How the Moors Influenced the Wearing of Earrings Among Black Men

By Obiora N. Anekwe

Throughout history, all around the world, men have worn earrings. Some of these examples include Europe, Southeast Asia, and Africa. In the case of Africa, it is important to note that at least three prominent cultures-the Moors, Maisa, and Egyptians- all included Black men who wore earrings. This tradition can even be seen centuries later in African American culture. Whether it is conscious or unconscious the ancestral African tradition of men wearing earrings is shown among some African American males today.

One of the greatest cultural influences the Moors had on the world was the symbol of wearing earrings. Earrings archived the history of a people. Some modern historical accounts suggest that the Moors not only wore gold earrings for fashion, but also as portable wealth, meaning that if they died in a foreign land, the gold from their earrings could be used to fund their burial (Rose 2025). This may explain how the Moors turned adornment into currency.

In Shakespeare’s play, the fictional character Othello was a Blackamoor from Mauritania. The main villain in Shakespeare’s other play Titus Andronicus set during the Roman Empire was also a Blackamoor (Mizere, 2022). These characters were often depicted wearing earrings, distinguishing them as Moors. Centuries later during the 1960s and 1970s, earrings and other sources of adornment subversively informed white oppressors that Black people were still standing tall. During the 1960s and 1970s, when the Black Power Movement took hold in America, many Black men reclaimed the single earring as a nod to their Moorish ancestry. It became further popularized in the 1980s and 1990s by Black men wearing studs in one or even both ears. This progressive act turned the historical legacy of Moorish jewelry into a global fashion trend.

Unbeknownst to many, African American and Afro-diasporic traditions were also connected to the Black Hebrews’ belief that a pierced ear represented freedom or a chosen path. By the 1980s, men wearing earrings became more accepted by the public. For instance, former CBS News and 60 Minutes broadcast journalist Ed Bradley wore a single gold earring on his left ear.

As you can see, the Moors played a pivotal role in influencing Black men to wear earrings. The act of doing so was not merely a fashion statement, but it served a purpose. The Moors brought a new phenomenon that moved western society to the modern age. Their vision led to what many people do today. The more we learn about the Moors, the greater our respect should be for their cultural contributions to the global world.

References:

Mizere, Mpilo. “So Who Were the Moors?” African History Group. Facebook post. 2022. https://www.facebook.com/groups/275114380263865/posts/694784204963545/

Rose, Lylia. “The History of Men and Earrings: From Warriors to Runways.” September 15, 2025.