THE PHOTO-SERIES
Sleeping Beauty is a photo-series that aims to humanize Black men while also creating dialogue around fragile/toxic masculinity and the white imagination. One early subject said “To see a Black man sleep is to acknowledge his humanity. A softness and vulnerability is apparent. The Black man becomes relatable, innocent and a lot more like you.”
I rarely see images of Black men sleeping in the media, instead I see systematic dehumanizing images that create a justification for our regular destruction. Furthermore, Black men are not templates for other peoples aesthetics and politics, and should not line the pockets of those who are contemptuous of us - including many of ourselves. This photo-series is an invitation to join me on my healing journey that looks like disrupting the ways we define manhood. I hope to explore the unexamined and unrecorded emotions a lot of us Black men feel everyday, this includes trans men. Sleeping Beauty demands accountability, vulnerability, and for us to be honest about the conditioning that steals our humanity. When I meet up with my participants I take the time to reiterate why this imagery I’m creating is vital. I understand that not all Black men will be comfortable with closing their eyes in front of a stranger (or appearing soft and vulnerable). I’m often reminded of how Black men are struggling to let their guard down, even when it comes to something as natural as (staged) sleeping. By the time my subject crawls into their bed and I take their portrait, the energy in the room has shifted. I then take that as an opportunity to educate by reading together some scenarios that can further create awareness. Each scenario highlights specific themes meant to discuss and critique (some scenarios are real accounts) . This gives us an opportunity to talk to one another and to hear each other. This is an exercise in recognition, similar to a workshops.
My goal is to shoot 100 Black men, but honestly I may never stop. If you're interested or have any questions please fill out the form below.
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Beginning my journey to use my power responsibly looks like many different things, one of those things has to look like me sharing with everyone my past. I grew up conditioned to be homophobic, verbally and emotionally abusive to lovers, participating and perpetuating in rape culture. Through photography I used my male gaze as my compass, and unknowingly participated in different forms of coercion. I had to unlearn everything I thought I knew about consent, I had to admit that I was taught to be predatorial, did I mention my behavior was celebrated by my peers? I was called out and exiled from communities. I learned (yes learned) how to take accountability, and figure shit out because no one helped. I did the work (and continue to do the work,) asked for forgiveness with the intentions to continue advocating, regardless if I was forgiven or heard or not. I hope that my work serves as a catalyst to generate greater engagement by Black cis-het men surrounding these topics.
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