Return of the Black Kings. This is not a clothing line, it's a movement.
A couple weeks ago, my twin sister and I had the pleasure of participating in the look book shoot for RBK.
I want to start by saying that when I met Julian Gilliam (Artist and creator of the RBK Movement) in 2012, Return of the Black Kings was already an idea of his (Shoutout Marcus Graham Project c/o 2012, Think Fruition). I always thought it was a powerful concept, but must say that I'm impressed by the way it has developed over the years.
We've been talking about the launch for a while now, but our last conversation gave me a much deeper understanding of the message these jackets represent.
Organize. - The encouragement of collaboration among individuals with different skill sets, from different communities, with diverse perspectives. This is what RBK is all about. It was obvious in the way that the look book came about, but will be even more evident in the fruits of the Organize. movement that pledges to provide exposure and education, giving members of our community a line of sight into the endless possibilities.
The Inspiration - History continues to repeat itself. We've seen it in history books and we see it in our lives today. While anger and retaliation is an understandable reaction to the oppression we're constantly faced with, it is time to take a more strategic approach. "We've got to stop looking for answers and start creating them. We need to Organize."
Notice, the RBK panther doesn't look as fierce and angry as the original Black Panther Party logo. He’s much more calm. "It's not about being emotional, it's about being strategic."
So, what's next?
First, more jackets. Proceeds from the first round of sales will go toward creating more jackets. The goal is to spread the word and have as many people wearing them as possible to attract the attention of the young. We need their ears, their attention, their influence. "The revolution has always been in the hands of the young." -Huey. P. Newton
Second, and equally as important, take action. Julian's mission is to create a platform to inspire action and invite anyone who is interested to join, collaborate, educate, encourage, empower, liberate. "We can't continue to just put a bandaid on a bleeding wound."
Join the movement. For more info, updates, and to purchase the Organize. jacket, visit RBK.life
“This is not a one-off. This is life.”