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We see images of black males as criminals on billboards, hear descriptions of black male criminals on the radio, and see frequent images of police wrestling a black male into hand-cuffs on TV. Rarely do we see the same display for female criminals (of any race) or white male criminals.
At R.A.C.E, we prefer to share images of the majority of the black males, honest men working hard and going about their daily lives. The 20 Men Project is reintroducing black men and boys to the American public. It is only through the truthful depiction of black males in our society that we will recognize that they are not a threat to our communities, our lives, and livelihoods. A powerful and positive change will occur when all Americans begin to see black males as regular folks, neighbors, friends, and productive members of their community. Imagery plays a big role in how society responds to various events. The widely viewed video of George Floyd being murdered by a police officer mobilized a whole country to rise and demand justice and changes in policing. This powerful imagery presented a window into the lives of Americans of color. As a result, many white Americans heard the cries that black families have made for decades. Cries that begged for an end to police brutality and the lack of equity in our society. The 20 Men Project is working to change the narrative that prevents the creation of a just and equitable society. The project presents an accurate depiction of the majority of black males. We seek to open hearts and minds to these wonderful members of our community, because there can be no justice and no equity until the lives of ALL Americans are valued equally. With that goal in mind, we kick off the “20 Men” a project by R.A.C.E. We will share the stories of amazing black and brown males who live and thrive in Chester County yet have remained “unseen” by our community. |