The Radical Power of Everyday Black Moments Picture this: a group of cousins playing tag in the front yard. Your grandma humming in the kitchen as she stirs the pot. The folding chairs lined up in the back yard at a family cookout. These moments may feel small, even forgettable,
Photography, Power and the Frame We Don't See In his powerful poem If I Were a Racist, musician and educator Dr. Nathan Holder exposes how racism is often embedded not in overt acts, but in the everyday norms of music education, in what's taught, what'
Introduction: Beyond the Shutter Click There’s a moment, just before the shutter clicks, when everything aligns. Not technically, but spiritually. The light is soft. The subject exhales. The silence feels full. And the photographer knows. That’s the moment they shoot. Not because the settings are perfect, but because
You’ve read the books. You’ve shared the posts. You’ve shown up to workshops and started having harder conversations with friends and family. You’ve taken steps toward allyship, and that matters. But what if there’s more? What if being an ally is only the beginning? Across
In Part One, we shared 10 essential books to help allies grow in understanding and commitment to anti-racism. In this second instalment, we’re shifting the focus to photography and visual culture. Images shape how we see the world and how the world sees Black people. These books are for
Introduction Gordon Parks (1912 to 2006) remains one of the most influential American photographers of the twentieth century. His camera was both a mirror and a window, reflecting the harsh realities of the nation while offering a glimpse into lives too often overlooked. Born in Fort Scott, Kansas, Parks rose
This is the first in a two-part reading list for allies. If you're here, chances are you're looking for ways to understand more, to do better, and to walk more closely in solidarity with Black communities. That starts with listening, deeply and honestly. The books in
There are photographs you take because of light or timing or luck. And then there are the ones that take hold of you. This is that photo for me. It’s a portrait of my mum. My only parent. A single mother. Taken just months before she passed away in
Being an ally is not about having the right answers. It is about asking the right questions, especially when no one is watching. If you are a not Black and committed to anti-racism, accountability is one of the most important parts of the journey. It keeps your allyship honest. It
Reimagining Beauty, Identity, and Representation In a world flooded with images, some photographers manage to cut through the noise. Not by shouting louder, but by seeing deeper. Campbell Addy is one of those artists. His portraits are bold and cinematic. They are rich in colour, culture, and symbolism. But behind
Understanding Performative Allyship In the wake of social movements like Black Lives Matter, the language of allyship has entered mainstream conversation. Brands issue solidarity statements. Influencers post black squares. Individuals rush to share anti-racism books or repost viral infographics. These gestures are often well-intentioned. But when disconnected from accountability or
Photography as Witness, Protest, and Power Some photographers make you look. Others make you see. Misan Harriman belongs in the second group. His images don’t just document moments, they amplify them. His work captures not only what is happening, but what it means. Through protest portraits, magazine covers, and
Allyship
Take a moment and scroll through your social media feed. Think about the podcasts you subscribe to, the films you watch, the books on your shelves, and the newsletters in your inbox. Now ask yourself one simple but revealing question: Who’s missing? Our timelines, both online and offline, are
Shifting the Gaze
Photography has long been a tool for observation. But for many Black photographers, it becomes something more, a way to document truth, connect with community, and honour lived experience. Adama Jalloh is one of those artists. Her work cuts through noise and spectacle. It captures people as they are. No
Allyship
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you already care. You believe in equality. You’re against racism. You might have spoken out in conversations, shared a few resources, or taken a stand when it felt important. But then comes the question that many well-meaning non-Black allies
Shifting the Gaze
Photography is more than image-making. In the hands of the right artist, it becomes a form of care, a way of seeing, holding, and honouring people and their stories. For Black creatives in Britain, this has often meant reclaiming space and reshaping narratives. It’s about challenging how we’ve
Allyship
Through the Lens of Our Work The word “ally” is everywhere. It appears in statements, hashtags, captions, and campaigns. But what does it really mean to be an ally? What does it look like in practice? And how do we know when we’re doing it well? At theBLKGZE, we
Shifting the Gaze
The Power of Photography to Reclaim Identity Photography holds a unique ability to capture moments that reveal our deepest truths. It can document history, celebrate identity, and challenge assumptions about who we are and where we come from. In recent years, a new wave of Black British photographers has emerged.
Essay
Introduction: The Gap Between Awards and Reality This photo that won won Environmental Photographer of the Year 2021 raises so many questions. 1: Why is the child sleeping in the sun? 2: Why is the child sleeping in an abandoned house? 3: Is it because the child is Black that
My Peoples
"The secret of getting ahead is getting started." – Mark Twain About four years ago I was on a photo walk in downtown Atlanta. I came to an intersection and across the street I see this brother walking with the unmistakable bop of a free man carrying a little
My Peoples
The Black gaze is relatable, humanistic, empathetic, authentic, truthful, inclusive, defiant. My father Stephen Kofi Adu-Sanyah became a victim of a tragic surgical mistake in a German hospital in 2016. The doctors didn’t provide him with a blood transfusion during surgery, and let my father bleed out in front
Q&A
"The Black gaze is relatable, humanistic, empathetic, authentic, truthful, inclusive, defiant. It is important that we shape our identity and see ourselves beyond the outsiders’ limited beliefs. False beliefs stemming from a bleak history. The Black gaze allows us to see each other in an understanding and dignifying light,
Q&A
"The Black gaze to me, means Black visual artists having the ability and ample opportunities to tell our own stories without the fear of not meeting the expectations of non-Black people." - Henry Danner How does the Black gaze relate to your photography practice? This relates to my
Q&A
"The Black gaze is about the experiences that exist within each and every single one us. There are stories at every single corner. And it’s those stories that allows us to have a voice; especially when so many people are voiceless, and don’t get to share those
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