“There is something powerful, hearing your thoughts echoed by another Black man.”

• P.J. (He/ Him) Toronto, Canada

For so many Black men, wearing masks and concealing our true emotions has been a strategy for survival in our everyday existence, especially in spaces where Black men are less populated such as workplaces, academia, etc.  In these spaces, I have found myself building up courage to speak or inject my views into the dialogues and share my experiences, and sometimes feeling like an alien after I have spoken.

So, it is refreshing to be in spaces such as barbershops where we as Black men can share our feelings or insights unapologetically and for those thoughts to resonate with other Black men in the space. However, we have also had the experience of Black barbershops also being a place machismo and toxic masculinity that keeps many Black men from sharing our true vulnerable emotions in those spaces.

Sunday Dinners: monthly gatherings for Black men have been a place where we are co-creating something different, a new reality for Black men, a place where we are able to flex and strengthen these muscles around showing our vulnerable side with other Black men.

October 31^st, 2021, we held our first Sunday Dinner of the new fall season and the conversations was a reminder of the beautiful experience that happens when Black men do not have to be guarded when we speak. Since we took a break for the summer months, so that men could focus on spending time with their families or spend time outside in nature. I found myself missing the Sunday Dinner dialogues, it is a space for me to connect with other Black men and for us to be a sounding board for one another. There is a something beautiful about how connecting with other Black men, gives us the opportunity to connect with ourselves as Black men individually, reminding us that we are not alone in this journey called life, a reminder that we are not alone as Black men who are on our journey’s finding home within ourselves.

Join the next Black Daddies Club co-presents Sunday Dinners gatherings for Black men on Sunday, November 28^th 2021 from 5pm to 8pm (Est), register at Eventbrite to book your tickets.