FAYETTEVILLE -- Lakeesha Shaw of Bentonville drove her 15-year-old son, Semaj, to Fayetteville on Saturday morning to attend an event and exhibit meant to give black people a voice.
Shaw wanted her son to hear what other young, black men had to say about challenges they face, she said.
Speakers
Black community members participated in telling their stories, dreams and goals during the “Let There Be Light Community Conversation & Exhibit” included: Fayetteville students Tim Agnew, Kortlon Conley, Tyrece Golden, Drew King and Matayo Pearson; Gordon Morgan, a former professor at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville; and John Newman, an artist and associate professor at the university.
Source: Staff report
"It's important to come together," Shaw said.
Shaw was among about 75 people who came to St. James Baptist Church in Fayetteville to hear older black men and youths talk and to look at photographs of local, black youths.
The "Let There Be Light Community Conversation & Exhibition" used photographs to start dialogue, organizers said.
The photographs by local photographer Andrew Kilgore featured black teens, ages 15-18, who attend the Agee-Lierly Life Preparation Services in Fayetteville. The idea was to use the photos to spark dialogue to address issues in the black community and to celebrate people in the community, said Joe Daniels, moderator.
"We hope to galvanize our community through all races to show that we, as a community, love and have high expectations for our students and our youth," Daniels said.
The event is part of an initiative by The Compassion Fayetteville Black History Team to promote the black community as present, relevant and visible, according to a news release. Saturday's event was the second time Kilgore's photos of black men have been used to create community dialogue, he said.
The photos are part of a larger project Kilgore has to create and exhibit 100 photographs of black men in the next two years, he said. Each person is an individual, which will become evident when the project is finished, Kilgore said.
"It's about being a person and a human being and a focus for God's love," Kilgore said about his project.
Black and white residents came to the event Saturday to ask the teenagers questions, talk to older black men about their experiences and hear singers perform. People bowed their heads and prayed together. People sometimes said "amen" when they agreed with speakers.
About 20 black-and-white photos of local teens were displayed on easels Saturday. In the photos, some teens stared directly into the camera, while others hid behind Mona Lisa smiles.
Black men and boys talked openly about the challenges they have faced, including stereotypes, youths said.
"They always think we're doing stuff negative," said Tyrece Golden, a student.
Racism still exists in Fayetteville and nationwide, but not everything that happens is about race, teens said. Some issues affect everyone, they said.
People learned a lot about each other at the event, Semaj Shaw said afterward. He learned other black teens face the same obstacles he does -- struggling in school and struggling with false perceptions, he said.
The event was good because it gave young, black men a chance to speak, said Matayo Pearson, a student.
"I feel like our voice really does need to be heard," Pearson said. "Every voice matters."
NW News on 11/08/2015