The "Mandingos" at these events feel special and proud. They sell themselves as articulate, smart, professionally accomplished and atypical black men. These men are "exceptional." The white couples who seek out Mandingo parties are also seeking out the exceptional negro, that "special" one, who can fulfill a fantasy. Ultimately, the personhood of these black men is irrelevant: none of the people involved are really interested in talking. What does matter is that they are black men of a particular type.