making your own path means not giving into the “man.” believe it or not, there are dominant powers in this society that work to keep minority populations underprivileged and to neutralize these powers we must define our own belief systems. my belief, supported by years of research is that “working for the man solely for profit” instead of the good of the community is detrimental. yes, we all do need the basic necessities, but this society is obsessed with over the top consumerism. please research the effects that capitalism has on communities of color. i don’t agree with what this billboard is saying because its advocating for two oppressive extremes; not learning or not doing anything for the community. its saying get a job or go to jail, both of which are sometimes out of the control of the individual.
thank you to all who addressed my disagreement with this billboard without trying to “guess” who i am or make judgements on my character. :)
Sorry Mikilikemouse and, truly, my intent was not to guess, judge your character, or even offend.
I thought I was careful in limiting to what the “comment” sounded like as I’ve heard similar opinions before.
Good luck on your studies and future plans.
In regards to mikilikemouse’s comments, I don’t really think that’s what they were trying to say. I’m a design/art student and I’m sure the organization worked with a designer to help with imagery for the billboard to have a clear message. The images have to be strong and recognizable. A business suit is easily associated with a job, you dress up and wear one when you’re going somewhere or doing something important. Prison stripes, though lots of prisons don’t issue these type of uniforms anymore, are very iconic of prison. You can recognize them anywhere. These are symbols, an example and are side by side to show the disparities between the two to trigger though. Anything else would be too subtle and the message wouldn’t be as clear.
It’s not saying get a job or go to jail. It’s saying getting in trouble and going to jail or doing something legal and productive. The images are examples which are, well should be, easy to understand and recognizable to the public.
Its strange, I think this ad is overall great, someone needs to make the clear statement to young black men in however many subtle, subliminal ways necessary to counter the other subliminal ideas they are exposed to. However, there is this nebulous undercurrent within this message.
There has long existed the concept of “selling out”, in a way the proximity of “pinstripes vs. prison stripes” almost suggest that you will find yourself at the employ of white Americans whether you fail or succeed. We collectively know who runs prisons, and we collectively know who runs the majority of corporations, and if not that the culture of “corporate america”. It doesn’t mean that wearing “pin stripes” means you aren’t self employed, that’s a reality as well. It just seems this idea of “pin stripes vs prison stripes” also harbors the unintended message, that as a black male you are always at the behest of something other than yourself. Then again, in America no matter your color, that is actually true, you either follow the law of the land, or suffer the consequences.
I get where the ad is coming from. If they place more ads around the country they should begin in major areas where violence is a major problem (Chicago).
Powerful.
It is a good idea, and will impact millions. But it isnot the only choice which was also mentioned. There are youth out here,that will be changed by those few words on the poster. Not everyone, each person path is different, but still revealant. Argueing amongst each other is not the way. Our community need to unify, we are near extinction people. We are one of the cultures, that are always at odds with one another. How long will we continue this type of destructive behaviour? We can have different opinions, but it doesn’t make another’s person opinion invalid. We all matters, and can have different opinions. We have to learn to respect and validate each other’s opinion even though maybe different from our own. We do have choices, they aren’t just limited to pinstripes or prison. You can choose your own path, but the pinstripes or prison billboard is saying a lot also. Let’s remember, we come from a strong,loving,intelligent,innovative and creative community. Let’s not limit ourselves,but we do need to unify, it’s critical!!