The Gentlemen’s Factory is a workspace and community in Brooklyn, built for men of color.
When Korede Akinsete, 26, moved to New York City from Lagos, Nigeria, she was desperate to find a space similar to her home, with a myriad of black people occupying all kinds of lives and levels of power.
“Now that I often have to be in rooms where I am the ‘other,’ I find myself craving spaces that simply allow people of color to exist,” Akinsete says. The global communications strategist went online in search of places that would offer her what she was missing. This is when she found membership-based clubs that focus on people of color.
Niche social spaces providing a place for people like Akinsete to get advice, consult with others, network, and vent about work situations, are on the rise. These clubs are usually membership-based and act as an outlet for non-white people who may spend much of their time in white-centered spaces, including workplaces, cultural institutions, and businesses they may frequent.
Whether in the form of co-working offices or restaurant tables where members might gather for a meal, these spaces are meant to serve as a social connection, a career accelerant, and a respite for those who suffer more often from micro-aggressions, lower salaries, fewer leadership opportunities, sexual harassment, and negative stereotypes than their white counterparts in the workplace.
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Audrey Gelman and Lauren Kassan helped put the idea of identities-based workspaces on the map when they opened the doors of The Wing in 2016. Their main goal was to create a feminist co-working space where women could socialize and network while feeling safe and seen. The Gentlemen’s Factory in New York City provides a similar outlet for men of color. Club founder Jeff Lindor says his interest in creating a safe and productive space for men of color was inspired by the stark socioeconomic disparities between black and white people. The immigrant entrepreneur organized a men’s brunch in Brooklyn with a $50 entry fee, attracting 40 black men from all walks of life. It was a no-brainer that a need existed for these meetups. Soon, with the help of investments from friends, Lindor formed The Gentlemen’s Factory.