These Extraordinary Shirts Define Black Pride

These shirts are the definition of BLACK PRIDE.

Alice Yoo / BuzzFeed

Personal style is just one of of the endless ways that black people celebrate their extraordinary history and look to empower themselves and their community.

One of the most timeless means through which blackness has been proclaimed in fashion is through both T-shirts and sweatshirts adorned with statements of black pride, photos of black icons, and other artistic expressions of the black experience.

With their inarguable ease and ability to be paired with a range of pieces from anyone's wardrobe, T-shirts and sweatshirts are the ideal sartorial vessel through which the story of blackness is told. And in celebration of the year-around greatness of all things black, several BuzzFeed creatives rounded up just a few of the shirts and sweatshirts in their closet that embody their black pride.

A shirt that'll let everyone know you are BLACK AF at all times.

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My Black AF shirt from Stuzo Clothing is honestly one of my favorite shirts I own. It is straight to the point and represents just how I feel about the magnificence of blackness. I’m Black AF and proud of it. Anymore questions? I didn’t think so. —Treye Green

Get the Black AF shirt from Stuzo Clothing for $30 (available in sizes XS-3XL).

A shirt to celebrate the magnificence of your glorious crown.

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My favorite way to wear my hair is in its natural state. Historically, Afros are a symbol of self-love and resistance to European beauty standards. This bright Afro Pick shirt from State of Funk just punctuates my appreciation for black hair and what it means to appreciate myself as I am. It draws more attention to my hair, and I'm never one to shy away from more attention to this glorious crown! —Essence Gant

Get the Afro Pick shirt from State of Funk for $30 (available in sizes XS-2XL).

A shirt to pay your respects to all the fearless figures who've helped shape black history.

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The messages on this Black Icons shirt show just how far we've come as black people and the limitless opportunities that await us in the future. We’re more than the negative images we see in the media. We’ve always been more than the labels placed upon us. And that’s exactly what this shirt pushes me to be: More! —Morgan Murrell

A shirt to remind anyone you meet that BLACK MINDS MATTER.

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My Black Minds Matter shirt from Project 96 is a cute reminder that black people are the creators of pop culture. Through self-expression we set courses for fashion, music, dance, film, and art. We are innovation. As the cultural bar, our drip is just unmatched. —Kiara Butler

Get the Black Minds Matter shirt from Project 96 for $65 (available in sizes S-XL).

A sweatshirt so you can swing all your good vibes at the memory of The Greatest — Muhammad Ali.

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I wear my Muhammad Ali sweatshirt by Served Fresh with the utmost pride because Ali was indeed The Greatest. What made him great was his ability to transcend the sports world and use his platform to not only entertain but inform the masses. We should all salute him for that! —Ade Mangum

Get the Muhammad Ali sweatshirt from Served Fresh for $77.50 (available in sizes XS-3XL).

A shirt that'll prove the forever fact that Crime Mob's "Knuck If You Buck" is a National Treasure.

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Alice Yoo / BuzzFeed

This Knuck If You Buck shirt is by Yo Soy AfroLatina, a brand that highlights the often underrepresented Afro-Latinx experience and culture. As an Afro-Latina, I love being able to proudly represent all parts of my background, including the music I was raised on and the music my community gathered around. This shirt highlights an iconic song, Atlanta's own Crime Mob's "Knuck If You Buck,” which is a song that when you hear it when you're out, you know it's on and poppin'. Every time I wear this shirt I feel a sense of pride and either get nods of approval from total strangers or “OMG! Where did you get that shit!?” —Gabriella Lewis

Get the Knuck If You Buck shirt from Yo Soy AfroLatina for $30 (available in sizes S-3XL).

A shirt which can put all the culture vultures on watch — because we have NO time for that.

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Alice Yoo / BuzzFeed

As a black woman in media, I've been extra sensitive to non-black content creators who take bits and pieces of black culture, benefit from it, and then forget about its origins. I believe in collaboration, but I also believe in giving a platform for black creators and giving them their due. And my Eliminate Culture Vultures shirt by Legendary Roots calls out all culture vultures in epic fashion. —Ignacia Fulcher

The Eliminate Culture Vultures shirt is no longer available. But you can check out Legendary Roots for more black pride shirts and apparel.

A shirt that'll let everyone know you aren't afraid to put a little Stankonia on it.

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It's no secret OutKast experimented with music and style in the most graceful and pro-black way that they could. Their ability to create their own space while reinventing themselves time and time again is a testament to what black people have always done and will continue to do for the culture. They inspire me to continue trailblazing and carving out paths for generations foreva. For eva eva? Foreva! —Kori Clay

The Outkast shirt is no longer available. But you can check out Outkast Shop for more official Outkast apparel.

A shirt which'll prove that black women are truly EVERYTHING.

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Alice Yoo / BuzzFeed

I don't remember when I first saw Stevona Elem-Rogers Black Women Are For Grownups apparel from Stevona. But I do know that it was somewhere on Instagram. My first thought? "But where is the lie?" Second thought? “I must have it!” So I signed up for the IG notification so that I'd be notified when the next batch went on sale, copped it, received it, crop-topped it, and here we are.

Regarding the statement Black Women Are For Grownups: If you get it, you get it. And if you don't, well, you're probably not a black woman, not a grownup, or none of the above. —Patrice Peck

Get the Black Women Are For Grownups shirt from Stevona for $25 (available in sizes S-3XL).

A shirt that'll outline all the elements of your greatness.

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Alice Yoo / BuzzFeed

I love my Smart, Funny, and Black shirt from AS|U|R. I feel these words represent black pride because they are broadcasting the positive qualities of a black person. In media and entertainment, there was once — and sometimes still is — a false dialogue of negativity in the qualities and behaviors of nlack people. I am ecstatic that Amanda Seales, the T-shirt’s creator, and other black people, are using fashion celebrate Blackness. And I am proud to buy and support the gear. —Maxine Williams

The Smart, Funny, and Black shirt is no longer available. But you can check out AS|U|R to keep tabs on Amanda Seales's next merch release.

A shirt that'll proclaim the simple truth that black women deserve your support.

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This Support Black Women shirt by Melanation embodies what black pride looks like to me because black women are royalty and deserve to be treated as such. Supporting black women doesn't mean just giving a simple "thank you.” It's so much more than that. Show up for black women with more than just your words. Hire black women and give them jobs that allow them to have autonomy and creative freedom. Elect black women into office so that that we can truly see the change we want to see in the world. Protect black women by believing them and advocating for them. Listen to black women by amplifying their voices in a world that often tries to silence it. We are humans, and we deserve respect. This shirt is more than a phrase. It’s a call to action. —Chantal Follins

Get the Support Black Women shirt from Melanation for $25 (available in size 2XL).

A sweatshirt for anyone who's about their business and won't stand down to any challenge.

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Alice Yoo / BuzzFeed

We are all gangsters in our own right! A gangster is someone who handles their business by any means. As a black woman, we have many interactions daily that make us rise to that challenge and make us tap into our inner gangsta. When I saw this Mean Mug sweatshirt by Mess in a Bottle, I saw the face behind the smile of every sister, mother, auntie, and friend. I saw their fight, their nurturing, their love, and I represent them every time I wear it. —Amal Mgaresh

Get the Mean Mug sweatshirt from Mess in a bottle for $40 (available in sizes XS-2XL).

A shirt which pays homage to the history of the iconic Black Panther Party.

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Alice Yoo / BuzzFeed

What symbol represents the strength and power of black people than the Black Panther Party? To me, there isn't anything that incites more pride than seeing a group of people banded together in thought and leadership, working together for the revolutionary protection of black people.

With Ryan Coogler's Black Panther then smashing box office records and sparking wider conversations about how we really do come from power and royalty, the symbol of a black panther is one that brings me pride. Pride in fighting for us. Pride in seeing and amplifying our voices. Pride is being black 24/7, 365 days a year. I wouldn't want it any other way. And that’s why my Black Panther Electric Co. shirt from Philadelphia Printworks means so much to me. —Jamé Jackson

Get the Black Panther Electric Co. shirt from Philadelphia Printworks for $25 (available in sizes S-3XL).

A shirt to remind people to #BuyBlack whenever and wherever they can.

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Alice Yoo / BuzzFeed

Buying anything from a black-owned business is always an empowering experience. And enjoying my life with this #BuyBlack shirt while helping my own people feels like a win to me! —Shanice Bland

The #BuyBlack shirt is no longer available. But you can check out Rebellious Black Soul for a shirt with the same Buy Black theme.

A shirt that'll have you ready to take a 1000th listen to Janet Jackson's legendary The Velvet Rope album.

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Alice Yoo / BuzzFeed

Janet Jackson is one my biggest creative inspirations and I don’t miss a single moment to show some love to my Queen Damita Jo. Out of her discography, The Velvet Rope is the album that resonates the most me. It is a phenomenal project that speaks directly to the need to celebrate everything that makes us special. And I always feel empowered — and ready to hit a fierce eight-count — when I rock my The Velvet Rope shirt. —Treye Green

Get the The Velvet Rope shirt from Janet Jackson Shop for $29.95 (available in sizes L-2XL).

A sweatshirt that'll make a undeniable statement about how you feel about your blackness.

Taylor Miller / BuzzFeed

Alice Yoo / BuzzFeed

I don't know how much more fashionably black pride you can get than a Fist of Solidarity shirt from Malaika Apparel. I love this shirt because it's bold and intentional. It leaves no room for anyone to question where I stand in my love for my blackness. —Essence Gant

Get the Fist of Solidarity shirt from Malaika Apparel for $30 (available in sizes S-3XL).

A shirt to show support and love to all of our trans sisters.

Taylor Miller / BuzzFeed

Alice Yoo / BuzzFeed

As Wikipedia states, cisgender is a term for people whose gender identity matches the sex that they were assigned at birth. I recognize my privilege as a cisgendered black woman and simply wanted some apparel that reflected my unapologetic support of and love for my black trans sisters. And that’s why my Black Sisterhood Not Cisterhood shirt by Black and Bold means so much to me. —Patrice Peck

Get the Black Sisterhood Not Cisterhood shirt from Black and Bold for $20 (available in sizes S-3XL).

A shirt to let everyone you meet know they still can't touch your hair.

Taylor Miller / BuzzFeed

Alice Yoo / BuzzFeed

To say Solange doesn’t represent black culture as a whole would be a lie, and A Seat at the Table really embodied what it was like to be a black person in America. When I first listened to the album I almost cried because it resonated so deeply with me. And my Don’t Touch My Hair sweatshirt from Fly By Knight is a culmination of everything I loved about the album, making it a a no-brainer purchase. —Ignacia Fulcher

Get the Don't Touch My Hair sweatshirt from Fly by Knight for $35 (available in sizes S-L).

Check out more roundups celebrating black culture here:

17 Apparel Companies You Should Be Shopping Right Now

28 Dope AF Sweatshirts You Need In Your Closet ASAP

24 Amazing Music T-Shirts You Need To Buy Immediately

Want more? Check out our favorite online clothing stores for all your shopping needs, plus the best places to buy used clothing online and the best clothing stores for petite sizes. Still not satisfied? Check out all of our clothing content for even more.

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