Red, BLACK and Blue (2024)
“Red, BLACK and Blue” is a photographic exploration of my Black and Christian experience growing up in the American South—a life close to the idealized Southern and Christian archetype but distinctly and powerfully Black. Through this project, I seek to illuminate the spaces and moments that define my identity: family gatherings, vibrant church services, and the familiar yet nuanced backdrop of my hometown.
In these images, I reflect a vision of Southern life that embraces many ideals often seen as traditionally "white Southern" but with the depth and resilience of Black culture. The values of faith, hospitality, and community shine brightly here, not as borrowed influences but as integral parts of my own heritage. My goal is to reveal the ways in which Black Southern identity exists both within and outside of these conventions, reimagining and reclaiming what it means to belong in this space.
Each photograph in "Red, BLACK and Blue" honors the warmth, devotion, and pride I’ve inherited. This project invites viewers to see this world through my eyes, where Black Southern life and Christian values coexist in harmony. I hope the images resonate as a testament to both shared human experiences and the rich diversity that defines my personal journey, capturing an authentic Southern identity that is deeply familiar and powerfully unique.
