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In the second chapter of Dark and Tender, ten Black men workshop the touch and listening practices from the Chronically UnderTouched Project on the Big Island of Hawaii – interrupting the violent narratives told about them using the tool of tenderness.

Coming December 13

Pre-Order On Demand Tickets

Bring tenderness into the room.

Recording as we work, we’re capturing footage on the road to make a feature length film.

In this second chapter of Aaron Johnson’s film “Dark and Tender”, ten Black men journey to the Big Island of Hawaii to workshop the touch and listening practices from the Chronically UnderTouched Project. Part cinéma vérité, part elucidated teaching, the film slows down with the men as they reclaim and rebuild platonic intimacy and trust. Holding space for each other, they shake off violent narratives of Black masculinity and seek to restore a vital and basic human need in their lives – tender touch.

Host a Living Room Screening

Contact Program Coordinator Leah Vendl at info@holisticresistance.com to host a living room screening or event for your organization.

Watch The Big Island Online

Purchase tickets for the December 13 On Demand Release.

Watch “Dark and Tender” until December 13, 2026

Sponsor The CUT Project

Contact Sponsorship Coordinator Yvette Farias at reachnation1982@gmail.com for brand partnerships.

Contact Producer Ben Wilson at ben@colorofsound.org to sponsor the film.

Press & Updates
Dark and Tender: Healing Black Men with The CUT Project — The Evergreen Echo
Dark and Tender: Healing Black Men with The CUT Project — The Evergreen Echo

Prentis Hemphill and Aaron Johnson on stage and in conversation at Seattle Public Library screening of “Dark and Tender” in April 2025.

Aaron Johnson’s ‘Dark and Tender’ new documentary challenges stereotypes by reclaiming tenderness — UW Daily
Aaron Johnson’s ‘Dark and Tender’ new documentary challenges stereotypes by reclaiming tenderness — UW Daily

“I would like to bring … not just a counter [narrative], but a more accurate description of what Black bodies — and specifically here — Black masculine bodies can be, and actually are already in the world but rarely noticed and respected,” Johnson said.

The CUT Project has “…a map to the future of care” — South Seattle Emerald
The CUT Project has “…a map to the future of care” — South Seattle Emerald

The work is simple, but obviously very moving for the people involved. Throughout the film, the men share their own relationship to touch, trauma, and the effect this workshop had on them. For many, they see the project has a map to the future of care.

Touching documentary to get its debut at Port Townsend Film Festival — The Leader
Touching documentary to get its debut at Port Townsend Film Festival — The Leader

“For every one image that you see of tender humanity between Black men, there are hundreds of thousands of hours of violence that are shown.”

Do you identify with being Chronically UnderTouched?

Right now we are collecting interest from masculine People of the Global Majority (PGM / BIPOC) to be part of the movement and potentially the documentary film. Have a story to tell? Let’s talk.

Reach Out

Team and Credits - Dark and Tender: The Big Island

Film by The Chronically UnderTouched (CUT) Project
Directed by Aaron Johnson

Produced by Color of Sound and Ben Wilson
Director of Photography Bryce Johnson
Editor Gabe Van Lelyveld

Appearances by: Aaron Johnson, Ben Wilson, Aliko Weste, Kingsya Omega, TJ Anderson

Brand & Web Design by Leah Vendl
Typeface: Martin by Vocal Type

Assistant to Aaron Johnson: Yvette Farias