No 4: DARKER
JOELLE WILLIAMS
During my junior year of high school in 2019, I independently created a film-based photography exhibit called ‘Darker’ surrounding the black experience as it’s seen through an individualistic and artistic lens. When conceptualizing the idea, I wanted to understand how the black experience differs from one person to the next and how our similarities bring us together as a whole. Growing up black in a predominantly white world (daycares, schools, academic organizations), I noticed that a lot of my experiences with race and social acceptance differed from those of my black peers; some grow up isolated from their culture whereas others were surrounded by their own culture. In turn, these various experiences have shape e us into the people we are today. For my exhibition, I wanted to emphasize these ideals and the importance of black artistic expression as well, as it is a photography project and art is oftentimes condemned in our community. After weeks of brainstorming, I was able to idealize not only how ‘Darker’ would look, but it’s meaning as well.
Throughout Black History Month, I facilitated 10 photoshoots and interviews of students and staff surrounding their interests; Each person’s passions and beliefs differing from the next. Every portrait displayed a black person performing something they loved doing; whether that was playing the saxophone, painting, or putting on lipstick. Through this series, I was able to analyze and begin to understand the beautiful ways each African American person differs individually, the ways we’re similar, and the immense importance of Black joy.
ANDRE
“In the two most important sections of my life, my art and my spirituality, I constantly try to push boundaries and break molds, so this Magi card is representative of that inquisitive and curious side of myself”
“I love everything about being black and there’s not a day I would trade my skin for another color.”
“The connection we have as a community is nothing short of magic”
AVERY
“Going to a predominately white school changed my view about how important is to speak up for yourself and protect your blackness.”
“Art is something you have to fight for. Being in a predominately white school and the world, you always have to fight for yourself and what you believe in.”
CHRIS
“I'm really fortunate to have my story told and heard through my saxophone and as an African American, it feels good to be heard to have the opportunity to talk. When I go up on stage, I’m representing myself, the band behind me, my family, my friends my culture, and the person that hired me even. I have to represent myself on stage when I'm performing when I hold my saxophone. I have to put on a show, and I usually put on a good one!”
“My saxophone is an extension of me.”
“There's an invisible connection between all of us; stranger or not a stranger.”
DAMARI
“Many generations back, football has been a part of our lives and has brought my family closer together. Even though I don't play anymore, I can honestly say that watching football on Sundays with my dad or talking trash to my uncle about his favorite team vs mine has truly brought my family closer.”
“Football represents my family”
“Being black, there's a long line of history that's come before me. Knowing what they went through and fought for me to have the right to sit amongst these white students, there is a lot of pride that goes into that. I find pride in hearing those stories.”
LEAH
“My routines are a part of me; they represent my feelings and my thoughts. These grips define my gymnastics and make me capable of doing everything that I do.”
“I find pride in being both black and a gymnast because there's not a lot of us in my sport and it makes me proud to be one of the few that is.”
“My race shouldn’t be a barrier or obstacle in my life.”
MR. SCHEER
“Playing the guitar is a big part of my life. Since I picked it up when I was 20 years old, it's always been many things to me; it's been comforting, it's been existing, it's had a deeper meaning to me in that it represents a connection to music that I think connects us to everyone”
“Music is the universal language that everyone understands or everyone speaks. There's no culture that does not have music. And I connect to music in the most meaningful way by planing the guitar. It’s one of the things that's allowed me to find a voice in a way other than speaking”
“One of the people that I identify with and look up to the most is Jimi Hendrix. He was perceived as an African American, but he himself, like me, was a person of mixed race. His music was innovative and spectacular and changed the way everyone has played guitar since then.”
MS. CADRES
“What I like about being black is the richness of history. I especially like the community of the culture.”
“I have come a long way with presenting myself with this lipstick. When I was younger, I didn't want to be front in the center; I felt I needed to be in the background. Like many people in the African American community, I wasn't forthcoming and afraid to be at the forefront. Now I can come to the forefront and not be afraid. Just like my blackness, I feel my lipstick was made for me and specifically me.”
“It's important to always continually ask questions.”
RHEA
“I love being black because I don't know anything other than loving my skin and my culture.”
“It’s normal to want to be the majority when you’re the minority.”
“Playing the drums represents me taking a different path and doing what I want to do, similarly to how I present my blackness.”
TATUM
“In this community, there is no one person that is the same. We are all black but we are filled with different hair textures, shades, and colors that make us beautiful and I feel that is something people tend to look past.”
“I feel often I have to be self-conscious about the things I do, the things I wear, and the way in which I present myself because the things that are beautiful to me and my culture, are viewed in a different light than the people I’m surrounded by every day.”
“I chose the paintbrush because I identify myself as a very creative person, which I feel like a lot of people don't know about me and it's something I'm ready to share. It sets me apart from not only the people in my family but also my peers.”
