15 ways to honor Black History Month

 

1.Support a Black owned business 

A simple way to give back and honor Black lives, starts by shopping at your local Black owned business. Buy your Valentine’s Day gifts there, leave a generous tip and promote their business on your social media. The more people know about the business the more support they are receiving. 

2. Donate money or time to a Black organization

If you want to donate money or time towards a Black organization, check out Charity Navigator. There you can find many different Black organizations ranging from health, culture, civil rights or community development. No matter the amount that you give, it is the thought that counts towards helping our communities. 

3. Learn from Black educators 

If you are a student or wanting to get educated on certain history, culture or movements surrounding Black lives, reach out to a Black educator. Listen, take notes and study their lectures. The more informed we are and the more we listen to our Black educators, the more awareness we can spread and share. 

4. Support Black creatives in your hometown 

There are many talented people in our hometowns that are working to get their art or services out in the open. Look for photographers, bakers, models or influencers that you could promote or book. 

5. Support Queer Black Folks 

Find organizations, seminars or podcasts that support queer Black folks. Learn and unlearn about history, movements and culture that can help our fellow queer folks. 

6. Purchase and Read books by Black authors 

Take a day off and visit your local library or Barnes and Noble to purchase novels written by Black authors. Find poetry books, history books or recipe books to discover or gift to friends or family. 

7. Learn about the Black Lives Matter movement 

Take some time out of your routine to listen and learn about BLM. What is this movement? How can I support it? How can I give back to BLM organizations or charities near me? There are endless YouTube videos and podcasts that can educate us about this movement. 

8. Understand the stereotypes and micro-aggressions Black people have and continue to face in America 

 The best way to begin to learn and unlearn about these topics is by doing some research. Starting with reading books, articles, listening to podcasts or watching documentaries. It is a baby step to understanding these topics. 

9. Learn about Black musicians and their impact on society 

Music is all around us and little do people know the different genres that Black people created. Genres like House, Rap, Jazz, R&B and Rock n Roll are a few that were started by Black artists and creatives. 

10. Inform your friends and family about Black History Month 

The more you vocalize for Black issues, movements and lives the more people are in the loop of things. These topics are great to expand our knowledge and awareness for Black History. 

11. Visit a local Black History Museum 

If you like to be around art and read about history, try researching local museums that display Black history. You can make it into a road trip, a date or a self-care day for yourself. What better way to educate yourself and do something fun at the same time? 

12. Invite friends over to make an authentic recipe 

For anyone who likes to try out new dishes or make new recipes this one is a great starting point. Look for recipes by Black authors, Youtube content creators or influencers that you could try out. 

13. Watch films celebrating Black lives 

A few films you can watch during the month of February are Soul (Disney+), Really Love ( Netflix), The Photograph (HBO Max) or Becoming (Netflix). 

14. Listen more, talk less when Black people vocalize their thoughts and ideas.

Throughout the years I have learned to talk less and listen more to others. As simple as it seems, it can be hard for people to really listen to what Black folks are saying. The more we sit down and listen to people talk about their ideas, thoughts, goals or micro-aggression the more we can educate ourselves and others. 

15. Celebrate Black Lives every day, not just in February 

Just because its February does not mean that we will only honor and educate ourselves on Black history. This isn’t a trend, a hype movement or a hashtag. This is a part of our history as a whole. Black History is American history

 

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7 of the Best Creative Photographers in the Kansas City Area

For the last two weeks,  I had the privilege to sit down and speak with these creatives about their process, failures and journey as artists in a city like Kansas City. We spoke about what brought them behind the camera, how they grew their platform, what inspires them and everything in between. 

Stephanie Alba | IG handle: stephaniealbaphoto

Stephanie Alba has grown up in the local photography scene. Her father Octavio Miranda has been a Kansas City photographer for the last fifteen years. 

“I have pictures of myself when I was ten years old, holding a camera, so I have been in it for quite a long time,” said Alba. 

Although Alba has grown up seeing her fathers work, she has stayed true to her own style of photography throughout the last six years of being a freelancer

“A lot of people like his photography, but you also have the other side, where it’s great to see his tips and tricks — but we still have two different styles of photography,” said Alba. 

Alba recently graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City — and has brought her modern-portraiture photography — to a local KC Art Gallery and Photo Studio. 

“Just getting involved with 610 Creatives and local creatives…because when I was in college.. I kind of stepped back, but I wasn’t actively involved in the creative community…so I am excited to get back out there,” said Alba. 

Alba’s work isn’t just behind the camera, she aims to make her photography accessible to all first-generation graduates and the community. 

“I try to keep photography accessible to everyone; it can be expensive. I wanted to focus on first-gen students, and I understand the importance graduation is to our families,” said Alba. 

Jordan Brown | IG Handle: jaayybrown

Jordan Brown is notorious for using film cameras to tell his story through photographs. He aims to portray emotion, music and is deeply influenced by Black culture. 

“I try my best to show the world and what I experience through my eyes. The way my art and myself in general resonate with music, I try to bring my audience on a journey, the vibe and feeling I get specifically to each concept I shoot,” said Brown. 

Brown’s journey into media has been an all-around experience. He studied broadcasting and public relations at Hastings College in Nebraska. Brown constantly added his own perspective into this work. 

“I anchored, practiced journalism, reported on stories, created my own visual content, worked as the head of social media in multiple departments, and a lot more — even put on sports broadcasting alongside NAIA and ESPN,” said Brown. 

Nevertheless Brown can take a concept and add pungency to his work. He is deeply influenced by vintage looks, ancestoreal storytelling and 90’s streetwear. 

“A lot of storytelling has a vintage taste to it — it has a lot of art — movies, music, fashion, paintings,” 

Brown continuously excerpts Black culture into his inspirations and creative process. 

“Fashion is a big thing for me and a lot of fashion comes from New York — Brooklyn, Bronx, Harlem — thats all Black prevalent areas that we stay in, we build our culture, and to be honest a lot of America follows and takes inspiration from all different ethnicities…starts with Black culture,” said Brown. 

Brown has gone from broadcast journalist to a prodigious visual artist in the Kansas City area. Whether mixing song lyrics into his captions, telling a story or his portrayal of skin tones through his work — it is all a part of his creative recipe. 

“It’s like cooking. The concept, the model, scene, and location are all ingredients. Say you are saltating vegetables or meat, what are you going to put on there? Seasoning. The seasoning is me, the film and what am I going to do to add the little spasazz. Mines cajun seasoning — it goes good on everything — it’s not for everybody, but for people who have good taste, they like it a lot,” said Brown. 

Makayla Camille | IG Handle : thedigitalmc

Incorporating brown undertones, empathy and composition Makaylaa Camille captures the ethereal beauties of life. Camille grew up with her grandmother taking photos of her. 

“Cameras were always around me growing up; she used to always have those disposable cameras to take pictures of me…cameras were always in my area — in my vicinity,” said Camille. 

Camille uses different forms of visuals and arts to portray her ideas in her photographs. 

“My process as a creative just goes all over the place; I have a sketchbook…I am a big Pinterest person,” said Camille. 

In one of her shoots she was inspired by her favorite film — Mr. and Mrs. Smith — to recreate a toxic relationship with a twist. And she is inspired by songs and music videos. 

“I am at a point in my life where songs like — Chloe and Halle produced the Ungodly Hour — I want to make a whole visual for that…I don’t know how I’m gonna do it yet…but it’ll get done,” said Camille. 

Camille uses repetitive colors through her work to enhance her illusive images. 

“Brown Sugar Baby. When people notice my work they notice a lot of brown undertones, I like to incorporate it into my pieces; the reason why I put sugar is because my work gives out a dreamy sense; and just baby goes with me — that’s my code thing,” said Camille. 

Yessica Ramirez | Instagram handle: enchiladuhs

Ramirez grew up around cameras and video recorders. At a very young age, she remembers watching her mother film and taking photographs of their family. 

“My mom inspired me, because when we were younger she would always film and take photos,” said Ramirez.

Ramirez’s confidence has grown as a local photographer. From comparison with other artists, she strives to focus on her own style. 

“There is no reason to be so focused on everyone else in Kansas City — everyone has their own unique style,” said Ramirez. 

Scrolling through her Instagram feed there is a transition from lifestyle photos to semi-nudity portraits. The interpretation for the extravagant change roots from Ramirez’s self-love mantra. 

“My own insecurities — I despised the way I looked — the way I began loving myself was capturing other people [bodies],” said Ramirez. 

Ramirez’s neutral style of photography brings out a sense of self-love through her images. 

Ramirez tackled the field by shooting for Chiefs Cornerback Charvarius Ward back in the fall of 2019. 

“It felt unreal. I was overthinking everything, there are so many lines where you are blocked off. But everything turned out great. So many emotions…super exciting,” said Ramirez.

Javier Rivera | IG Handle: riveraeyephotography

Javier Rivera picked up the camera out of the blue. Five years later, his camera and talent have landed him bookings back to back to back. 

“I bought a camera for fun and it just went from there, I learned from my own mistakes, Youtube and other people that I like,” said Rivera. 

Rivera has been growing as a Latino creative in the city. He shares  the components and challenges many photographers face in K.C. 

“I would say growing. Making sure your work is out there, there are a lot of people out there, other than that…we all have different styles to offer,” said Rivera. 

Rivera has been noticed as a professional wedding and portraits photographer. From shooting three to four weddings a week to smaller portrait projects. Rivera’s eye has captured the hearts of his clients and the Latino community. 

“Weddings and anniversaries are my proudest projects. When I take a picture, I think about if my pictures look like a photo you could take from your phone, then I did a terrible job; I want to take advantage of using my camera,” said Rivera. 

Rivera found his own style and signature through trial and error — he encourages Latino creatives to take the chance — one click at a time.

“Make sure you enjoy photography. Because if you have a bad day, you gotta enjoy your work either way. Pick up the camera and practice, you learn from your mistakes, and reach out to other people,” said Rivera. 

Meagan Taylor | IG handle: meagantaylorr

Fashion is another Kansas City staple. Meagan Taylor brings nature and clothing into a contemporary mix. 

Taylor was influenced into pursuing photography because of her love for art and her older sister.

“I have always loved art. So, my sister would have her camera and we would go out and do photoshoots together,” said Taylor. 

Taylor’s feed is filled with beautiful female models and her interpretation roots from women empowerment. Taylor wants to create a community and safe space for female models, to avoid awkward encounters with male photographers. 

“I want to put myself into this world and be for women, make them feel comfortable and safe around me,” said Taylor. 

The Kindred Shops is a collective boutique in the Kansas City area that Taylor has been shooting for since October of 2018. Taylor has worked closely with — social media manager Ashley Jewell —  on styling shoots and getting a community of women together through clothing. 

“The owner of Kindred reached out to me,  and said to make this [shooting] a regular thing and I was like yeah, a job in this world,” said Taylor. 

Abdul-Amir B. Williams | IG handle: amirabdul_

From using an iPhone 6s to a Canon Canonet G3-QL Amir has grown his devotion with photography. 

He recalls seeing his mother’s images from London, and since then has been inspired to capture timeless images. 

“Life in general. My mom always exposed us to different stuff, seeing she wasn’t from the States, just looking at pictures around the house. It just started from there and I added my own creativity to it,” said Amir. 

Amir’s work shows details and perspective through his choice of color, editing and angles. His main objective is to capture life behind the camera in a calculated and timeless manner. 

“We don’t see the same things. The way I shoot…I don’t want it to be looking the same as any other persons, I want it to be distinguished in a certain manner,” said Amir. 

Amir encourages new photographers to follow their calling and stay true to their art. 

“Be themselves. They can’t be me and I can’t be them. The only way you will get to a certain level is just by doing you — one hundred percent,” said Amir. 

These individuals are brilliant, master minds who portray people, buildings, things and visuals one project at a time. For more of their work check out their Instagram handles and websites. 

 

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