Mr. Sharif Abdal-Khallaq

A resident of Roxbury Massachusetts, Sharif Abdal-Khallaq has been a licensed barber in Massachusetts since 1963. The son of a barber, Mr. Abdal-Khallaq started barbering in Los Angeles,California after years of reluctance. In 1970 , he returned back to Boston to work at his father's historic barbershop, A Nubian Notion. According to a Roxbury news site, Mr. Abdal-Khallaq's father was very noteworthy in the Roxbury community: "Malik Abdal-Khallaq was a leader in the Roxbury community and often sought out by visiting dignitaries including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Bill Russell, Bill Cosby, El-Hajj Malik El Shabazz (Malcolm X), President John F. Kennedy and Louis Farrakhan, to name a few." In addition to barbering, the shop sold African themed gifts and imports from Egypt and Sudan. The profession not only sustained Mr. Abdal-Khallaq financially, but also fostered strong relationships with many black men in Massachusetts. Black men came from around Massachusetts to get their haircut at the barbershop. One noteworthy client is even a Milton Academy alum and former governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick. Listen to our conversation for more about Mr. Abdal-Khallaq's story!