When I was asked to do a photo shoot for VT SWAGG, a student organization for black males at Virginia Tech, I did not think that it would affect me the way it did. The premise behind the shoot was to bring light to some of the goals and realities of black men on Tech’s campus. There are some photos that show individuals holding a sign with an occupation that they hope to hold one day; on others, there are staggering statistics regarding the incredibly low attendance of black males on Virginia Tech’s campus. This shoot was a great opportunity to let people know about these things and to shine a positive light on black men by allowing them to dress for success. The pictures also serve the dual purpose of promoting the organization’s Black Male Summit, which is taking place at Virginia Tech on April 4^th.

It isn’t often that I get to take photos of things that resonate with me on a personal level. It genuinely warmed my heart to see so many black men coming together for this project. I don't get to shoot African-American males often, let alone a group of us,  so this was an interesting experience for me. This was literally the most black men that I had seen in the same area on Virginia Tech’s campus. It’s good to know that we are still in academia, knocking down barriers in order to meet our personal goals for the betterment of our respective communities. I had a phenomenal time taking these photos and I pray that this shoot isn’t the last of its kind.

The three photos that I shared before posting this gallery were received incredibly well. Obviously I’m exited to see what you think about the rest of them. If the spirit moves you, comment on this blog post and let me know what you think.

Click on any of the photos below to go to the gallery.