As a Black queer man, the slaughter and degradation of my community at the hands of police rocks me to the core. The blatant disregard of our humanity has got to end, and I am compelled to utilize my platform as an artist and business owner to speak up about these atrocities.
A few months ago, I launched my online vintage store, St. Mark Vintage Clothing. I created St. Mark Vintage to provide one of a kind vintage clothing for ALL. I truly believe everyone should be able to creatively express themselves through clothing without the confines of societal labels and stigmas. Regardless of race, gender identity, sexuality, or economic status, we all deserve to feel confident and express our innermost self — clothing is just one way to do so. I struggled with what form my activism should take, or if I even had the language to speak up at all. I finally decided to speak in the language I know best: clothing. The #LikeASaint campaign is all about living up to our name and standing for what's right.
When you purchase a “#LikeASaint” t-shirt, you are giving “like a saint” by helping to advance organizations that support the protection of Black people and advance the status of LGBTQ+ people of color, while also supporting a Black-owned business. 10% of the proceeds from each shirt sold will go to benefit two amazing organizations: The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) and Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation. Here’s the rundown on both:
The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) is a civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and same gender loving (LGBTQ/SGL) people, including those living with HIV/AIDS. Since 2003, NBJC has been committed to ending racism, homophobia, and LGBTQ/SGL bias and stigma. nbjc.org
Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation is the global organization responsible for launching the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter in 2013 after the murder of Trayvon Martin. Their mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes by combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering Black joy. blacklivesmatter.com
I proudly stand with both the Black Lives Matter movement and my siblings in the LGBTQ+ community in the fight for social equity and dismantling systematic racism and homophobia in all its forms. Won’t you stand also?
Power & Love,
DAKA St. Mark
Founder of St. Mark Vintage Clothing
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