Mooke Micheaux’s Negus : Reclaiming the Image of Kings

In a dimly lit room, six Black men stand together, their white shirts catching the faint light against the dark background. Two of them hold guns, their postures unyielding. One man stands shirtless, his presence commanding. At first glance, the world might label these men as “thugs.” But this photoshoot, titled Negus — the Ethiopian word for “King” — holds a deeper truth. It is a celebration, a declaration, and a challenge.

This project is about reclaiming our power and our story. It’s about challenging the lens through which we see ourselves and our brothers. It’s about asking hard questions: Why do we sometimes see less in the mirror? Why do we fear our brothers? And when that fear exists, is it always unjustified? Sometimes, yes, there are reasons to fear — but this fear cannot and must not define us.

Each man in this photograph is more than meets the eye. I know them. They are artists, visionaries, and thinkers. Their creativity and brilliance are boundless. And yet, they chose to step into a narrative that the world often imposes on Black men — one of violence and danger — to hold up a mirror to society and say: “Look again.”

Why? Because it’s time to reclaim what has been stolen. The guns they hold are symbols, not truths. The intensity in their eyes is not a threat; it is a statement. A statement that says we are tired of being misunderstood, misrepresented, and underestimated.

The title Negus is intentional. It is a word that carries the weight of sovereignty, dignity, and power. For too long, the world has tried to strip us of that power, turning kings into caricatures and royalty into something to be feared. But through this title, we are reminded of who we truly are. We are kings. We always have been.

But let’s ask ourselves: why do we see less when we look at ourselves? Centuries of systemic oppression, misrepresentation in media, and internalized biases have created a narrative that’s hard to escape. This narrative fosters fear, even among our own people. And while the pain is real, it does not have the final word.

This photoshoot is both a reflection and a revolution. It asks us to confront the narratives we’ve inherited and to rewrite them. It invites the world to see the beauty, complexity, and strength of Black men who refuse to be confined by stereotypes.

Through Negus, I hope to inspire you to look deeper. To see the kings that we are and the legacy that we carry. We are more than the labels placed upon us. We are strength. We are vision. We are royalty. Let this serve as a reminder to us all: we are kings. Always and forever.