The Fade Project is a feature documentary exploring Black men's mental health through one of the most iconic institutions in Black culture—the barbershop. By following four deeply personal journeys and blending them with expert insight and the cultural history of the fade haircut, the film reveals how everyday conversations can become life-changing moments of healing.
Honest, hopeful, and deeply human, The Fade Project challenges stigma, celebrates resilience, and reminds us that healing often begins in the places where trust already exists. Together, we can fade the stigma—one conversation at a time.
Black men are often taught to be strong, resilient, and self-reliant—but rarely encouraged to speak openly about their struggles. Too often, conversations about mental health begin only after a crisis has occurred.
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The Fade Project exists to change that.
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By sharing authentic stories of healing alongside expert insight, the film seeks to reduce stigma, encourage vulnerability, and inspire meaningful conversations within families, barbershops, schools, workplaces, and communities. Our purpose is simple: to remind every man that asking for help is not a sign of weakness—it's an act of courage.
OUR PURPOSE
The Fade Project is fiscally sponsored by Entertainment To Affect Change, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions made through our fiscal sponsor are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
PROUDLY FISCAL SPONSERED BY
THE BARBERSHOP
Barbershops are vital cultural spaces for Black men, offering both a safe haven and, at times, a source of anxiety due to toxic masculinity and judgment. This film explores these complex dynamics—alongside medical mistrust and systemic racism—with one goal: to inspire Black men of all backgrounds to prioritize their mental health just as much as their next haircut.
