Black Skills & Stills w/ Philip Keith: The Value of Black On Black Creativity

Black Skills & Stills w/ Philip Keith: The Value of Black On Black Creativity #weoutchea #gullah #geechee #photography #thegaurdian #harvard sunnmcheaux.com weoutcheamerch.com

[@Captain_Bob]

Hearing you say "if you're in your ashy feelings, try shea butter" puts a smile on my face, I always love hearing you say that.

[@iriswilson7387]

Me too😂🤣😂💪🏿

[@RamenNoodle1985]

*Runs immediately to The Guardian to look for the article

[@greenspitfire17]

Ditto

[@sunnmcheaux]

It's not published yet, but soon to be. I'll give you a heads up when it drops.

[@beckiejani7782]

I happily donated to the Guardian a couple days ago! Now I am even happier! Great to work with someone who gets all the nuances!

[@Kapo8701]

@@sunnmcheaux 🙏🙏❤️❤️ Thanks

[@nunook5522]

School picture when there was a braid that had a mind of its own on my child's head. I hear you Sunn.

[@heathertea2704]

I had that photo, as well as my Mother. 😁

[@kharlosdamonpanterra8162]

No words, only gratitude!

[@arthurdowney2846]

There are unique benefits that come from working with someone who shares your background. I felt it immediately when I started seeing a Black therapist for the first time. There's an unspoken connection; a shared experience that transcends clinical knowledge. Her empathy feels genuine, rooted not just in theory and professionalism, but in the realities we both navigate.

[@aviannacodner9056]

I recently had a similar experience with a black professor who was a woman. I felt so much more comfortable and understood more than I had with non-black professors. We just get us on a different level.✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾

[@tibz7634]

Yeah I get that. I feel way more comfortable to with a white proffessor. Only difference is when i say that im a rascist.

[@MishasMama]

​@@tibz7634naw, you were racist before this comment

[@tibz7634]

@@MishasMama couldnt care what some black b**ch thinks

[@MishasMama]

​@@tibz7634but you do care though and you care about what Black people think or you wouldn't be here complaining about it.

[@derronellies4812]

I’ve never thought about this before. We do look out for each other, don’t we? I love that about us.

[@asimmons6936]

I didn’t realize how badly I needed to hear something positive today. Thank u

[@adey126]

This reminds me of how black actors like Issa Rae were insistent on having Black camera crews that knew how to light black ppl for scenes. Or how Candace Patton natural hair was ruined because white hairstylist didn’t know how to do her hair. Or how Monique from High School Musical and Amber from glee had to do their own hair because no one callus do their hair.

[@Fckufortrying]

Yeah, and it says so much about the ignorance and lack of basic human decency on the part of those in charge of production. All that shit is taught in film and photography schools. Every one of those things was individually addressed in the classes I used to teach, and I know I'm not alone. Even if it still wouldn't be justified or ok, if these were productions in the 50s or 60s or something, I could at least comprehend how white folks at that time could be ignorant of those details. I wouldn't forgive or justify it, but I'd at least sort of get it. But it still happens all the fuckin' time today, and there's legitimately no excuse for it. It's bad practice from a technical standpoint, shows a basic lack of respect for the craft that they work in, and shows exactly how far we still have yet to go toward being decent human beings as a whole society. Just straight up unacceptable on so many levels.

[@threemothers]

Absolutely loved it. True there’s always a little bit of seasoning in how we step out in our excellence.

[@Lyricalcandy1982]

I knew the shea butter slogan was coming!❤

[@stevonnefuller8265]

It definitely makes a difference! So glad yall had that opportunity to connect.

[@teresaabrown8077]

When your Good @ What you do😊. You do it Right No Matter What Or Who. God Bless. ✌❤. Stay Safe and Strong..

[@tezmaniangel]

Thats DOPE!!! ✊🏿❤️ i love us

[@iriswilson7387]

That’s WE/Black People understand what WE NEED and WANT😉

[@TheOneLoneTree]

The Guardian?! Ooooh, you fancy-fancy.

[@Jenjin1313]

This is why I hate strawbridge studios... messing up black peoples pictures for years...🙁. Thank you for saying this!!

[@thevnsdrkangl]

When we say diversity is NECESSARY these are the details we are referring to. Black people can work hard and tend to your needs all at the same time. While I may say "you just don't understand" or "it's a black thing" it usually because I learn by what I'm shown so I don't feel the need to tell you...watch me do it.

[@wastedinspiration]

A great reminder that when we're making collaborative art (essentially what every photoshoot is) it's important to keep the needs of everyone involved in mind.

[@selizlayn5166]

♥️us✌🏾

[@lynnelliott9038]

This is just a beautiful... reminder that we are. Thank you for sharing this little moment. 🧡

[@marethahoneyb1541]

This entire video warmed the cockles of my heart, the connection brown these two Brothas….Man #ILuvMeSomeUs🖤🧡🖤 #BlackPhotographers Brings it I want more of these moments Ooh n that shot at the end🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@Tam75Tam]

THIS is an indisputable fact. Basic humanity is a daily exercise for too many of them that such nuanced human connections are treasures.

[@sassyevans5116]

😂😂😂 You never cease to amaze me, keep going brotha ❤

[@SylviaRustyFae]

On how this isnt dunkin on nonblack folk doin this job and not catchin these little things Its as simple as: They dont know what they dont know they dont even know. Its not hatin to pt out someone doesnt know smth just bcuz of lackin that cultural connection

[@Fckufortrying]

Exactly. Everyone benefits from getting to work with someone who gets them on a deeper level like that. Whatever the community may be that we identify with most strongly, whether it's tied to our own on the basis of culture, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual/romantic preference, sex, gender, whatever... Having someone who relates to you and "gets" you on a deeper level is almost always going to be better than the alternative in so many situations. It doesn't imply anything negative about anyone else; there are certainly times where we're better off working with someone totally different than ourselves, because that opens our minds and broadens our horizons in a way that can benefit both the people involved and the product of that interaction. That's excellent and should be encouraged. But sometimes you need people around who get you, understand the way you think, and who get how you perceive and are perceived by the world around you. People often see things like this as some weird zero-sum game, where if you're being inclusive of one group you're automatically bashing every other one in the process. But that's almost always them projecting their sensitivities on everyone else. Anyone with even a little social awareness and empathy can see that sometimes we just need to feel reassured and relate to people in a way that only our people can, whatever "people" that may mean for someone. Nothing wrong with doing that, and it shouldn't be seen as a shot at anyone who isn't from their community or background. As a side note, it's always ridiculous to me that most of the ones who are sensitive enough to take this kind of thing as an attack or insult, are the same ones who love talking shit about how touchy everyone is these days or whatever. It's like dude, you realize you're doing exactly that same thing by getting all butthurt about not being catered to and included 100% of the time, right? But of course they don't see that, or they wouldn't have made such an ignorant-ass comment in the first place.

[@JohnBluemon]

​@@Fckufortrying This comment deserves a lot more likes. Have a blessed day.

[@takishajacobs169]

All of my engagement pictures feature one twist poking out of the back of my bun. My photographer tried her best, but yeah. My photographer filmed us for more than an hour and didn’t catch it. It matters.

[@TheDanielscarroll]

Interesting 🤔 stuff like that definitely feels nice.

[@kapiosita]

I love this for you and us. We definitely outchea!!!

[@joshuakosar417]

Love it! Thanks for sharing Sunn!❤

[@eneodu3755]

Outro was very fitting 😅

[@NoVideoVideos]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@bethmoore7722]

Being white, the moisturizer is something I only realized was necessary, until I started listening to black people. We don’t have to be clueless about black lives, anymore, unless we just want to be clueless.

[@stepstoafrika1182]

Respect always!

[@vanessabrown1219]

❤

[@WhatIsSanity]

A spray bottle? A spray bottle!? That's not how moisturising works 🤣

[@Fckufortrying]

This is also an example of how unfortunately, most people are both uncompassionate/ignorant of people from different cultures and ethnic backgrounds, and also just don't care about their jobs enough to do the diligent detail work required to be great. I'm been a professional photographer for almost 20 years, and I'm still constantly amazed at the amount of my peers who don't do basic things like either having various types of moisturizers, hair treatment products, clothes/shoe cleaning and repair products, etc. for the people they're shooting. I mean, I suppose one could be callous and argue "it's the subject's job to make sure they look the way they want to" or something to that effect. But even though I understand that personal accountability is important, I also know that especially for situations like this one, a VERY important part of my job is not only to get the best image possible from a technical standpoint, but to make sure the person being photographed is presented in a way they'll be proud of in the most complete way possible. That means very different - and often opposing - things to different folks, depending on their history and who they are, but regardless of what "looking great" may look like to them, it's my job to make sure that happens. This is why I'm so adamant about having pre-shoot interactions with the client where we discuss their ideas, needs, and how they perceive their ideal outcome so that I can accommodate that. I always try to steer people in the direction of having someone on location who relates to them on the level that these two did, because there are always little details that others don't know to look for and don't notice, so having someone on set to point things like this is absolutely vital for me because it gives both myself and the client more confidence that they'll be truly happy and proud with the end result. That's why I prefer to have female hair/makeup artists on set with women I work with, for example, because having lived a very male experience in life, I will almost always miss some subtleties of how to represent women in a way that they're proud of individually, and which also uplifts them and presents women generally in a positive light. All this in addition to providing them with the edits for specific critiques or improvements I may make before anything is finalized or printed, and also asking them if there was anything specific that i could improve upon in the future in terms of respecting and representing them in the best way possible. I do that for everyone, regardless of who they are, because no matter how anyone may think of it individually, representation matters a LOT in this world, and making sure to respect the person I'm working with enough to represent them in a way that benefits them (and the communities they belong to) in the best possible light. For me, that's not pandering, or being subservient to their demands, or whatever other nonsense people may throw my way because they think I'm trying to favor someone else's culture over my own or imply something is wrong with mine. It's about treating people as equals, as human beings deserving of not only respect but reverence for their individuality and every aspect of what makes them who they are as a person. And as much as I would like to think I'd notice that loc being out of place or any other fine detail adjustment that may need to be made, I'd much rather prepare for the possibility by having someone there who will pick up on detail and subtlety that I would be subject to miss. For me, that's just a matter of respecting the individual I'm photographing. I don't ever want to be responsible for representing someone in a way that they aren't proud of, or which reflects their community and people in a negative light. To me, that's just the baseline for being a good human being and respecting the craft I've dedicated my life to. It shouldn't be seen as going out of my way to "cater to others" as if mutual respect is a negative thing; it should be the norm, the bare minimum, the baseline for doing my job effectively and in a morally sound manner. Unfortunately that's not the case, because people are selfish douchebags for the most part, I feel it's my duty to lead by example and to explain this reasoning whenever someone may challenge me on it,. Hopefully others will eventually follow suit, but I'm going to do my best to show that kind of respect for the folks I work with and the artform I am proud to ve a part of.

[@BaobabTree-mu7yj]

B1 Solid.

[@purpleness64]

LOVE ❤️

[@ecow1994]

❤ Love this 🖤

[@heathertea2704]

"Don't TRY me." 😉

[@Toke8572]

❤❤❤

[@baybfasek4804]

I ❤ dis

[@gloriahines5756]

⭐ 💕

[@SheisB515]

🖤

[@BadWolfCowboy]

Shea butter is amazing

[@krisiswallace5389]

"The little Webb of ash between your fingers"...only black people know about that weekspot

[@christinestephens37]

Right is Right😂

[@fullbodyfrequency]

🤎

[@dulaneygibson2014]

There’s something so attractive about sumn and I’ve never had an affinity for his particular style. I Thought I liked “short hair, button up shirt with khakis” types. Lol. (…..although I’m certain I have expanded that particular taste now lol)

[@thuglife7869]

Love how you’re not saying so-called black people should work with so-called black photographers only😉😉……😂🤣😅

[@Bandwithbrass]

Why do you accept the moniker black?

[@GhostofRazgriz]

🍿

[@sunnmcheaux]

You must be new here if you haven't heard me speak exhaustively on that topic.

[@GhostofRazgriz]

I think the question that OP needs to be asked, what is (apparently) wrong with "accepting the moniker of black"?

[@Bandwithbrass]

@@sunnmcheaux I am. Care to share?

[@Bandwithbrass]

@@GhostofRazgriz ,,, what made you determine that I was saying anything was "wrong" I simply introduced an inquiry for information and clarification. That OK?

[@ThatAutisticBlackMan]

"the white in the corner of your mouth" this omg IDK how people on the other end of the camera can't see "maybe this should be fixed". It makes me mad but also ask what were you focusing on if you missed the little things that stick out in a big way?

[@danielleg8257]

❤