What Black Men Learn From Their Parents About the Police

About three years ago, I came up with an idea for a photo project … take portraits of black men and ask them what their mother told them about the police.

I even took a few photographs to begin the project. But, as happens sometimes with my ideas, my follow through was weak. I took several portraits at the beginning. Did a poor job of keeping up with which photos went with which quote and got discouraged by my disorganization.

As the litany of names of black men killed by the police continued to crescendo over time, my desire to resurrect the project grew. So, I headed out to the outskirts of two recent Black Lives Matter protests to continue the work.

Several times when I ask what their mothers had told them about the police, the men told me that it was their Dad or another parental figure who gave them advice about the police. So, now instead of asking what their mothers told them, I’m asking what their parents, or a parental figure told them about the police.

Here is a portrait taken of Monterio on June 3rd after a protest on Decatur Square. And below is his response to the question:

What did your parents tell you about the police?

I learned growing up that we get treated differently. If you get pulled over, don’t make any sudden move, just stay still, try not to give them any reason to draw their gun on you.

Along, the way you learn that even if you don’t move or don’t do anything, it can happen anyway.

So, you just gotta pray. I have a big belief in God. I know that if I’m meant to be, I’ll be here.

As you go on you learn we get things handed to us harder. It’s something you learn to adjust to. I’m just  glad we live in a time now that our voices are being heard more.

I feel like as time goes on, I feel like a lot of people will eventually figure out that equality is the roots of everything that will go good in this country. Without it, we’ll still be separated.

I feel like right now with the President, I feel like we gotta (I don’t say my own views to change anyone else’s view,) but I reel like the President is trying to enforce a race war and I feel like we just can’t let him do it.

We’re all human and I feel like we all bleed. We all breathe the same. I feel like we just have to look at each other as brothers and sisters. There’s no difference, we’re all human.