The Brumfield brothers Phor and Don are taking the Windy City by a storm. The dynamic duo not only pulled themselves out of poverty; they also opened a tattoo studio together and star side-by-side in the reality series Black Ink Crew: Chicago. It’s definitely fair to say that Phor and Don have a totally unique relationship, but now fans are clamoring to know more about the pair.
Are Phor and Don actually related, or are they just super close childhood buddies? And what do they mean when they say that they’ve been through a lot together? We have done some digging into the Brumfield brothers’ past to give viewers the real inside scoop.
Brothers Through It All
The short answer is: yes. Phor and Don are, in fact, brothers. In an interview with The Chicago Reader, Phor confirmed that Don is his younger sibling in every way, including the biological one. The dynamic duo, however, had a difficult childhood, because there simply wasn’t always enough money to go around. Because of this, the pair did not have a traditional upbringing in a single family home with two parents.
In the interview, Phor gave a brief tour of his old stomping ground and clued fans into his history. “This is my grandmother’s house. She took us in after my mother and father didn’t work out...Years ago, we got evicted. We had to move to the suburbs eventually, but at one point we had to stay in hotel rooms for a while. It was my difficult times but, you know, it was what it was. We pushed through,” Phor revealed.
In spite of everything, the brothers created their own community. Even years later, when they took the reporter from The Chicago Reader to the neighborhood where they grew up, the brothers were greeted like long-lost relatives. “Phor can barely answer a single one of our interview questions without people driving by waving at him, rolling down their windows,” the outlet reports.
Making A Support System To Last
While the brothers managed to pull themselves out of poverty and build a better life, they have continued to struggle over the years. Phor, in particular, has experienced mental health crises, partially in response to the trauma of growing up Black in America.
In an interview with The Root, Phor spoke out about some of his mental health challenges. “Just two days ago, I had to go to two funerals in one day; two of my friends got killed before Thanksgiving. One friend just died yesterday. It’s so much trauma,” he said.
The artist and reality star was able to cope with his symptoms by leaning on his loved ones—including his brother. “You need those good friends and family members around to keep you sane,” he explained.
Phor and Don have not had the easiest path, but the two have managed to be there for each other through it all. Is that not what brothers are for?
