This story originally appeared in Up + Rising, a celebration of extraordinary Black voices, and is the first chapter of i-D’s 40th anniversary issue (1980-2020).
i-D chronicled over 100 activists and artists, musicians and writers, photographers and creatives, in Atlanta, Baltimore, Minneapolis, LA, London, New York, Paris and Toronto.
“We cannot afford to fall silent ever again. The more we raise our voices, share our stories and stand strong together, the less our reality can be denied or erased. I want to live in a better world, where difference is admired and championed, not weaponised to drive fear and disdain in an effort to consolidate power. I want to live in a safer world, where people who look like me aren’t continuously brutalised with little to no justice or resolve.
My sense of pride has never felt so real because change has never felt so urgent. I am tired of seeing the hashtags. I am tired of seeing the videos. This turmoil is nothing new, but it feels that way because the veil has been lifted, finally. But still, I can’t help but think about how many weren’t filmed. How many went unreported. How many families left without answers. So until the murders stop, until Black lives matter, no justice, no peace.”
Credits
Photography Jermaine Francis.
Photographed on Holloway Road, London, N7.
Casting Samuel Ellis Scheinman for DMCASTING.
Casting assistance Alexandra Antonova.