NOTE:

The views expressed by the artists are solely their own. Although we are in favor of social and racial equality, the artists' opinions do not necessarily represent the opinions of the management of Fotomission

Justice for George

by Harvey Castro

In July 2019, I went to visit family in Mississippi. I’d wake up early to stretch and go for a morning run around their sub-division. Every day, as I made my way out the door, I remember to take note of their address and to make sure I had their contact info accessible just in case something came up. As I ran around the neighborhood, I always maintained situational awareness, taking mental notes on the surrounding environment. I made sure to present myself in the least threatening way possible to smile as I passed people.

When the protests following George Floyd’s death began, a friend asked me why I was photographing them. I learned about being the “you people” at an early age. My attentiveness and actions on these early morning runs were to avoid any trouble. Black, indigenous, and people of color have been getting lynched, murdered, raped, and socially and economically shackled for centuries. Sometimes, for something as simple as looking at someone. You could say my action was in response to psychological trauma passed from generation to generation. However, the time to break this tradition is now more than ever.

As a photographer, immigrant, and person of color, I feel I have a duty to document them. When I’m out there, I’m looking for those moments that signify a feeling, thought, or emotion that reflects people’s distaste for how this country’s leadership handles things. When I’m out there, I’m not just creating photographs of a protest; I’m participating in a social movement towards equity and justice. These images are my voice in this movement. Because as long as there is no justice, there will be no peace.