This was Saturday. Happy almost spring 💕❤️💥 let’s start every day with this kind of energy. Proud of all these girls for their first official performance in front of hundreds of audience members. This was one of 4 dances (not all had pom poms but it adds to the fun)
Portland you make me PROUD ❤️ Black Lives Matter NOW & ALWAYS. Do not sit in silence. This is a movement. This is a revolution. Glad to be here out in the streets
I used to love the 4th of July purely for the sake of lawless fireworks (I’ve never been patriotic) but this year was different. Celebrating America’s independence is not an option in a time where Black people are not even close to being equal; Black people do not feel free; for me the only reason to love this day is that it’s @thegizellemarie birthday. She is one of my favorite women for many reasons & I am honored to call her my friend. She is selfless, a true activist, and has a heart of gold. This is not new to her. She has been fighting this exhausting fight to be free her whole life. This is her life’s work; to help others, especially women and specifically women of color in her line of work. She is a proud sex worker and activist. So, if you have a few extra dollars the link for her Black Sex Worker relief fund is in her bio. People who know her, who meet her even briefly will testify to the gospel of her strength, vision, and generosity. I can’t wait for the world to see more of her journey.
This is a photo I took 19 years ago. I lived in Portland,OR and I had become close friends with all the local hip hop musicians. I was their go to photographer / documentarian. I was young, they were young but the thing they seemed to all have in common besides dedicated musicians fighting to make hip hop heard and known in Portland was that they were all dedicated young fathers. They were loving present and wonderful fathers. I decided to do a series titled “keeping it all together” which turned into a show a year later highlighting 6 different local Portland and Seattle hip hop musicians as fathers and their relationships with their children. I shot over the course of a year. Spending time with each father and their kids numerous times during the year. I wanted to break down all the stereotypes always trying to put black men as fathers in a box painting the picture that they were absent not involved non existent. What I saw was the opposite and my goal was to show this in imagery and celebrate it ❤️. I have always had so much love for the black community and have always wanted to help shatter pre conceived notions. Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing dads I’ve seen you I’ve appreciated you and I’ve celebrated you forever
I stand with all humans. All people. All people of color against oppressors against racists because black lives matter. I stand in support and solidarity. For all my friends I’ve had my entire life I’m here for you and I will continue to support and show up in every way I can 💔❤️. This is for all the black and brown lives lost and the one that pushed us all over the edge George Floyd
