The premise I have worked with for the last few years has been documenting African Americans who live in housing projects that either can't or aren't trying to improve their situation. I aim to focus on people and things that tend to be overlooked and of no importance in the eyes of the majority. While home for spring break, I photographed my family. My background is "the projects"; my parents still struggle with an aspect of life created by them. This was a complex situation and could be seen as controversial. I went to great depths to accurately depict the complexity and reality of my family's life. I understood I had access to these usually inaccessible places and I took advantage of it. This has been the reality that I have been struggling with my whole life - the reality of both my parents using crack cocaine.This was a photo-graphic documentary project, but also has a personal component that brings clarity to the misunderstood. I researched other artists such as Gordon Parks, Eugene Richards and Roy De Carava, who photographed close to home - family, friends and aspects of African American culture. These photographers went into the ghettos / neighborhoods and captured moments of the struggle and joy of these places. It's from them that I receive my motivation, understanding and inspiration to convey my message and maintain the dignity of my chosen subject.
