Day 14 Feb 14th I Was Trying To Post Last Night, But It Was Better For Me To Just Enjoy The Evening And

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 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 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 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 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