Blackandwhitechallenge - Tumblr Posts

It's that time again, fam: Black History Month! This year I'm taking black and white photos everyday until March. This is to help promote my SOON coming project blackishistorytoo. I'll be shooting with my iPhone 5c on weekdays and my Canon 70D on weekends.________________________Day 1: Feb. 1st ____________________________________ I rediscovered some book volumes in My dad's library. I saw these way back when I was a child, but never read them. Back then, I did not realize how rich African American history was. I figured we were only a few pages in the White American story. Oh, but we are so much more. We are, also, American history. We are, also, the Christian church. We are, also, here. Never forget that. Our heritage is carried through us....through me. I have so many stories to hear and so many to tell. Follow the hashtag 👉🏿#blackishistorytoo #blackandwhitechallenge #blackandwhitephotography #hiphop #spokenword #A➕scribe

Day 2 • • Feb. 2nd: I made...I don't even know what to call it. But here is what I did: -toasted sesame seed bagel -strips of grilled chicken between slices of avocado -poached eggs on top -dashes of smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and sun dried tomato & basil blend This reminds me of the first day of history class in 8th grade. I will never forget. Mr. Strange asked our class, "What's the first thing you think about when you hear the word 'history?'" I can't, for the life of me, remember what I said...but I DEFINITELY remember this boy's response: "Hmmm, breakfast!" 😂😂😂 This was also the class in which I'd joking rebuttal to my teacher, "Are you saying that because I'm black?" Check the link in bio for the full story. #blackishistorytoo #blackandwhitechallenge #blackandwhitephotography #brunch #bagel

Day 2.78930 • • Last night... I had the pleasure of attending the screening of the short film/ music video for 'Bluebird' by @_keianawhatley_ This was my first time visiting the recently added Black Literature & Culture section of the downtown library. 'Bluebird' officially drops in 2 weeks! Be on the lookout; you just might see yboy make a cameo 😬😬😬 #blackishistorytoo #blackandwhitechallenge #blackandwhitephotography #bluebird #jazz #blues #artistry #blackliterature #blackexcellence (at Indianapolis Public Library)

Day 3 • • Feb. 3rd: I don't take selfies often, but my hair was looking crazy with two combs in it while getting lined up: a tribute to its length. Did a vid shoot with friends from church and tried playing Simon and fake played Phase 10 😂😂 #blackishistorytoo #blackandwhitephotography #blackandwhitechallenge #games #friends

Day 3 REDO [had a borderless pic on the last one 😩😩😩] • • Feb. 3rd: I don't take selfies often, but my hair was looking crazy with two combs in it while getting lined up: a tribute to its length. Did a vid shoot with friends from church and tried playing Simon and fake played Phase 10 😂😂 #blackishistorytoo #blackandwhitephotography #blackandwhitechallenge #games #friends

Day 4 • • Feb. 4th I was supposed to post this last night—I'M SO GLAD I DIDN'T!!! They would've looked trash!! Context: 1) I saw this outside a new coffee shop I visited [new for me] 2) that moment when you spill a drop of coffee and the aftermath is photogenic. #blackishistorytoo #blackandwhitechallenge #blackandwhitephotography #coffee #blackcoffee (at Rabble Coffee)

Day 5 • • Feb. 5th Today, a lesson on writing techniques lead to me taking the time to teach my adult high school students about racism. One student asked me if there was a difference between white people calling black people "nigger" and black people calling white people "cracker." I had explained to him that the insults are coming from two different angles. I gave this illustration (that I drew): a man shooting an arrow from the bottom of a mountain at a man shooting from the top of the mountain. I asked who had the better chance of getting struck—of course, the one at the bottom. I wrote some words inside of the outline of my mountain drawing: power, systems, societal norms. I told them that there were two ways to reposition the two men (because simply climbing the mountain isn't working): either 1) demolish the foundation of the mountain so it crumbles or 2) create an accessible path to the top. Either way it goes, the man on top of the mountain may no longer have his advantage—his power. That's real equality. #blackishistorytoo #blackandwhitephotography #blackandwhitechallenge #remotecontrol #racism

Day 6 • • Feb. 6th Different angles and a more rounded frame for the familiar picture—what you don't notice in the corner, against the wall, or in the closet. We are your shadow until the lights go off. #blackishistorytoo #blackandwhitechallenge #blackandwhitephotography #inmyroom #justlookingaround

Day 7 • • Feb. 7th A couple of amazing things happened tonight: 1) For Christmas, I bought my dad a DNA test from ancestry.com and he got the results! He's so happy that he's 100% BLACK!!! 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿 2) Sis @_keianawhatley_ just dropped her new short film/music video "Bluebird" check the link in bio to watch. 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿 3) Meanwhile, I brought a poem about Othello to my workshop class tonight. Plus, I will be attempting to write a screenplay for a part of it for my screenwriting class. Pray for me. Tonight is just a night of #blackexcellence #blackishistorytoo #blackandwhitechallenge #blackandwhitephotography

Day 8 • • Feb. 8th #TBT to every time I'll be in a city, take a pic of a building, then forget to edit and upload it. Lol. #indianapolis #chicago #louiseville #threerivers #blackishistorytoo #blackandwhitechallenge #blackandwhitephotography #mycity #yourcity #tour

Day 9 (don't judge me for the lateness) • • Feb. 9th So much #blackexcellence happened today: 1) One of my coworkers receiving recognition at the Goodwill all-staff meeting. 2) The marriage ministry at church had a jazz night, in which I got to do a piece (with a band 🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿) AND watch some amazing artists @followtamrarose and @jefripayne 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿 #blackishistorytoo #blackandwhitechallenge #blackandwhitephotography #A➕scribe

Day 10 • • Feb 10th Posting on time is HARD. But it's okay, because I'm spending good time with good people. February is a beautifully eventful month. Birthdays week after week! 🎉🎉🎉 Happy birthday @aire2gorgeous #blackishistorytoo #blackandwhitechallenge #blackandwhitephotography #friends

Day 11 • • Feb 11th Another day at Dave and Busters, another birthday in February! Happy birthday to my sis, @devine_coacoa !!! 🎉🎉🎉 #blackishistorytoo #blackandwhitechallenge #blackandwhitephotography #birthdaygirl (at Dave & Buster's)

Day 12 • • Feb 12th I found this at a teacher's store and I JUST HADDDDD to get it! It was free 😏😏😏. Plus, I didn't know that they had a book as well. It was adopted after the actual screenplay of the film. This interests me even more because I am currently in a screenwriting course in my MFA program. A few weeks ago, a friend on mine on Facebook posted that he hoped they no one would try to turn the upcoming Black Panther movie into a political thing. He is white. Fam, for us this is everything! We've had to come along way from black superheroes just being comedies or comic relief or sidekicks in films. Yes, we had Blade. But fam, that was over a decade ago...and he was practically the only one. This most definitely is not a "political thing." This is a "we need this right now in our lives thing." We are more than what we have been given, and we deserve more. #moreblacksuperheromovies #blackishistorytoo #blackandwhitechallenge #blackandwhitephotography #blackpanther #meteorman

Day 13 • • Feb 13th This time, instead of uploading a lot of photos, I wanted to focus on doing one really good one. I realized that I hadn't taken a single photo on my actual camera to post on these dailies! I was supposed to do that every weekend. Fam, these past few weeks have been MAD BUSY!! 😵😵😵 Taking and editing good photos takes time and energy—and so does making these posts—and so does making this mixtape. I'm happy about the payoff though. Stay woke for a single coming soon!!!! #blackishistorytoo #blackandwhitechallenge #blackandwhitephotography #lights #lightbulbs

Day 14 • • Feb 14th I was trying to post last night, but it was better for me to just enjoy the evening and soak in the day. And what a day Valentines Day has become for me these past few years. The procession of emotions followed the order of these photos: 1) My girlfriend and I are celebrating 3 years of being together. My love for her grows each day. She is my sweetness. 2) I was reflecting on the weird season/weather we have been having in the Midwest. At 40-50 degrees, it felt like spring was near. 3) Poetry Workshop at Butler is always dope. My classmates did an early birthday celebration for another classmate and me. We had a "Bee Mine" 🐝 cake and candles on donuts. Our professor got a 9 and 0 candle because she's beautifully weird like that lol. 4) I love fog...especially at night. 5) My girlfriend gave me a plethora of love in gifts. She figures I spoil her so much that it was her turn lol. 6) Today is always a day I'll commemorate: the day Xavier "X" Walton passed. I'm still writing and loving others with compassion because of you, X. Love on in heaven. This poem is always for you—link in bio. #blackishistorytoo #blackandwhitechallenge #blackandwhitephotography #valentinesday #friends #isntshelovely #love

Day 15 • • Feb 15th I am SO PROUD of my students. When they get a win, they set up success for their whole household and our community. #blackishistorytoo #blackandwhitechallenge #blackandwhitephotography #blackexcellence #graduation #ExcelCenter #waitingtoexcel #teaching #education (at The Excel Center)

Day 16 • • Feb 16th This brotha right here always encourages me to be UNAPOLOGETICALLY black. S/o to Keondre. Bae and I made dinner for our anniversary: Steak (me), asparagus and mashed potatoes (her). Fam, it was FLAME!!! #blackishistorytoo #blackandwhitechallenge #blackandwhitephotography #love

Day 17 • • Feb 17th Oh, you thought I was playin!?!?? Came through to the theater in straight African regalia to see #blackpanther We had ordered tickets weeks ago for the movie + this Black Panther party. Red carpet on em'!! We have to wait to see the picture we got. But behold, my Nubian princess!! 🖤🖤🖤😍😍😍 I loved being immersed in the see of black beauty! Never seen an IMAX theater packed with so many black people! The movie though??? DOPE!!! So much went down in this film that I gotta save it for a live video (Facebook only). #blackishistorytoo #blackandwhitechallenge #blackandwhitephotography #blackexcellence #blackpanthermovie #blackpantherparty (at IMAX Theater Indiana State Museum)

Day 18 • • Feb 18th Had some trouble recording at home. So, bro @terranceandersonfive came through with the CLUTCH studio session! Fam, without him my music would be just notes on my phone...or really crappy-sounding. Lol. Thank you! TOMORROW (really today because I'm super late on this post) I'll be releasing the first single from #blackishistorytoo #NObama Be on that 👀👀👀 #blackandwhitechallenge #blackandwhitephotography #studio #newmusicalert