It's the way Black folks roll out and stunt on 'em when it comes to fashion. This year's Met Gala theme was "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," inspired by Black dandyism. But what is Black dandyism?
Clothing carries power, and for enslaved Black men in the 18th and 19th centuries, slave owners abused that power. Dressing enslaved people in lavish clothing served as a grotesque display of wealth, as Black bodies were reduced to status markers. Yet, out of this painful history emerged a unique form of resistance: Black dandyism.
In cities like New York, Philadelphia, and New Orleans. Free Black men started using refined, tailored fashion to assert their individuality. Their fashions challenged racist narratives and societal expectations that painted Black people as inferior or uncultured.
One of the most recognizable Black dandies was abolitionist Frederick Douglass, whose refined appearance reinforced his intellectual and political sophistication. Over time, Black dandyism evolved to include women and non-binary people. Artists like Josephine Baker, Gladys Bently, and members of the Queer community reimagined the aesthetic, expanding its scope and cultural impact.
Black dandyism reminds us that liberation is not only a political act but a deeply personal and beautifully styled one.