On October 14, 2017 the group White People 4 Black Lives staged a benefit for Black Lives Matter that brought together leading activists and actors to perform historically significant speeches (i.e. Sojourner Truth, Malcom X, John Brown) in front of an audience of over 300 people in West Adams’ McCarty Memorial Church. The audience included family members of those killed in police confrontations and in correctional custody.
The event made me aware that activists of all backgrounds with disparate priorities have rallied to the Black Lives Matter message, and are organizing and fundraising in support of the movement. Because, of course, the issues that Black Lives Matter takes-on are not Black-only issues.
I was compelled to portray the diverse individuals who are coming together in this fractured political climate to stand up in recognition and rejection of systemic racism. To do that, I built a temporary on-site photographic studio that allowed me a sitting with each activist or allied actor in the moments before and after their performance. I set out to make honest photographs with my subjects to foster strong, empathetic connection to the viewer. My intention is to celebrate each of these individuals, amplifying their work for racial justice. My hope is that this will show the plurality of voices that have coalesced behind the Black Lives Matter movement, and in turn, will contribute to tolerance and understanding in the United States today.
Co-founder of Black Lives Matter
Organizers of Vigilant Love, a community against Islamophobia
Pastor of McCarty Memorial Christian Church
Actor, Black Lives Matter supporter
Actor, Black Lives Matter supporter
Actor, Black Lives Matter supporter
Co-founder of White People 4 Black Lives
Mother of Shaylene Antoinette Graves, who was found dead in a correctional facility where she was a prisoner in San Bernadino, California in 2016
Sister of Kisha Michael, killed by Inglewood, CA police in 2016
Actor, Black Lives Matter supporter
Latina Transgender speaker and activist
Actor, White People 4 Black Lives organizer
Lead organizer of Black Lives Matter - Los Angeles, professor of Pan-African Studies Cal State LA