DENIM

Blue. This ground that we walk upon was once built by our ancestors. It was through their blood, sweat and tears that we formed an identity. A physical, known presence to the rest of the world that has held every negative connotation against us. We have witnessed traumatic experiences and seen the worst happen to our people. We have had to deal with situations that those who do not hold blackness could only see in their nightmares.

And so, on this day we stand in colours of blue denim. A custom of solidarity and unity. We stand together as a group. We stand by our people, with our people, for our people. Black Nation We Rise.

BLACK PANTHERS

Black. We remember the boundless pain of our people. And what they still go through. We’re angry. We’re upset. We’re hurt. Hurt by all that has happened to us. The injustice and betrayal.

We were made a promise – equality - and we’ve been betrayed. In our schools our hair is not deemed acceptable so we are forced to change it for the vision of the white man. In our workplace our language is watered down to sound like that white man. When stopped by the police, we say “sir” - “What is the reason behind this arrest sir?”, “Do you have a warrant sir?”.

Our respect is given to the white man is not enough, yet they say we’re the problem. Every day we are under scrutiny. These injustices stretch beyond the modern day profiling we receive. Over 400 years of slavery and still no justice. Black Nation We Rise.

CLASSY

Gold. Growing up they always assumed that the young black kid on the sidewalk was somehow linked to a criminalised family. They believed us to be thugs. Through the media blacks were misconstrued again and again in order to paint a narrative to the rest of the world that we were to be feared. They made us out to be rough, violent, aggressive. Negative labels were forced down our adolescent throats.

They assumed that a good living, fine cars and luxurious neighbourhoods were beyond our reach. But we no longer fight for a seat at their table. We have prepared our own high table in which they now fight to sit with us, in which the ancestors would be proud of. Black Nation We Have Risen. Today. Tomorrow and to the Future.

This is a word from our Ancestors.

Creative direction, styling, model and words Victor Olusina
Creative direction, photography and videography Arthur Walwin
Photography Luke Hemmings , Stefan Jakubowski, Deborah Iona Smith, Bisi Emeruwa
Models Emmanuel Nulka, Lebo Edeki, Ronke Olagunju, Enesi Zubairu, Naahema Fosua Kissi, Asheka Meeks

Published on 05/08/2020