Matt Black Unamerican Dream

Film director Joppe Jacob Rog follows photographer Matt Black throughout his home in California’s Central Valley.
Between 2014 and 2020, Matt Black traveled over 100,000 miles across 46 states. His book American Geography documents the experiences of those living in some of the poorest communities in the nation. Starting in his home in the Central Valley, where billions of dollars are generated every year in agricultural output but one-third of the population lives in poverty, he traveled to other areas of “concentrated poverty” - as the US census defines places with a poverty rate of 20 percent or more. What Black found is that rather than being distant anomalies, these communities were rarely more than a two-hour drive apart enabling him to cross the country without ever crossing above the poverty line.

[@rolf_siggaard]

Stunning story telling. Hard to watch … thanks so much for caring.

[@andrewgifford7740]

Matt's book American Geography is incredible. So much told in each photo.

[@Gorganahfikark]

This is phenomeal stuff. For once the algorithm got it spoton

[@ddevvnnull198]

I don't know how I got to this video. But what an experience. Haunting, necessary, strange, and yet so coherent. This is one of the most impressive photo essays I've had the luck to experience. Thank you.

[@Renzsu]

I just discovered your work and I'm binging it.. thank you! I wish photography like this was popular on youtube rather than all the nothing we seem to get.

[@herbertandrewdutton]

Thanks Matt, I've lived most of my life in California, Monterey, SF Bay Area, Rio Vista, El Sobrante, etc. but not so much in the Central Valley, different reality for sure.

[@Agedwheel]

Matt thank you for this, as someone from Salinas who tries to view life through a lens, your work always hits home

[@gonzoexpress9885]

Matt is arguably the most authentic and dedicated social documentary photographer covering the issue of abject poverty, marginalisation and disaffection in a country that lost its way half a century ago.The American nightmare continues to expand relentlessly with both major parties culpable while aiding and giving succour to the obscene concentration of wealth among low tax paying elites and corporations. This entrenched and normalised corruption is America's shame. It's also time that politicians of all backgrounds give due credence to the best aspects of Scandinavian models for collective sovereign wealth, social cohesion and well-being. And no, that is not communism, it is pragmatic protection and affords decent quality of life for future generations.

[@roachroacharito9113]

So well stated and so very accurate.

[@nige1rumsey]

Matt, thanks for the inspiration.

[@toddfuller7360]

I've bought the Magnum online training course, and I think it's amazing, but I would also like it if there were a long form version of this Unamerican Dream trailer. I find it to be very inspirational.

[@lukemerrill1272]

Brilliant. Devastating. Beautiful. All at the same time. I'm also from the Central Valley now living in Scandinavia. I see my home community a bit differently now - probably with more love and appreciation because I know there's just so much hardship there too. Thank you.

[@WhizPill]

Art. In motion.

[@craighattam2020]

So Good

[@abrooklyngirllinda]

Thank you. This leaves me speechless for many reasons.

[@ChrisW.Fuji_Canon]

love it

[@thatdeafguyuk]

Is there any dialogue with this? If so can the auto-English captions be switched on please? Thank you.

[@aaronsnyder2198]

Which lens are you using on that EM5ii? 🧐

[@rembeadgc]

At least it's honestly labeled "a dream". Only bondage occurs when trying to make it a reality. It would be better to free from such slavery and be poor than to be wealthy and a slave to it. In light of that... what truly is the source of man's misery? Is it actually something outside or within? I've seen faces of the poor beaming with the brightest humanity and the wealthy with soulless eyes and weighted faces. None of them escapes their final breath and both return to the earth. Which do you think was truly wealthy? The rich have not bought their way out of death, despair or debauchery. In many cases they have loaded worry upon worry and have distanced themselves from their humanity with their many things. Who should you feel the most sorrow for? Everyone on Earth is in some type of bondage or servitude. Freedom isn't something another man can truly give you.

[@bastardartist]

METHDESTO

[@JohnRogers0014]

Brovo. Pt 2 Flint Michigan. Bring tissues