In August 2013, I found myself deeply reflecting on my life experiences as a black man and the conflict between who we are versus who people think we are. Years later, I find myself in the same position. Despite how we define ourselves, we are often misunderstood and misjudged. Our identities are too often limited by our complexions, the style of our clothes, the music we listen to, the side of the law we stand on, the mood of the cops we encounter, and the history of our struggles for citizenship in our own country. Yes, we are black men, but before that we are human.
This photo project is an ongoing effort to capture the identities of black men across the country. Through the project, I share just a snippet of how we define ourselves: fathers, sons, friends, artists, teachers, men full of passion and love… the list goes on. I ask you to see us as we see ourselves.
Tesfa [tesfa@whateverisee.com]
I AM photo project 