Category Archives: Black Men

Ajuan Mance, Art, Black Men, African American, Artist, Black Men, Oakland

1001 Black Men #818

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I spotted this gentleman in the card shop next door to Gaylord’s on Piedmont Ave. It was Valentine’s Day, and he and I were shopping for the same reason. Some might call it procrastination, but for people like him and me, it’s not that we don’t care enough about our love ones to buy gifts and cards ahead of time. Rather, it’s that we care too much. When you want to get just the right thing for that special person, sometimes it’s hard to even know where to start…until Valentine’s Day finally rolls around, and you have no choice but to decide on that perfect card and gift. To the untrained eye, it looks like waiting around until the last minute, but it’s really an example of what loving someone too much can look like.

Ajuan Mance

Afro, Ajuan Mance, Art, Black Men, African American, Artist, Bearded Men, Bears, Black Men, Cafe, Oakland

1001 Black Men #816

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At the Arbor Cafe, Telegraph Ave., Oakland, CA.

***

I was postering for the annual Art of Living Black Open Studios Weekend at Mills College (TAOLB at Mills for those familiar with the event), when I dropped in to the Arbor Cafe to leave some postcards.  That’s where I saw this brother with the fabulous afro. I’ve taken some artistic license with the table and seating, and both are a bit smaller than they were in real life; but I really wanted to capture the way this tall, thin, slightly effete Black man seemed to have folded himself into a table and chair situation that was intended for someone much shorter.

Ajuan Mance

Ajuan Mance, Art, Black Men, African American, Artist, Black Men, Oakland, Old Black Men

1001 Black Men #815

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Sunday morning at the Buttercup Grill & Bar in Oakland, CA.

***

I’m baaaaack!

It’s been a whirlwind of a spring semester for me in my other (but related) life as a professor of African American literature, and I’m really glad to be able to return to posting portraits of Bay Area Black men.

Even when I’m not posting, I’m still drawing; and I’m literally backlogged by about 126 drawings. Even during those periods when I don’t have time to sit down at my computer and upload my art, I am still sketching the men I encounter in my daily travels. The 1001 Black men project is still active, even during those weeks when I’m not regularly updating my website. In the last few days, I’ve had time to add color to my drawings, and I now I submit them, humbly, for your inspection and enjoyment.

During the month of May, I’ll be posting daily (with a couple of possible exceptions). By the end of the first week of June, I hope to have posted all of my backlogged drawings, and then some. My goal is to have all of this work done in time for the opening of my upcoming show at Oakland’s Solespace, on Friday, June 5.

Check back here for more art and more details about my show. Hope to see you there!

Ajuan Mance

Afro, Ajuan Mance, Art, Black Men, African American, Artist, Berkeley, Black Men

1001 Black Men #812

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Time for more drawings of the brothas of the 2014 comic and zine circuit. I chatted with this guy at the East Bay Alternative Book and Zine Fest. He didn’t buy anything, but we had a nice talk about the comic book he would like to see me draw next. He was not at all shy about sharing some suggested directions for my upcoming works.

To him I say, “Homie, if I ever do a comic with Frederick Douglass as a time-traveling, light saber-wielding civil rights activist, you will be the first to know!”

Ajuan Mance

Afro, Ajuan Mance, Art, Black Men, African American, Artist, Black Men, Oakland

1001 Black Men #809

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Before I continue with more drawings of brothers from the 2014 comic and zine conventions, I need to include this bearded fellow I encountered on a late night Safeway run. We were both looking for items in the same section of the frozen entrees aisle. He and his friend were looking for some sort of tater tot item. I was looking for El Monterey breakfast burritos and a couple other items on a list of foods for an upcoming guest. This guy was tall enough that I was able to grab my items out of the case while he was holding the door open, without even having to duck. He was like a tall, young, Black string bean with a beard. I was like a short-ish, middle-aged, pudgy, Black sweet potato, with mostly white hair; and on this particular, we were both buying highly processed food from a Bay Area grocery megastore.

Ajuan Mance