What’s trendy in t-shirt design, you ask? T-shirt designers say that nothing is cooler than black icons. Yes, they mean African American pop icons … visionaries, artists, athletes, and activists. And why are T-shirts with characters like Muhammad Ali, Richard Pryor, George Clinton and Martin Luther King Junior in fashion? Because these brothers are cool … really cool. Is it the color of your skin? Is it his fame? Is it your fight? Is it what they have achieved? It’s all of that, but mostly it’s because everyone is a leader in their own right. And people, regardless of their race, respect and admire the people who take charge. And if you are a brother in charge, then more power to you.
Some fashion critics say that it is also the Hip Hop movement that brings famous brothers and sisters to the forefront of fashion. Recent polls show that the Hip Hop team is the most popular attraction for American children from their teens to their twenties. Thanks to Hip Hop pioneers like Russell Simmons, president and CEO of Rush Communications, who founded Def Jam Recordings and Phat Farm Clothing, and Sean “P-Diddy” Combs, the founder of Bad Boy Entertainment and Sean John Clothing, the style of Hip hop life has become widespread. Children and young adults around the world are embracing the music, clothing, and arrogant way of life that is Hip Hop.
So who wears black icon shirts? Everyone … from the girl next door to the biggest names in entertainment and sports … Rappers, singers, actors, athletes, street kids, and even silver spoons represent their favorite black icon.
P. Diddy has been wearing T-shirts adorned with images of his friend and rap prodigy, the late Notorious BIG, since shortly after his death. Diddy has also been known for leading other greats like Marvin Gaye and Jam Master Jay. Rappers The Game and Snoop Dogg have been photographed with their West Coast friend and mentor Tupac Shakur. Producer and songwriter Wyclef Jean has been seen dressing Muhammad Ali, Martin Luther King Junior, and Dr. Malcolm X Shabazz.
Children across America wear black icons … black inner-city youth and white suburbanites alike. The fad that started on the streets probably reached the suburbs through television through music videos and other forms of entertainment.
At a predominantly white high school in New Jersey, a student came up with an interesting class project for African American History Month. He has proposed that on the first Friday in February everyone in his history class wear a T-shirt adorned with a black icon. They will receive partial credit for participating in the project, but will be scored based on how well they deliver a biographical speech about the icon they wear.
Who is popular? Okay, now you’re wondering if it’s cool to wear some old black icon on your chest. Well the answer is yes, but in case you don’t want to take a chance, here is a list of some of the most popular black icon tees.
Music: Bob Marley, Ray Charles, Aaliyah, Jimi Hendrix, Rick James, Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Miles Davis, Tupac. Sports: Muhammad Ali, Jackie Robinson, Don King, Dr. J., 1968 Olympic Protest, Jim Brown. Activists: Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Rosa Parks. Film and TV personalities: Richard Pryor, Red Foxx as Fred Sanford, Jimmy Walker as JJ, Fred Berry as Rerun, Fat Albert.
How much do they cost and where are they sold? These t-shirts typically cost between $ 12 at the lowest end and $ 30 at the high end. But the average price for a quality T-shirt is around $ 20. You will find these shirts everywhere you look. Large department stores like Target and Wal * Mart sell them, but the freshest and most original shirts can be found in small boutique clothing stores in most major cities or on the Internet.