Black Lives Matter Protests
Tuesday’s peaceful protest outside the Millis Town Hall was moving, emotional, frustrating, and empowering, all in one 2.5 hour period.
Even before attending this week’s protest, I thought a lot about what it means to have the privilege of being a photographer during times like these. Documentation is a lot more than simply being a witness and pressing a button.
Before, during, and after participating in the protest, I thought about how I could utilize my art to give a voice to the Black Lives Matter movement and black voices in my community. I asked myself... how can my work be a contribution to the cause? How can I make sure my art is honoring, not exploitative?
Being a photographer is both a responsibility and a privilege. It’s about finding the truth in someone else’s story and representing people to the best of your ability, which is not easy. A lot of the time, it isn’t about photographing at all. It’s oftentimes about being a participant before being a photographer, which was I hope I accomplished throughout the event.
Looking through these photographs, please realize that this is not an isolated issue. Racism is and has always been overwhelmingly systemic. Before we can begin to dismantle these oppressive systems that a lot of us benefit from, we need to acknowledge them all and stand with those who’ve experienced them first hand.
SILENCE IS NOT AN OPTION. There is more than one way we can contribute. We need to listen to black perspectives, educate ourselves on systemic oppression, have difficult conversations with friends and family, stand with people fighting for justice, and work to dismantle white supremacy in its many, often hidden, forms.
Here is a link with resources a fellow Simmons student recently shared with me: https://docs.google.com/…/1WUJUAQs_vMDixJAWRMON…/mobilebasic
There are endless ways you can help! Just because we are not seeing these issues on social media as often, doesn’t mean they don’t matter anymore.
Thank you to everyone for a successful protest. My community will not stay silent.
Black Lives Matter.
