Since he was a teenager rising up in Southeast D.C., in Ward 8, Charles Gussom at all times needed to make a distinction within the lives of his buddies, household and neighbors.
Many Washingtonians know Gussom as a devoted worker of Martha’s Desk, the Ward 8-based social service company that gives meals, clothes and help to the needy, because the assistant director of neighborhood growth.
Whereas Gussom works to assist others by means of the nonprofit, he has additionally embraced entrepreneurship. Gussom is the proprietor of the clothes agency Black Pawn Recreation primarily based east of the Anacostia River.
“My companions and I made a decision to get into a distinct sort of enterprise,” Gussom, 36, mentioned. “I’ve been concerned in leisure and have labored on U Avenue in Northwest in that discipline. However we determined to attempt a clothes model. We need to attempt to unify folks by means of clothes.”
Gussom is a graduate of Ballou Excessive Faculty and holds levels from the College of the District of Columbia and Potomac Faculty. He has labored for Grand Hyatt Resort and took part in different entrepreneurial ventures.
Black Pawn Recreation was based by his accomplice, DonVeto D. Premier, in 2020. The clothes concern was set as much as design and develop merchandise of high quality to unite like-minded folks, teams, and sectors. Gussom and Premier seen most of the current main attire manufacturers are made with out consideration of the underserved, unrepresented and economically and politically deprived in thoughts.
The identify comes from chess, the sport the place black and white collectible figurines with medieval titles are utilized in a match of wits and technique. Gussom mentioned in chess, as in life in America, white folks are typically dominant whereas Black Individuals are sometimes in a defensive place.
“The black figures are the pawns, and the pawns are the weakest in chess,” he mentioned. “In the true world, we’re the black pawns. We’re counted out. We’re the underdogs. However the pawn can be essentially the most highly effective device in chess if you know the way to play the sport. That applies to life, too.”
Black Pawn Recreation has joined the rising variety of entrepreneurs promoting streetwear, which bought its begin in New York Metropolis within the Nineties.
Streetwear is informal, non-designer clothes that may be worn at any time of day. Different Black-owned streetwear manufacturers within the District embody The Museum Retailer co-founded by LaGreg Harrison and Muhammad Hill and the Love Extra model based by Ward 8 resident Jovan Davis.
Black Pawn Recreation provides its prospects polo shirts, hoodies, shorts, jogger observe pants and outfits. The phrase “coloured” is on Black Pawn Recreation’s garments which has raised eyebrows given the up to date view of the phrase, which many Blacks take into account outdated.
Gussom mentioned they’ve trademarked the phrase and search to outline it in their very own approach and never use society’s definition.
Prospects can order merchandise by means of their web site or go to them on the Black Wall Avenue pop-up that happens on Saturdays at Verify-It Enterprises in Ward 8, with different distributors. Gussom mentioned his aim is to have a brick-and-mortar retailer inside 5 years and department out to different places within the Washington metropolitan space.
Ron Moten, who owns Verify-It-Enterprises, is happy to showcase Black Pawn Recreation in his institution.
“It can be crucial for Black companies to have incubator areas,” mentioned Moten. “These areas give Black enterprise homeowners the prospect to community. I just like the Black Pawn Recreation model as a result of they attempt to educate folks.”
