Evolving Man Project

Three Years of Evolving Man Project 

 

It’s been three years since I launched the Evolving Man Project. 2018 was our biggest year yet, and there’s a lot more coming in the year ahead. The purpose of this site is a look into the personal journey of one black man in America. Being black in America is a beautiful struggle, and we have always lived in trying times. This year will be no different for black men. I know sometimes it’s all doom and gloom, but you still should try to thrive to always be a more evolved individual. This post will go through a few tips to help you continue to evolve and maximize your #BlackBoyJoy!

Tip 1: Know Your History

It’s Black History Month, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stop learning about history once March rolls around. Black history is America history, so it’s three hundred and sixty-five days a year. And don’t stop at American history, study the history of various people, places, and things. The history of bathrooms is both gross and fascinating at the same time. The old saying goes, “You don’t know where you’re going unless you know where you came from.” 

Tip 2: Read

As a professional adult, whether you work in the blue-collar industry or the white-collar corporate world, small talk is a thing. It’s important to stay up-to-date on current affairs and pop culture. But reading will take your understanding of the world to a whole another level. You begin to connect the dots about the world we live in. Then you truly realize that knowledge is power. Adulting is tough, our lives are busy, but try to read a book per month. Learning should never end because you should always be a student of life. So, brotha read, read, and read some more.

Tip 3: Travel

People the world over, are always down to have a good time by sharing a drink, or story or both. It can be as simple as visiting another city or state. If you’re lucky, you could take some vacation time and visit another country. Traveling can help expand your mind. And it’s an easy way to make new friends and create everlasting memories.

Tip 4: So Fresh, So Clean

Grooming is essential, and no, you don’t have to look like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson when you step out your front door. But you should feel great about your look and how you smell. This is a surefire way to boost your confidence and perhaps turn a few heads. It could be a fresh cut, a nice watch, and a new pair of fly kicks. The most important thing is to find your own style and make it work. There are tons of tips and tricks online for ways to keep your unique look so fresh, so clean.

Tip 5: Embrace Failure

Don’t be afraid to fail because you can always try again. A man who once played the game of basketball far better than most people, once summed up failure and success brilliantly.

“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

— Michael Jordan

 

Tip 6: Be yourself

We, humans, are social creatures and that often means at times we conform to fit in. As an evolved man you learn that everyone is a little weird, yes even someone as flawless as Riri has their quirks. We black men face a plethora of harmless to outright dangerous stereotypes about who we are and how we should act. We shouldn’t try to fit into anyone’s neat little box of what makes a ‘real’ black man.

Real black boy joy is realizing no matter what, one should be true to them self. Manhood isn’t one size fits all thing. Black men are many things; gay, straight, bi, tall, short, strong, round, fathers, mentors, trans, wealthy, middle-class, atheist, Muslim, teachers, husbands, brothers, sons, and everything else in between. We may no longer have rights of passage for boys transitioning to manhood, but that should not stop us from redefining a healthy and non-toxic idea of what makes a man. So brothas continue to show the world your #blackboyjoy!