THANK U 4 YOUR SERVICE

This project was extremely special to me. To shine light on the experience of being black in the military was one I was always wanted to capture. Coming from the south side, I had countless friends and family join the service. Not out of choice, but necessity due to lack of options provided.

There’s always been a “standard” as to what a Soldier should look like, usually it’s not like us. I wanted to show Artagus, a friend from high school, in his purest form. Gold grill in the mouth and an army uniform on his skin. I sat with Artagus and gained perspective on what it felt like to be a black man in the U.S. army. From my viewpoint, a man fighting for a country that doesn’t fight for him back. He enlisted in 2018 when racial tensions in America were divided as ever. During his time served, George Floyd was killed and police brutality was front and center once again. Trump was also in office still. To be Black in a service that historically has oppressed those who look him left him “feeling conflicted everyday” he was served. 

With his gold teeth sitting on his family’s porch; his message was clear. 

“I’m just like you"