With my camera in hand, I took to the streets of Downtown Los Angeles to participate in my first peaceful protest in 2020 to honor the death of George Floyd as there is power in numbers to bring about change. As everyone chanted “BLM”, I wanted to capture this empowering moment in time. Although the fight for civil rights is nothing new, as a Black teen I have been awakened to understand that racism is on a rise and one’s life is not always valued. Edited through Photoshop, the gun target image represents people of color being forever targeted just for living in their own skin. I chose black and white with a grain effect to date the never-ending cycle in time of police brutality and also the removal of color emphasizes the break-down of color lines publicly. Many black individuals are constantly overlooked all because of the color of their skin. Whether we are affiliated in the upper class, middle class, or lower class we still continue to be silenced. Expressing major issues through art is an aspect in my life. Through this photo I want to influence others to take part in their community and understand the importance of speaking out to the many overlooked issues. When the streets clear and the news topic changes, the power of a picture remains. Another recurring issue in Downtown Los Angeles is the rapid increase in the homeless population. All my life it’s been ingrained in my mind how privileged I am to be living life without having to endure other individuals' daily struggles such as knowing when they’ll receive their next meal. “If you don’t read, you’ll end up like them,” is one of the many insensitive things my father would say to me growing up. It was Christmas Eve 2020 when a family friend invited me to take photos at his community service event in Downtown Los Angeles’ Skid Row. I figured doing a good deed and then enjoying the rest of the day thrifting on the westside sounded like a plan. This was my first up close and personal with a houseless community. At church I learned to say houseless since the community is that person’s home. The thought of Skid Row made me nervous, but I also knew you sometimes fear what you don’t know. When I took to the streets, I came to realize that everyone has a story that runs deep. What touched me most was to see children clutching their parent’s hand in the meal line. I later learned that the many teens on skid row had aged out of the foster care system. It is shocking to see fancy restaurants, high rise buildings, and luxury homes within walking distance from the largest houseless population covering 50 city blocks. And here I am growing up in the suburbs with a roof over my head, food on the table, attending a college readiness high school, and provided a support system to be all that I can be when you have a large community of people living amongst violence, trash, drugs, mental illness, lack of healthcare, and hopelessness. Through my lens, I saw people with stories behind their pain. These photos were showcased in my former Language Art teacher’s Social Justice class to bring light to this tragedy and encourage others to volunteer their time. I continued this past year volunteering on Skid Row through the non-profit organization Project EDUCATE who extends resources to this community through fitness & health education, providing basic essential kits, workshops for women to provide health, safety, & beauty, intellectual development, and a host of events highlighting the humanity of this forgotten population. I facilitate the collection of DVD movies, that are of no use to many with the advancement of digital media, to hold movie nights in the nearby community center. Understanding that lack of housing has major consequences for the houseless in terms of education, mental and emotional health leading to their role in society, I took the photos and videos I had compiled and submitted for a $5,000 grant to help further this cause through Invisalign ChangeMakers. Working with Project EDUCATE has been a humbling experience, allowing me to help others have more opportunities in life and see themselves through a different lens. My personal endeavor to become a great film or media student in the near future is one thing but being a good role model and speaking out on what isn’t being brought to the attention of is just as important.
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