One Strong Brotherhood Is Breaking Stereotypes—One Joyful Adventure at a Time
When Trying Matcha Becomes a Movement
It started with a 19-second TikTok. In early April, Khadim Thiam, a 23-year-old computer science major at Hunter College, posted a clip of himself and seven of his friends smiling and holding up matcha green teas from a Dunkin’ in New York City. It was lighthearted. Joyful. And unexpectedly viral—over 15 million views and counting.
But not all reactions matched the mood.
“People were saying things like, ‘Why are men this happy to try matcha?’ or ‘Men should be in war,’” Thiam recalled. Instead of folding under the hate, the group leaned in and doubled down on joy. “Y’all don’t want to see us try matcha? We’re going to start trying many other things.”
OSB: One Strong Brotherhood, One Viral Purpose
The group, now known as OSB (One Strong Brotherhood), is made up of ten friends—all students at Hunter College—who’ve now posted over 20 viral videos conquering everything from puppy yoga to dance classes, pilates, and most recently, a West African cooking session.
Their goal is simple but powerful: to challenge stereotypes of young Black men and show them simply enjoying life.
“It’s like ‘Black Boy Joy,’” said Thiam, referencing the phrase first coined by The Root writer Danielle Young in 2016. “We deserve our credit and our place in society to be considered normal, joyful people.”
Danielle Young, now watching OSB’s rise, said, “It’s so hard to see the OSB guys and not be immediately happy, joyful and smiling… But it’s also hurtful to see that it is considered a thing because of what they’re not supposed to be doing.”
Changing the Narrative, One Adventure at a Time
With every new post, OSB is building more than a following—they’re building a movement. Their videos regularly rack up hundreds of thousands of views across TikTok and Instagram. And public sentiment is shifting.
“People were beginning to see the genuineness and joy in us trying different things,” said Thiam. “They wanted to see what’s next.”
Most recently, what was next was making nem, a spicy meat-filled West African spring roll, during a cooking class hosted by content creator Maye Jolie. It wasn’t just a class—it was a competition, complete with laughter, filming, and a friendly battle over who could craft the best-shaped roll.
“Whoever’s guiding us always feeds off our energy,” Thiam said. “We always get hit with, ‘This is the most fun class I’ve ever had.’”
From Matcha Runs to Brand Deals—and Bigger Dreams
That matcha run has turned into five-figure brand deals, with OSB now collaborating with companies like DoorDash and MAC Cosmetics. But they’re just getting started.
“Hopefully we go global,” Thiam said. “Going to Japan trying to become like a samurai or something, or we’re making tea in China.”
Until then, OSB is staying grounded in their mission: spread joy, try new things, and make people smile.
“I just want to encourage people to try new things,” Thiam said. “Meet new people, make great connections. Have genuine fun, joyness, and bring energy.”
And with every video, every adventure, and every smile, that’s exactly what they’re doing.
