D'Alonzo

Featuring D'Alonzo

Photography by Demetrius Markee

Does my blackness offend you? When I ask you this, I am not referring to the color of my skin. When I ask, "Does my BLACKNESS offend you?" I am referring to my history, my culture, my lived experience and my ability to rise after being beat down with oppression! 

I take pride in all of my components. I cannot be intimidated, I cannot be undermined and I will not be moved. I stand firm in who I am and will not allow anyone to write the narrative for me.  Again I ask you...Does my Blackness offend you?

A Thousand Words

Featuring Darius Amore

Photography by Demetrius Markee

"A picture is worth a thousand words," they say. What exactly are these words? Are these words that that are too afraid to be uttered? Are these words that are too harsh to be spoken aloud? Are these words that are too truthful to be heard? If a picture is worth are thousand words, it should be able to tell an amazing story. The good, bad and the ugly.

ÊTRE JEUNE

Featuring Drew Davis

Photography by Demetrius Markee

To be young, to be care free, to feel as though we have our entire lives ahead of us is something we all do in our youth. We tend to think that the end seems so far away that we can't even begin to fathom the idea that our youth will undoubtedly fade away. Youth seems to be something that isn't quite appreciated until it is no longer present. 

We at times take our youth for granted. We blame our mistakes and poor choices on being "Young and dumb," but we never actually equate our youth to being a defining time in our lives where we have the opportunity to discover who we are or at least begin to realize who we would like to become.

Take advantage of this moment in time and enjoy the experience of your youth. Learn as much as you can from those you admire, build relationships with people that have potential to be positive influences in your life. Don't waste your time thinking that you will always have tomorrow to do what you didn't do today. Treasure these years and take the world in while preparing yourself for the life you want and the "You" that you plan to be.