Intimacy between black men, particularly gay black men, has always been cause for pause within the black community. While outward displays of toughness and "manliness" are celebrated, open demonstrations of sensitivity and affection are more often shunned.

Straight black men and women need to be held accountable for how they uphold heteronormative and homophobic precepts – especially how they respond to black male intimacy.

Otherwise, we'll continue to see more ridiculous responses like the ones we got to this picture. pic.twitter.com/3IqGRjboEO

— Jermaine ????️‍???? (@jermainedesign) December 17, 2017

Many scholars point to the emasculating indignities suffered through slavery as a root cause of this phenomenon. Whatever the case, the effects are very real and in many cases, detrimental to the emotional, mental and sometimes the physical health of our community. As a gay black man, Jermaine Dickerson knows this all too well.

"Growing up I just found it really hard to express intimacy with the male role models in my life, it was hard for me to express a certain level of emotion," said the Michigan based graphic designer. "As I got older and began to learn about heteronormativity and all these things that sort of negate intimacy among black men, I took it upon myself to try to deconstruct some of those oppressive ideals."

Dickerson created #BlackBoysEmbrace to break down those walls.

I'm inviting all Black men to join me to help dismantle the stigma surrounding Black male intimacy (platonic and otherwise).

Share a picture of you embracing a male loved one and use the hashtag #BlackBoysEmbrace.

S/O to @gianorama for inspiring this idea. pic.twitter.com/kN3cwYNCDZ

— Jermaine ????️‍???? (@jermainedesign) December 18, 2017

"With #BlackBoysEmbrace, I really want to encourage more black men to be expressive and intimate in a romantic and in a platonic sense," Dickerson said. "I definitely want to make sure that queer men have a space in this conversation, but I also want to provide spaces for other people — fathers, brothers, friends, cousins to know, it's OK to be affectionate." This open call for participation does just that.

Black men, share pics of:

– You holding your son
– You embracing your brother or cousin
– You hugging your father
– You holding your boyfriend/husband
– You with your arm around your best friend. #BlackBoysEmbrace
https://t.co/dpYyRl7RNk

— Jermaine ????️‍???? (@jermainedesign) December 18, 2017

The responses came flooding in.

#BlackBoysEmbrace
@MADEbyRodneyJon & @BSladeNow
pic.twitter.com/kcv7ToUcsQ

— B.⚡️LADE™ (@BSladeNow) December 19, 2017

Represent.

These are my best friends.#BlackBoysEmbrace
pic.twitter.com/7dh5KR444V

— marquise. (@MarquiseDavon) December 19, 2017

Brotherly love.

The little bro #BlackBoysEmbrace
pic.twitter.com/Lb5oZ4ng8m

— gills, not wings (@ChanceCalloway) December 18, 2017

Black Queer Men came through and blessed the feed.

Shoutout to Black Boy Queer Love! #BlackBoysEmbrace
pic.twitter.com/8JBhGlDSXW

— Jermaine ????️‍???? (@jermainedesign) December 18, 2017

One time for this throwback.

#BlackBoysEmbrace
pic.twitter.com/1Dal9rsbpV

— Stevie Mat (@stevie_mat) December 19, 2017

Dickerson is no stranger to expanding the conversation around inclusion. As founder of Hero Nation, he's a huge advocate for minority representation in superhero culture.

RT if you want to see more gay superheroes on film. https://t.co/RSM6eCrhEf

— Jermaine ????️‍???? (@jermainedesign) December 13, 2017

His Hero Nation comic con event held in Ypsilanti, Michigan attracted hundreds of participants this summer.

@jermainedesign I just found you!
Hero Nation comic con aims to boost minority representation in superhero culture https://t.co/GQ51txBUYq

— Jennifer Benson (@jentimbs) September 29, 2017

Kudos to this real-life superhero for helping to reshape our perception of what intimacy between us means.

#BlackBoysEmbrace

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