“Your ancestors are rooting for you.”
Editors’ Picks are the Fashionista team’s true (#notspon) fashion and beauty obsessions, handpicked by professionals who see it all.
You are your ancestors’ wildest dreams.
I first heard this some time in high school, as I was getting ready to apply to college. At that point, I was facing so many questions — about my journey ahead, about my passions, about my purpose. This affirmation kept me strong.
In times of great change, I think a lot of us can appreciate hearing this. Especially for members of the African diaspora, these words can be a helpful reminder of where we have come from and the places we can go. It’s a statement of pride in our Blackness.
The phrase itself has been remixed into poetry and onto shirts. And to me, this Kwasi Paul tee is the next iteration of it that I needed to hear: “Your ancestors are rooting for you.”
According to its website, Kwasi Paul “explores the juxtaposition of the Global West and the African Diaspora” and celebrates heritage. Sam Boakye, the Ghanian-American designer behind the brand, told me the image on this specific shirt is from a 1996 issue of the National Geographic, from an article about the Ashanti Empire’s gold. Boakye, who is Ashanti, was drawn to it because of its cultural richness, including the kente and the gold. Combined with the text, it’s a powerful statement — and a perfect manifestation of that juxtaposition and celebration.
Great T-shirts are a true art form. Some may think of them as boring or basic, but if you know, you know: They’re a blank canvas with endless potential to say something, whether it’s a joke, something that makes you part of a community or something that makes you feel good. This is one of those tees that can make you feel different all day, just because of what’s written across your chest. It fuses a visual reminder of the richness of your roots with the power in your being. It’s a wearable affirmation not only for yourself, but for those around you, too.
Remember: Your ancestors are rooting for you.
Kwasi Paul Yaarfy Ashanti Shirt, $86, available here (sizes XS-XL)
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Source: Fashionista.com