​ ​A short history of the company's logo, The fist
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​ In today's post covid world, handshakes are somewhat frowned upon when greeting one another in the business world or in social circles due to health and safety procedures, but people still want to offer goodwill hand gestures to acknowledge and greet one another because it is still the polite thing to do. Giving "pounds" or fistbumps are the new norm in mainstream society now, but in African American communities a pound, a dap and a fistbump were always part of the culture when affectionately greeting one other for at least the last 50 years. This phenomenon is nothing new to the men of color. We universally acknowledges each other with a fistbump, pound, dap or a headnod when greeting each other on a daily basis in neighborhoods all over the world and it's a unspoken nonverbal communication amongst black and brown men that's learned behavior. We at H.I.M. decided to incorporate the fist as our company logo as a result of this unspoken form of communication  acknowledging one another. The handshake is appropriate in the corporate and business world, no question, but in the world where most of our young men come from the headnod, fistbump, dap or a pound is the only necessary form of nonverbal communication or greeting that they understand without speaking a word! Moreover, the image of the fist throughout the world is the universal sign and symbol of power and strength that adolescent, teenage, young, middle-age and older men all can relate to and identify with on an global level so when you see that fist you see H.I.M.!

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team

T-together
E-everyone
A-acheives
M-more

Teamework makes the dream work
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Everyone needs a crew or team of people to help you push forward in your endenvors to make your life easier, manageable and uncomplicated. Whether you're a celebrity, a parent or the average Joe or joann you need a team of qualified individuals in their field of work to help you succeed and seize the day in any venture you're involed in.                                                                                                                                      a team of good, invaluable everyday people that you need consist of the following: a good barber/hairstylist, mentor, friend, mechanic, handyman, neighbor, plumber, electrician, financial advisor and therapist just to name a few. the point is it's good to have competent people around you and in your corner. For most men, our barbers are most likely the most important out of the bunch because of the importance to our sense of style and appearance. listen, a fresh lineup can do wonders to one's self esteem and appearance and that's a fact! "when you look good you feel good" as the saying goes so our barbers are very important to us, so physical apperarance is the key but it starts from the inside. Happiness is an inside job so mental health is the starting point and this is where a therpist can be very useful and vital in our lives!   

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Click the link to read up on "What is Barbershop therapy"!
​www.yesmagazine.org/issue/mental-health/2018/08/24/what-is-barbershop-therapy

​Barbershop therapy

Pictured is Master Barber & owner Jay the Barber from Epic Creations Barbershop and founder of H.I.M. Kwame Christian

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Click the link
​www.selfhimprovement.com/blog/articles/barbers-acting-as-therapists-for-black-men

                                 


               Welcome to H.I.M. also known as Honorable and Impressionable Men! 

     
     The Barber/client relationship is somewhat like the therapist/patient relationship and both are similar and personal in nature. For instance, the client sit in comfortable barber chairs and if the professional's fee or cost and services are convenient, helpful and affordable there is an ongoing continuation of services. Both clients need the professional help to feel and/or look their best and both can talk almost just about anything that's on there mind in a set amount of time. If you can find a good barber or a good therapist as well then you damn near hit the jackpot! These two professionals are on par and are just as good as finding a good mechanic, hairstylist, handyman, doctor or lawyer to name a few. As far as me and my barber, Jay the barber, he is my confidant, quasi therapist and most importantly, he is my homeboy, friend and has been my barber for about 10 years now. We actually tell each other our personal business and issues, ask how each of our families are, talk about politics, talk sports, music, what's going on in the city, clothes and other wide-ranging topics.  In an article on PBS called The black barbershop: care beyond hair, customers interviewed consistently repeat the same sentiments and experiences about the relationship with their barbers as quasi-therapist. Men have said things like "A lot of people don't even really need haircuts, they'd come in just to have conversations and to tell their problems to get advice." Another one noted that "barbering is not just cutting hair. You get counseling, advising, you get friendships. It's a lot of different things that go on in a barbershop." One patron simply said that "the barbershop was therapy for a lot of people [in the hood]!"

     H.I.M. is based in Newark, New Jersey that serves the NYC/NJ Tri-state in the fields of education, employment, mentorship, physical wellness training and mental health for males especially African American males. H.I.M. is the brainchild of our founder and President, the honorable Kwame Christian, who as an educator, coach, counselor and mentor has served school-age children for over 20 years in various U.S. cities and states in the East Coast. Kwame has dedicated his life and career to educating, coaching, mentoring and counseling adolescent, teenage and young adult males to become the best versions of themselves and be honorable men. If it wasn't bringing history alive and to life, in dramatic fashion, in the classroom and on stages for themed-month assemblies like Black history month, helping young boys to achieve the next levels of manhood by participating in various mentorship & Big Brother programs and coaching student-athletes in the game of Tennis and Basketball, Kwame has almost done it all concerning being a positive role model towards young people in various school settings during his career. If there is one thing Kwame knows and has experienced in towards our young people is that education, mentorship, physical fitness and honest counsel is detrimental to the progression, advancement and development of young people to become honorable, impressionable and productive individuals.

     As the old adage goes, in order to know where you're going you have to know where you've come from! So our organization likes to lean on the history, wisdom and guidance on our elders as well as the ancestors and love ones who have moved on, known and unknown, to learn the lessons of the past to help those reach their realized potential in the present and future. One of the most famous 19th century African American abolitionist and speakers, Frederick Douglass, was quoted saying "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men", and. We at H.I.M. have made it our life's purpose to dedicated our energy, gifts, resources and talents to instilling, teaching and imprinting the hopes, dreams, lessons and teachings of our educators, mentors, coaches, advisors and directors into our adolescent, teenage and young adult males throughout the various communities around the country!
In order to become truly honorable and impressionable, we must face hard truths and decades long childhood and generational issues & traumas which continue to plague African Americans as a whole, as well as individual households, schools, social & private organizations and communities of color. Mental health, lack of educational opportunities and employment advancements continue to afflict the African American community, families and individuals decade after decade so it is imperative that we work on ourselves so we may finally eliminate these issues and heal ourselves as we may be better as individuals, family, community and a nation overall.

                                                So again, may I ask you a question? Are you able to be H.I.M.???

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Click on the link
​www.vice.com/en/article/a3dzm5/my-black-barber-remains-my-therapist