Black America in the 90s and 2000s

I AM Black American

Lemon 8 @_thegrandmamo

We talk about the Harlem Renaissance as the cultural explosion of Black America in literature, fine arts, and music. As it was the first time - we were free, together in Harlem, and able to just be US. And boy what a time it must have been!

But the 1990s and 2000s is really slept on for also being a Renaissance for Black America as it was a cultural explosion in fashion, movies/tv shows, and music with Hip Hop taking our culture global! We had creative control and man did our excellence shine!

Preceding the 90s (as the 1920's were preceded by centuries of enslavement and then Jim Crow Segregation), there was the crack epidemic, mass incarceration, and Ronald Reagan. Seems like anytime we are held down, we slingshot forward in creativity. Gotta express our pain some kind of way.

I will probably make a separate post for the movies/ tv shows of the time, but for this blog, I wanted to discuss how I absolutely LOVED the fashion!

Background of me: I went from a very diverse metropolitan area to a rural majority White area at 10 years old. I decided on the first day of school that I was gonna go to a HBCU (and did!). And I was in desperate search of my Blackness throughout my 8 years living in that area. Oh also, I was born in '92.

My dad worked in Baltimore so I had often shopped there instead of where we lived so that I could be different and be me.

Let's give it up for BLACK BRANDS!!!!!

1. In my middle school, I had me some blue laced Phat Farm shoes. (Brand STILL EXISTS!!)

"Created in 1992, Phat Farm represents the most influential streetwear line of its day. Founded by Russell Simmons, the brand is credited for pioneering what would ultimately become the standard, sometimes stereotypical, hip-hop look."

From https://www.phatfarm.com/about.

2. In high school, I LOVED high-top sneakers so in came Pastry Shoes.

"Pastry shoes were created by sisters Vanessa and Angela Simmons, who launched the brand in March 2007." Their uncle was Russell Simmons.

From Gemini Overview, November 2025.

3. I had plenty of tracksuits, but it was this Rocawear jacket for me! (Brand STILL EXISTS!!)

"Rocawear was created in 1999 by Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter and Damon "Dame" Dash, the co-founders of Roc-A-Fella Records, as a fashion extension of their music label. The brand was designed to provide high-quality apparel and accessories reflecting hip-hop culture."

From Gemini Overview, November 2025.

But speaking of tracksuits, I was rocking Rocawear, Baby Phat, Ecko Red (which isn't Black owned, but definitely was fitting the aesthetic).

4. I never wore them, but we gotta put some respect on Nelly's 2003 Apple Bottom Jeans and the 2008 song "Low" by Flo Rida ft. T-Pain that made them legacy. (Brand STILL EXISTS!!)

5. As well the Beyonce and Tina Knowles' brand, House of Dereon which I did wear.

Some brands I never really rocked like Sean John. But I brought back some in the 2020's in my recommitment to Black Brands and not just one off buys from online stores.

6. Like FUBU, (Brand STILL EXISTS!!)

FUBU and Actively Black

and Baby Phat (Brand STILL EXISTS!!)

Baby Phat OG Puffer

Like Ecko Red/ Ecko UnIted, there were plenty of non-Black Brands getting in on the streetwear style Hip Hop brought to mainstream. You already know Black people are cool lol.

• Adidas

• Juicy

• Tommy Hilfiger

And after going to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, I had to dawn the 90s staple of doorknocker earrings!

Cause you already know...