Exopaedia

Men in Black

"Also known as 'MIBs,' these beings are known as terrorizers of UFO contactees. They are described as being tall and wearing dark clothing. They have been seen with slightly oriental features and often wear dark glasses. Their apparent purpose is to frighten contactees into silence about their experiences and knowledge. Originally thought to be government agents, other ideas have presently surfaced such as: thought-forms, androids, and negatively oriented extraterrestrials (Orions, Sirians, and Greys). One or all of the above ideas (in various combinations) can be correlated with the MIB identity." (Lyssa Royal & Keith Priest, The Prism of Lyra)

In UFO lore, Men in Black (MIB) are mysterious figures who appear to some UFO witnesses or contactees, shortly after their sightings. Usually, they try to intimidate or silence them. 

The Men in Black typically:

  • Appear as government agents dressed in pristine black suits, ties, and sunglasses
  • Often travel in groups of two or three in black sedans or Cadillacs
  • Behave in oddly mechanical, robotic ways with stilted speech patterns
  • Demonstrate unusual physical characteristics (extremely pale skin, lack of facial hair, etc.)
  • Threaten witnesses to stop discussing their UFO experiences

The phenomenon gained widespread popularity after:

  1. Albert K. Bender claimed to be silenced by MIB in the early 1950s
  2. Author Gray Barker published "They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers" in 1956
  3. The Hollywood film franchise starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones further cemented the concept in popular culture

Many ufologists suggest the MIB could be:

  • Government agents trying to suppress UFO information
  • Extraterrestrials disguised as humans
  • Interdimensional beings
  • Psychological manifestations related to the trauma of witnessing something unexplainable