Wish I never had to take this fucking picture. Mans got sprayed with mace less than 6 feet from me. I had to block out his eyes and remove metadata and screen shot three times just to post it safely enough that he likely won’t be hunted down and murdered or arrested because he chose to speak his mind and exercise his rights as an American. I feel like this image captures so well how I feel and how others feel under the thumb of decades, centuries long oppression. I tasted pepper spray and tear gas last night for the first time. There’s still people out there speaking up and protesting even in the face of a fucking pandemic because it matters that much. This affects everyone. Stop acting like you’re above it or you can look past it and post kittens and puppies to feel better. Make a plan for yourself and your family because this feels like the beginning of something historic. Get ready.

A couple months back I was hired by @rollingstone to cover Juneteenth and photograph some artists by the name of @fireinlittleafrica . They’re a collective group of artists based in Tulsa, OK. They and Tulsa showed me a lot of love and I’m so thankful for the opportunity afforded to me by Rolling Stone. It’s crazy to think about. Read the article as it dives into why this group is noteworthy and should definitely be in your list of artists to check out.

Angyil and I spoke about the expectations, pressures, and experiences that come with being Black and talented. About seizing opportunities when they present themselves but not going outside of yourself for those chances. Staying true. This work came about organically and I’m proud of what we accomplished.

Un placer de disparar con @123conandres. Son ganadores de Grammy Latino y nativos de Colombia y Kansas City. Hacen música infantil que es bastante moderna y divertida y también inspiradora. ¡Me muero de ganas de ver lo que hacen a continuación!

No one can tell you what any one thing looks like. If Junior Boy is one thing, he is a fighter. The monkey on his back is one that has taken a beating but like him, it just keeps coming back, with a smile even. This man who gave me (unintentionally) my first taste of beer—Olde English 800, has needed a drink basically everyday of his life for the past 50 years. Through slurred words he will laugh with you and reminisce about times past as if they were yesterday, only truly speaking clearly when giving directions to the liquor store. Life has taken a toll on him no doubt but man, he will meet you with a grin and “What’s hattenin, junior boy?” every single time you see him. We all know those that fight their demons and transform into demons themselves. That isn’t the case here and there’s strength in that.

“Moving also means leaving her neighbors. Rogers describes Heart Mobile Village as a place where neighbors help her get into her locked car, and where her kids help older neighbors take out the trash. ‘All the neighbors here are nice,’ Rogers said. ‘Everybody talks to each other, everybody helps each other out.’”

Ray ‘Steddy P’ Pierce lost his brother to cancer. Near the end of his death, his brother made him promise to preserve the chemotherapy mask and to immortalize it in some way. Ray came up with this idea and it was on me to execute. This didn’t feel like a regular photo session. Much more important than that. Feels like a memorial.

I AINT MAD ATCHA for The Atlantic. #documentary #black&white #photojournalism