Artist Highlights Nuances of Black Life in 1001 Black Men

The series challenges racial stereotypes.

1001 BLACK MEN: An Online Sketchbook - In her series "1001 Black Men," Oakland artist and African-American literature professor Ajuan M. Mance challenges painful stereotypes of African-American men long proliferated across popular culture. Bursting with color and inspired by the faces Mance sees throughout her travels, her drawings highlight "the wonderful complexity of African-American lives" while spurring dialogue about how African-American men see themselves and each other, she says on her website. Keep reading for a closer look at her works, and see more at http://www.8-rock.com/. By: Britt Middleton  (Photo: 1001 Black Men Series: Online Sketchbook by Ajuan Mance, #545)

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1001 BLACK MEN: An Online Sketchbook - In her series "1001 Black Men," Oakland artist and African-American literature professor Ajuan M. Mance challenges painful stereotypes of African-American men long proliferated across popular culture. Bursting with color and inspired by the faces Mance sees throughout her travels, her drawings highlight "the wonderful complexity of African-American lives" while spurring dialogue about how African-American men see themselves and each other, she says on her website. Keep reading for a closer look at her works, and see more at http://www.8-rock.com/. By: Britt Middleton (Photo: 1001 Black Men Series: Online Sketchbook by Ajuan Mance, #545)

#572 - Zocaló Cafe, San Leandro, CA.  (Photo: 1001 Black Men Series: Online Sketchbook by Ajuan Mance, #572)

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#572 - Zocaló Cafe, San Leandro, CA. (Photo: 1001 Black Men Series: Online Sketchbook by Ajuan Mance, #572)

#573 - Starbucks, MacArthur Blvd, San Leandro, CA.  (Photo: 1001 Black Men Series: Online Sketchbook by Ajuan Mance, #573)

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#573 - Starbucks, MacArthur Blvd, San Leandro, CA. (Photo: 1001 Black Men Series: Online Sketchbook by Ajuan Mance, #573)

#571 - Outside Egbert Souse, Piedmont, Ave., Oakland, CA.  (Photo: 1001 Black Men Series: Online Sketchbook by Ajuan Mance, #571)

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#571 - Outside Egbert Souse, Piedmont, Ave., Oakland, CA. (Photo: 1001 Black Men Series: Online Sketchbook by Ajuan Mance, #571)

#570 - Perimeter Mall, Atlanta, GA.(Photo: 1001 Black Men Series: Online Sketchbook by Ajuan Mance, #570)

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#570 - Perimeter Mall, Atlanta, GA.(Photo: 1001 Black Men Series: Online Sketchbook by Ajuan Mance, #570)

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#564 - Seen at the breakfast buffet, Embassy Suites Atlanta-Perimeter Center.(Photo: 1001 Black Men Series: Online Sketchbook by Ajuan Mance, #564)

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#564 - Seen at the breakfast buffet, Embassy Suites Atlanta-Perimeter Center.(Photo: 1001 Black Men Series: Online Sketchbook by Ajuan Mance, #564)

#569 - Maggiano’s Restaurant, Perimeter area, Atlanta, GA.(Photo: 1001 Black Men Series: Online Sketchbook by Ajuan Mance, #569)

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#569 - Maggiano’s Restaurant, Perimeter area, Atlanta, GA.(Photo: 1001 Black Men Series: Online Sketchbook by Ajuan Mance, #569)

#568 - Panera, South Shore Center, Alameda, CA.(Photo: 1001 Black Men Series: Online Sketchbook by Ajuan Mance, #568)

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#568 - Panera, South Shore Center, Alameda, CA.(Photo: 1001 Black Men Series: Online Sketchbook by Ajuan Mance, #568)

#567 - Starbucks, South Shore Center, Alameda, CA.(Photo: 1001 Black Men Series: Online Sketchbook by Ajuan Mance, #567)

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#567 - Starbucks, South Shore Center, Alameda, CA.(Photo: 1001 Black Men Series: Online Sketchbook by Ajuan Mance, #567)

#566 - Peet’s Coffee, Market St. near Castro, San Francisco, California.(Photo: 1001 Black Men Series: Online Sketchbook by Ajuan Mance, #566)

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#566 - Peet’s Coffee, Market St. near Castro, San Francisco, California.(Photo: 1001 Black Men Series: Online Sketchbook by Ajuan Mance, #566)

#561 - Early morning, near West Oakland BART, Oakland, California.(Photo: 1001 Black Men Series: Online Sketchbook by Ajuan Mance, #561)

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#561 - Early morning, near West Oakland BART, Oakland, California.(Photo: 1001 Black Men Series: Online Sketchbook by Ajuan Mance, #561)