The Latin phrase Vestis Virum Reddit translates to: "clothes make the man." However, for Madison resident Cedric Johnson there also needs to be an equivalent phrase for kids, because he's been dapper all of his life. As the first born son and only grandchild until the age of five, Johnson was dressed to impress. Johnson says it was those formative years that set his sense of style into motion.
Recently, Johnson penned an articlefor Madison 365, an online news organization which fosters dialogue between Madison's communities of color, in which he discusses how his attire helps him navigate internal and external bias.
In this edition of Radio Chipstone, Johnson and contributor Gianofer Fields discuss his experiences as an African-American gay man and how his clothing functions as an armor and tool, allowing him to occupy spaces traditionally held by hetero-normative white males, all while being his authentic self:
Material culture contributor Gianofer Fields curates the Radio Chipstone series. The project is funded by the Chipstone Foundation, a decorative arts foundation whose mission is preserving and interpreting their collection, as well as stimulating research and education in the decorative arts.
