Brown Pride: The South Auckland gym ‘by the people, for the people’

“All I wanted to do was just show other people from the same background as me that anything is possible, even if it hasn't been done yet.” Subscribe to Re: bit.ly/subscribe-re
In 2017, Johnnie Timu and his friends took a leap of faith and started @brownpride_nz - a gym in South Auckland that does things differently.
From a counsellor coming on Fridays to check in with its members, to having an inhouse barbershop that helps train young barbers and give out free haircuts to people in need, Brown Pride is what ‘by the people, for the people’ looks like.
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[@rolanipeapell3940]

I love this. You are doing amazing work Uso

[@brittanyskyenz]

Love this, what a beautiful community you guys have built,

[@chrisneru6564]

mean uce . im proud to be samoan and proud to see you brothers do wat u love and enjoy especially getting our community together. i see way to many youngsters leave school and some end up with not so good roll models . keep up the great work mbro.

[@senorbart]

So good!! What an awesome accomplishment. Congratulations!

[@Flemo2140]

Much success to you brother, mauri ora!

[@theophilus1981]

Amazing🔥 big ups and respect from Sydney.

[@roadtoredemption15]

On 🔥🔥🔥 I’ll be coming through when I’m up in the Beverly Hills 💪🏽

[@empoweredchoice1893]

Awesome work. You achieved this not only for yourself but your community.

[@rata4878]

Tautoko this mahi uso! 💪🏽

[@josephpaerau9144]

Gym a day keeps depression away

[@TURTWIG094]

Im n ot even islander and these guys treated me well like family

[@eastman40]

Good one man. Hope drugs and steroids stay away from your gym. Training naturally has its own pride which cannot be matched. Blessings.

[@Lloyd-Johns]

This is awesome

[@chevydoitzKiwiVerrer]

AWESOME MAHI UCE ✊👑 Rewa Hard!! 😅🙌💪

[@moneybags183]

I'm thinking about giving this gym a try since I live nearby, but I'm white. Am I allowed to join? Thanks

[@renegadeone2058]

Bro I don't even know U and I'm proud of U 🙏 awesome bro

[@tuilaula4451]

Beautiful

[@bpswank429]

Why do they say “souf” side and “anyfing”

[@rimawihone]

Mean as Samoan Pride! Maori boy jealous but boys your 30 years too late! Mangere Pools and Rec with Simone Lemanu Auckland Samoan bodybuilding champ

[@Soloinu86]

Maori last name

[@tuhuster]

Samoan last name as well. It means rain. We are all connected my uso.

[@Tupunaforever]

What about "South Auckland Pride" as soon as you say 'brown" it's like not for the people, unless your brown. What would a gym look like next to yours saying "White Pride", how would that go down?. I love all your mahi by the way, everyone is awesome, not bagging your mahi, just the racist headline.

[@georgenecopprimerenecopprimi]

Marcia's white and triggered. Not everything has the duality of 'what if whites did it' nonsense. They're a strong proud group of Samoan people, if they want to use the term 'brown pride' to show a positive force in their community, then so be it. It is not a term that brings violence against other POC, or other cultures or groups, unlike what the term 'white pride' represents. It is used in terms to bring resilience to a colour that historically has been oppressed for centuries by a white majority, a system that actively oppressed Samoan people and POC. If you think it's racist, you might have to have a good hard look at yourself, and your white bias.

[@lnaf1595]

​@@georgenecopprimerenecopprimi Well said👏

[@probinson8296]

@@lnaf1595 Actually, not really.

[@probinson8296]

@@georgenecopprimerenecopprimi Questions then: how do you know Marcia is white? How to you know Marcia is "triggered"? And, just for clarity, what part, exactly, did any of us have in the choice of colour of skin we were born with? And, what colour am I? Does it have a bearing on the logic of the questions I have asked? So many questions for those who follow the teachings of Herbert Marcuse, knowingly or not....

[@georgenecopprimerenecopprimi]

@@probinson8296 what a sad person you are.