The Story Behind ?RU

People who define themselves as mixed-race recognize the look and they’ve come to expect the question: What are you? In our Race-obsessed nation, if a person doesn’t fit nicely into a single-category identity box, undoubtedly it causes a commotion.

Mt. Airy-based author and educator, Lori L. Tharps is the Black mother of two mixed children and she’s only too aware of identity politics. “Even before I had my kids, I always wrote about issues of race and identity. I know that question ‘what are you?’ really rankles,” said Tharps. And it’s not just mixed people who get that question. “ If you’re Black but you don’t fit the stereotype or maybe you’re White but your partner or child is of another race, people need you to explain yourself before they can talk to you,” said Tharps.

Even though Tharps writes about these issues on her blog My American Meltingpot and in her books (Hair Story:Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America and Kinky Gazpacho: Life, Love & Spain), she still thought there might be another way to make a point about identity issues. It didn’t take her long to come up with the idea of plastering some of her cheeky identity slogans on t-shirts but she had absolutely no idea of how to turn her idea into a reality.

Tharps turned to her neighbor and friend Tesia Barone, an art director formerly of The Brownstein Group. Not only did Barone have a cutting-edge sense of style, but Tharps also thought she would understand only too well the annoyance of people being confused by her identity. Said Barone “I’m just White, but a lot of people think I might be Black because of the way my name is pronounced. Many times I’ll meet people after talking with them over the phone and they’ll do a double take. And then they still have to ask me why I have this name!”

In March 2008, Lori Tharps and Tesia Barone officially became partners and created ?RU, a line of hip and funky clothing and accessories that challenges people to wear their identity in style. ?RU products redefine normal with items that are beautiful to behold and just a little bit different. Short-sleeve tee shirts, socks, onesies and buttons will be the first products launched. All shirts are 100 percent cotton and manufactured in the USA.

“?RU products are for anyone who chafes at identity boxes,” said Tharps. “And for anyone who wants to redefine normal,” echoed Barone.

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