Before he was a college student, Michael Jean-Juste felt he was portrayed through a distorted lens because of his tall stature and dark skin. He believed people felt fearful, and wanted to seek safety from his presence because of their preconceptions and anxiety about race. As Florida Atlantic University (FAU) college student, Juste decided to help erase these misconceptions and provide the right kind of aid – love and unity.
“People would think I’m aggressive,” says Juste. “Being with Progressive Black Men Organization, people on and off campus see that we’re kind, business professionals, and we give off a good look that helps break those bad contentions.”
Progressive Black Men Inc. (PBM) was founded Nov. 27, 1989 at Florida State University by 12 minority students to help promote positive images of African-American and Black Men. Their goal is to eradicate negative stereotypes placed on people of African descent through academic excellence and community services. The FAU Chapter is the latest to the organization.
“We have a neighborhood not too far, it’s called Pearl City near Ebenezer Baptist Church on Glades Road and Federal Highway,” says Juste, who is the president of PBM Michael Jean-Juste. “We’ve had Halloween events, a basketball tournament with them, helping with summer camp, and we also collaborate with Feeding South Florida.”
PBM also does food donations to the homeless and works with Habitat for Humanity. They participate in beach cleanups, hold toy donations during the holidays, attend church services and plant trees.

The FAU chapter has developed programming to support Breast Cancer Awareness, Voters Registration Drives, Boca Raton's Historic District, Pearl City and others to support the mission of the organization.
“No matter what it is we try to help out as much as we can,” says Juste. “Ever since 2012, we’ve done a bunch of collabs.”
They’ve also won multiple awards including the 2021 NAACP Image Awards for Best Brotherhood Organization, the 2021 Community Service Award, 2016 Boca Raton Program of the Year and 2016 and 2017 Academic Excellence Award.
“I’d like to make it more national instead of just South Florida,” says Juste. “The bigger the better because there’s nothing wrong with growing.”
Even after Juste and the rest of the PBM class have graduated, Juste hopes to inspire the next class.
“I’ve grown,” says Juste. “Before I joined Progressive Black Men, I didn’t really believe in myself and I had low self-esteem and I never really bet on myself. PBM has shown me how to collab, work with people, become a better leader and regardless of what’s been said or how someone may feel, become the best version of myself and seen the best version for the community.”
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