With the startling reality that Chicago has the highest murder rate among youth than any other city in the United States, one would question what is being done to prevent such a tragic epidemic. How many more youth have to die before we come together as a city to make a difference and save the lives of our youth? In 2012 I began compiling a list of youth that had been killed by violence starting from 2006, with 14-year-old honor roll student Starkesia Reed, and proceeded by photographing the schools attended by each victim, as well as interviewing youth both directly and indirectly affected by violence. Graduation visually documents the youth who’ve lost their lives to violence while breaking youth stereotypes and confronting social oppression. Graduation sheds light on what happens when youth, education and urban development is put second.

 

The schools pictured represent the lives of youth taken by senseless acts of violence in Chicago. Schools should bring to mind a place of refuge, educational growth, youth and innocence. Yet when these images are paired with a list of victims who've attended the schools, the haunting reality that children are losing their lives is realized. I wanted to explore this juxtaposition by creating isolated, abstract and stoic images of each school where a young person was a student at the time of their death. These images can be seen as portraits. I approached each school knowing the student’s name; how they were killed and realizing they no longer had the opportunity to graduate past high school, middle school, or kindergarten. Shedding light on the high number of youth killed by violence, Graduation is a startling and devastating wake up call. Too often names of youth are rattled off on the evening news. These images remind viewers of the youth who so often go unnoticed and are forgotten. 

 

Throughout this project I’ve attended vigils, press conferences, balloon releases, met with families and have interviewed youth. The youth interviewed discuss education, youth programs, school closings, their goals and accomplishments, poverty and more, as they break down flaws within society that contribute to the violence so many youth are affected by. The youth are powerful, and despite the challenges some have been through there is a desire so strong to excel and make a difference as you will learn through their passionate, truthful and inspiring stories.

 

Graduation is still a work in progress. There are many schools left to photograph and youth to speak with. I desire for this project to raise questions, provide answers and most importantly create proactive solutions regarding violence in Chicago. We must confront, challenge and change the current conditions that are negatively affecting our youth. 

 

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"...I wanted better for myself, so its like when you want better for yourself everybody else will want better for you, and then you can find yourself...doing something different." - Terrance age 18.