The Complexities of Black Identity Through Photography by Akilah Townsend
Akilah Townsend is a young rising photographer from the south side of Chicago. Akilah’s focus is on black beauty and identity, creating photo series that convey the complexities of black identity and the resulting isolation of individuality
On the misconceptions of photography…The number one misconception that people have about photography is that it is as easy as snapping a shutter button. It isn’t. Cameras are technology devices that we use to paint the vision from our minds. So it’s all about your creative vision and bringing that to life. Cameras don’t capture reality as we see them. Our eyes are far more advanced than cameras and our minds even more. The photo starts with our own unique vision in our minds, and that is what makes each photo special and unique. Bringing someone’s creativity in their mind to the 2D world has unique beauty and study. We’re in the microwave generation. And in so many ways we need to understand that good things take time, effort, and passion.
The message behind Akilah’s work…My goal is to show beauty in the awkward and passed over. Black people, dark-skinned people, historically have been put into constricting boxes when it comes to beauty and stereotypes. I hope to evoke a sense of beauty and vulnerability. We are complex, multidimensional individuals and I want that to be communicated in my work. We are just people. Multi-dimensional and layered. And all of our experiences are valid. We are all worthy.
On society acknowledging the complexity and diversity of black identity…I think we are moving more towards seeing blackness in its wholeness, but we are also still burdened by colorism, hair type discrimination, respectability politics, and a lack of ability for black men to be vulnerable, sensitive and embrace their feminine energies.
The burden to educate others on black beauty…It’s not our burden at all. I think it’s our responsibility solely to love and embrace ourselves. And if that in itself educates others, that’s amazing.
On Photoshop scandals… It’s beautiful that more and more we are scaling back. The common aesthetic is moving towards, raw, natural beauty. We’ve gone so far into the murk of facades; we’ve almost hit a wall. We’re looking for the imperfect, like film photography for example. It’s interesting that is what we want. I do feel some responsibility as a photographer, I want pride and love for oneself to be felt from viewing my images. I think it’s a lofty goal, but I have that intention.
What is in Akilah’s camera bag?…In my camera bag, I have my digital Nikon camera, I also have to bring along my film camera, external flash, my wide-angle lens, and my portraiture lens, lens cleaner, and extra batteries.
Akilah’s dream shoot…My dream shoot would have to be with either the Knowles sisters. Solange has done some beautiful music videos and photo-shoots and I think she would be game for my out of the box shoot ideas.
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