Black Men Build

Black Men Build has a lot in store this year. Shoutout to our Day 1s, our new followers, our future members and last but not least our 9s across the country. Black Men Build is a revolutionary organization and we are bringing Black men into the movement for racial, gender, and social justice. Below are some of the core pillars of our work: 🪶The work starts with our Men's Circles. Brothers need a space to BE: be themselves, be in conversation, be challenged, be educated, be together. Our circles bring together men (and in some cases women) twice a month for conversation, vulnerability and sharing. This is a heart and spirit space. It is the bedrock of our programming in many cities. We have Men's Circles in Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, East St. Louis, Los Angeles, Memphis, Milwaukee, Miami, New York, St. Louis and South Jersey. 🪶 Each of our hubs are developing their own set of survival programs to serve, recruit and educate. These include: community health clinics, music training classes, self defense classes, gun safety trainings, historical tours, food pantries, the Black Men Build Chess Club, and mentoring programs for the youth in every city we are in. 🪶We believe that every BMB member, affiliate, and hub must serve as an educational center for our communities. With rampant misinformation both online and in the community, we see this as a key part of our work and fight. BMB hosts monthly Mass Calls that engage thousands of men across the country to discuss current events, politics, health, media and wealth. Our weekly Theory Thursday political sessions dive deeper into the issues that we face everyday. 🪶WARTIME is our quarterly print and digital political publication. It covers our cultural, social, and political vision and is a place for us to offer our critiques in thoughtful and creative ways on on capitalism, weed legalization, the COVID-19 pandemic, respecting Black women, community protection and much more. Come build with us. Link in bio to become a member 🙏🏾

The sons of Harriet have returned. #blackmenbuild Directed By: @pargett Edited By: @vacostudio Written By: @tefpoe @philsomething , @glctheism Voiceover By: @glctheism Music by @damondavis Inspired By: #larryhoover #MutuluShakur #demetriusflenory, @tamikadmallory , @mysonnenygeneral , @roots_Collective , @eatorgchicago , @thedreamdefenders , @breenewsome , @marclamonthill , @ijessewilliams AND THE LATE GREATS #TupacShakur, #NipseyHussle, #FredHampton, #MarcusGarvey, #MalcolmX, #DrMartinLutherKing, #KwameToure, #BayardRustin, #PatriceLumumba, #MuhammadAli, #SamCooke, #HarrietTubman, and #FannieLouHamer

NEW MEN MUST BE BORN Our work is led by Fathers, Big Brothers, and Uncles. This Father’s Day, we’re asking you to donate and support our organization’s growth. We view our work each day as a contribution towards building a better world for our children.  We know that we can transform our communities when men take active steps to transform themselves and contribute towards building up our families and our communities. Find out more about Black Men Build and make a donation to support our work at bit.ly/bmbdonations or click the link in our bio. Every Dollar Counts.  $9/month goes a long way. HISTORY ISN'T MADE, IT'S BUILT.  BUILD IT WITH US. #blackmen #melanin #blackwomen #blackexcellence #blacklove #black #melaninqueen #tiktok #blackgirls #blackboys #blackwomen #blackwoman #blackman #blackgirlmagic #melaninpoppin #blackpower #blackisbeautiful #africa #blackman #hiphop #blackgirlsrock #blacklivesmatter #blackqueen #blackbusiness

Last week Dr.Treva Lindsey (@americagoddam ) pulled up to our special WARTIME virtual event on combating femicide to bless us with her wisdom on the subject. In this clip she dissects how white supremacy intersects with patriarchy for Black men. There’s still much work to be done addressing this problem but we remain committed to being part of the solution. To view the whole conversation head to our YouTube channel (@ blackmenbuild) where we upload all our virtual events in full!

The circle is open! Next Wednesday come reflect, heal, grow, and be in community with your brothers. 📅 Wednesday, May 20th | 7–8:30PM 📍 The Shrine | 308 South Driver St, Durham, NC #BlackMenBuild

Today marks the 41st anniversary of the MOVE bombing in West Philadelphia. The bombing came as part of an all-out police assault on the home of the Black revolutionary group MOVE. Following a 1978 standoff with police that left 1 officer dead, 9 MOVE members were sent to prison on questionable murder charges. The remaining members moved to a different part of town and soon began demonstrations in an effort to free their comrades. These demonstrations involved disrupting the neighborhood with the objective of getting neighbors to complain to city hall. Despite numerous complaints, city officials refused to do anything about the escalating situation. It wasn’t until neighbors went to the PA governor that newly-elected Mayor Goode, the 1st Black mayor in Philadelphia history, finally took action. Just like his predecessor Frank Rizzo, Goode turned the situation over to a police force that was infamous for some of the worst police brutality in the country. Soon after the order was given, 500 police officers descended upon the MOVE house. The assault started with tear gas and firehoses before devolving into police firing 10,000 rounds into the house. When these efforts failed to force MOVE out, a military-grade explosive was dropped on the roof, igniting a fire in the process. With MOVE still refusing to surrender, city officials intentionally let the fire get out of control, displaying an incredible lack of concern for surrounding homes, let alone human life. As a result - 11 MOVE members, including 5 children, were killed, 61 homes were destroyed, and 250 people were left homeless. Mayor Goode remained in office even after admitting the mistakes he made. In 2022, 37 years after the situation, the city finally acknowledged the bombing was a homicide and not an accident.

We’re bringing the WARTIME Magazine Release Party to the Triangle as we celebrate Malcolm X’s 101st birthday by honoring his views, his philosophy, and his profound capacity for transformation. 100 years. One legacy. Infinite lessons. Come get your copy of WARTIME Issue No. 7, break bread, vibe to good music, and go deep in discussion around what Malcolm’s evolution means for us right now. What does it mean to transform in this moment? What is required of us? Who are we building with? Pull up. Build with us. 📅 Tuesday, May 19th | 6–8PM 📍 @nuestrobarrio_liberationcafe 458 S Driver St, Durham, NC #BlackMenBuild #BlackMenBuildNC #WARTIME #MalcolmX101 #MalcolmX

The honoring of mothers and women in our lives extends far beyond one day and Black Men Build strives to make this a consistent part of our revolutionary practice. In the Malcolm X Study Guide assembled by our political education team, we highlighted the life and legacy of Betty Shabazz, wife of Malcolm and mother of their 6 daughters. As we study Malcolm’s transformation it’s crucial to extend this study to his transformative partner as well. Additionally, anti-patriarchal works such as Russell Maroon Shoatz’ “Respect our Mothers, Stop Hating Women” have been embedded into the core of our political curriculum. Swipe through slides 6-9 for some choice excerpts. We also want to highlight the important work being done by @nationalbailout - a Black-led and Black-centered collective of abolitionist organizers, lawyers, and activists working to support our incarcerated population. You can still donate to their #FreeBlackMamas campaign by heading to the link in their bio!

Happy blessed, powerful Mother’s Day to every mother out there 🖤💐 To the mothers who have made sacrifice a part of their daily practice. From the ones doing it alone to the ones doing it together. The “non traditional” ones. The ones who mother children not born from their bodies. We see you. We honor you. We love you. To every mother who has ever fought for a better world for her children. To the Black mothers who marched and continue to protest. The immigrant mothers who put everything on the line. The mothers who showed up and taught their children the power of love. The mothers who fortify our communities with strength and wisdom. Today we also hold space for those of us celebrating without her. The mother who passed and left a silence no one else can fill. To every mother we’ve lost: you are still being loved. Still being talked about. Still shaping who we are. You are not, and will never be, forgotten 🤲🏾🖤 We love you. Happy Mother’s Day. 💐🌸🌷

May Calendar 🗓️ Tap in and start building with us! ✊🏾

📢 NOW HIRING 📢 Black Men Build is looking for a dynamic organizer to co-lead community engagement, recruitment, and mobilization efforts in Atlanta, GA. As a core leader in our organizing work, you’ll help anchor physical spaces, run campaigns, build political education, and design programs that support and uplift Black men. This position requires a strong commitment to organization, relationship building, skill building, and community building. If you’re ready to grow and build power with us, apply today. Application Deadline: May 15th ➡️ To apply and learn more about the role, visit the link in bio ✊🏾