This first issue features a portion of a photo series on African American teenagers called Another Image: Black Teens Coming of Age.The series has been exibited in the San Francisco Bay Area, at galleries, high schools, and college campuses, and consists of 32 black and white 16x20 photographs. I embarked on this series, because I believed that the constant 'negative' portrayals of black youth in the media were fueling the existing racism in this society, and having a less than desirable effect on the self-esteem of black people, and black youths in particular. As a photographer, I wanted to do something to counter those images, and assist in creating a voice for black youth by photographing them differently than the typical media portrayal. I wanted to create an opportunity for them to speak their minds about the challenges of growing up black in this culture, and those who cared to hear to hear what they had to say. I interviewed kids from a wide range of backgrounds, about the various forces influencing their lives; racism, AIDS, drugs, teen pregnancy etc. Each portrait is accompanied by a quote from that youth.

Image means a great deal in American culture. Images are created and used to communicate non-verbal information about a person or a group. The interpretation or the information communicated, encompasses both a visual impact, or how people appear and their associated value. Image is an important criterion for how Americans judge what is socially desirable or acceptable. For black teenagers, a public image has been created for them, and that image is a negative one. The mass media, has consistently projected a pathological social profile for this group. Crack use, teenage pregnancy, gang violence etc., are now currently associated with the American black teenager.

Having dark skin is one component of the visual 'image' factor for black teenagers. They are looked at and feared, but not truly seen. The negative public image created for them obscures their being perceived as potentially positive assets to the society in which they are growing up. Visually, the impact of black skin has yet to become a neutral perceptual experience in our culture. In American society, there still exists a tremendous emotional charge associated with the viewing of black skin. It is still a common psychological phenomenon for the visual perception of black skin to instantaneously evoke numerous fears, hatred, denigrating associations, myths and stereotypes. Consequently those with black skin can be against their will and beyond their knowledge, be objectified on that basis. The resulting pre-judgements resulting from this process include being considered undesirable, inferior, and a perceived difference or 'otherness' is assumed.

Dealing with this kind of prejudice is a serious obstacle to healthy psychological growth. Racial preudice is a tremendous challenge for black youth who are vulnerable to negative messages regarding their self worth, while in the process of forming their identities and values as young adults. I felt the photographic medium would be an effective form to challenge the assumptions which are based on visual perception about black youth. I used straightforward environmental portraits and accompanying direct quotes excerpted from interviews with them on various subjects such as racism, sexism, the AIDS crisis, drugs, teenage pregnancy, etc. This method was used to provide viewers with an opportunity to re-examine their perceptions, to render black youths visible in a positive, or at least neutral setting, to demystify their image, and to give them a voice where there has been none.

exhibit | gallery

back to the joint