Photographer Aims To Combat Negative Imagery Of Black Men With "We Love You” Project  

A powerful new photography project is aiming to reshape the negative imagery associated with Black men in America.
The narratives and images used to depict Black men in mainstream America have grown increasingly negative in the wake of multiple socially disturbing epidemics like mass incarceration and police brutality, among several others that continue to plague African-American communities across the country. The We Love You Project is a photo series dedicated to showcasing Black males of all ages in their raw and real form through the eyes of talented photographer Bryon Summers. 

On two of the hottest days in July, 165 black men of all ages met in Brooklyn, NY. Wearing plain black t-shirts, they waited to have their portraits taken for #TheWeLoveYouProject. The goal - to take back their image. . Through the art of photography and their massive support we were able to make a statement that mainstream media will not dictate who we are. . Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen. We're not done! Follow @theweloveyouproject and hit that link in the bio to help us share the project. . 🔉 "Melanin Man" x @UncleSego (Masego) . #weloveyounyc

A video posted by Bryon Summers (@bryonsummers) on Jul 26, 2016 at 5:32pm PDT

Bryon began the project in early July with an end goal of capturing photos of 1,000 Black fathers, sons, husbands, brothers, uncles, nephews, god sons, and friends to reclaim the true essence of what it means to be a Black man. “We were able to make a statement that mainstream media will not dictate who we are,” Bryon says. He goes on to describe the photo series as “a simple but powerful reassurance to our black boys and men that even though it feels like we are being murdered and destroyed constantly, we are still a part of a larger community that loves and supports us.” One click on the #WeLoveYouProject hashtag on Instagram reveals a sea of Black men like you’ve never seen them before, through the lens of one of their own who is determined to use his talent to make a difference.

Check out @theweloveyouproject 📷: @bryonsummers #weloveyounyc #theweloveyouproject #blacklivesmatter

A photo posted by Alvin Blanco (@alvinblanco) on Jul 29, 2016 at 9:47am PDT

Over the course of the next few months, Bryon and his team will travel to various cities across the United States to capture more photos of willing participants in an effort to bring the project one step closer to their goal of representing 1,000 Black men through a collection of images that will surely leave a lasting imprint for years to come. 165 men showed up for the first shoot in NYC and Bryon, a proud DMV native, is confidently anticipating just as big of a turn out at their next stop in Washington, DC on August 7.
For more about The We Love You Project, including information on which cities they’ll be heading to next, visit their official website HERE.

 

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