Today we’d like to introduce you to Devan Dmarcus.
Devan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Before I began my journey with Black Men Smile I was exploring the creative artistic avenues in Atlanta. My main focus at the time was acting and modeling. I was making strides in those areas but I wouldn’t say that I had yet found purpose within the entertainment landscape of the city. Part of the work that I found myself attracting to outside of my professional career was community-based. I, along with several other local artists formed a group called The FreeDEM Campaign, which focused on serving the homeless and disenfranchised population in Atlanta. Above all other creative expressions, the process of community service spoke the loudest to my spirit. With that being so, it made sense for me to gravitate towards and eventually partner with a platform such as Black Men Smile.
I was initially introduced to Carlton Mackey (Creator & Co-Founder of Black Men Smile) by a fellow actress while on the set of the feature-length film “Insurgent”. Once we wrapped production, I agreed to take a meeting with Carlton, wherein we would discuss the possibility of us partnering to develop this new passion project of his called Black Men Smile. Being that he used my headshot in the initial wave of IG posts on the BMS Instagram page, I was definitely interested in learning about the mission and intention behind the campaign. We sat down for that meeting in October of 2014. Now, almost five years later we are still building and reshaping the way we see ourselves and hopefully making an impact along the way!
Has it been a smooth road?
It hasn’t been a smooth road at all! Out of all of the obstacles that I’ve faced I would say the most consistent one has been my own mind. I have to constantly remind myself of my “why”, and challenge myself to evolve beyond any mental limitation that I may experience. Surely there have been things outside of me that I have faced and ultimately triumphed over, but as mentioned previously, my mental state has either helped me advance or resisted the continual process of my growth.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Black Men Smile story. Tell us more about the business.
Black Men Smile endeavors to create spaces for radical expressions of self-love. We largely focus on redefining the narrative surrounding Black Masculinity & Male Identity. We accomplish this task through various means, be it through photography, videography, lifestyle apparel, mentorship, literature, community engagement as well as black male-centric travel retreats.
As a company, I would say the thing that we’re most proud of is the fact that the spirit of Black Men Smile lives within 1000s of supporters and people who have read the message. It’s a simple concept, yet transformative by nature. We ask a simple question, “What makes you smile?” That in and of itself makes this platform unique because it courageously takes the time to focus on the inner world of a black man and shines a vivid light onto his humanity.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I see my industry growing immensely over the next five years. I think people want to be inspired as well as connect with authentic like-minded people. Being that we have grown to become somewhat of a prominent voice as it pertains to the conversation surrounding Black Men, I can imagine us creating larger spaces for more people to engage with Black Men Smile and all that it presents.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.blackmensmile.com
- Email: blackmensmile@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/blackmensmile
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/blackmensmile
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/blackmensmile
Image Credit:
Ubong Umoren, Breonca Trofort
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