- Dawoud Bey found his voice with photography first by portraying black people’s daily life in his photographs. Showing how they are as human as any other race. This was done in response to how African-Americans in photos were mostly seen “Through a lens of social pathology”, during the 1970s when racial tensions were still high. His exhibition “Night Coming Tenderly, Black” consisted of photographs taken at different locations of the Underground Railroad, which were secret routes used by runaway slaves. He wanted to portray the point of view from slaves in his photos, to give a new perspective of this time in history.
- Carrie Mae photographed the same spot, her kitchen table, where according to her, most of domestic affairs happen. Different people, and interactions are portrayed in her photos. She wanted to show how many situations can happen in a single family space at different times, whether good or bad.
- Finding one’s own voice, I think requires to see different places, experience new things, or trying to do stuff that one might not normally think of doing. With time and effort, anyone would find their own voice and the impact they wanna do in the world, such as Dawoud Bey and Carrie Mae.
Both photographers are showing perspectives that challenge the stereo types of African Americans and women in society
Challenging yourself, embracing the new and sometimes uncomfortable and effort will lead to finding your voice
good responses