Life Through Lenses: The Bronx is Beauty

Introduction

The moment I presented the Inside Out Project to my students, they knew they wanted to find a way to represent their backgrounds. I allowed them to be in complete control of the outcome, which made them even more excited about the project. My class of 23 eighth-grade students was already following the 100cameras program and had a great introduction to photography in general. Their goal with that program was to find subjects that told their story. The second to last lesson in the 100cameras curriculum focuses on portraits and that is where we incorporated the Inside Out Project. Students at Mott Haven Academy in the South Bronx have always taken pride in where they are from. Taking on this new assignment was another way for them to demonstrate that pride, as well as the knowledge they have gained from 100cameras. 

Impact 

Although students were excited about representing their backgrounds through a new medium, they did not realize how big of an impact they could have on others. They did not realize how big the end result of this project would be. It wasn’t until the workshop on Inside Out’s mission, when they viewed thousands of other Actions, that they began to take it seriously. They saw just how much other photographers have influenced others to make change all over the world. From that moment on, students were even more excited to showcase their photography skills as well as their upbringing. They agreed to have the flags from where they or their parents were born as their backdrops. Some even went as far as to bring games, clothing, and other objects that represented their culture.

Process
When brainstorming our Action, students debated for a while about what their focus would be. Many mentioned the sports they love such as soccer and basketball. Others thought about dedicating it to the diversity of teachers they see every day. In the end, they decided to keep the Action within their class and showcase their roots. In order to make the final decision fair for all, I sent out a Google form to students asking the following questions: 

Most students chose to highlight the diversity of the community in the Action. They wanted to demonstrate this in their portraits by including their flags and other objects that represented their culture. 

Students were given a few weeks to prepare for the day the portraits would be taken. The day of, they partnered up and took pictures of each other. The picture-taking process was done in one class period (with the exception of students that were absent). I believed the students most enjoyed taking pictures of their partners and demonstrating their new photography skills. They were excited to show off their props and find the best ways to photograph each other.

When it came time to paste, however, the challenging part of this project arised. Although the example video provided by Inside Out was extremely helpful, the reality of pasting was a bit more complicated than we had anticipated. We were limited on supplies which meant that only two people could paste at a time and this slowed down the pasting process significantly. Regardless of the obstacles, the portraits were pasted beautifully outside of our school building.

Takeaways 
While pleasantly surprised with our outcome, there are many ways we could improve the next Action. For instance, while great in theory, the flags as the backdrop did not have the full effect since the portraits are in black and white. It would have made more sense to have students hold up a small flag instead. Additionally, more supplies could have been readily available so that more students and staff could support the pasting process. 

The portraits did have a positive impact on the community. The students in the portraits, as well as their parents, were happy to see them displayed on the side of the building. While the building is very colorful and vibrant, their actual faces on our walls brought a feeling of home, community, and accomplishment. It brought up a conversation, amongst students and adults, about our melting pot of a city and school. Other students that did not get the opportunity to be a part of the Action, were eager to know if they could be a part of it in the future. 

Student Quotes: 

“It can help them feel a sense of pride in themselves and their community, and it can also inspire them to strive for greater achievements. Having representation in school can also help students feel more valued and included, which can lead to greater engagement and success in their academic and personal lives.”

“The community's reaction to action can vary widely depending on the specific context and circumstances. Some people may be supportive and enthusiastic, while others may be skeptical or even hostile. It's important to be prepared for any type of response and to stay committed to one's goals and values. It's also possible that there may be surprises along the way as one's action unfolds, for better or for worse. The most important thing is to stay focused on the goal and to be open to adapting and learning from the experiences.”

“​​My installation did kind of have the impact I wanted because my family members noticed my flag behind me.”

“My community was very shocked and happy to see me on the wall. I was surprised by the reactions of those who related to my story as well as those who didn't because they were glad to see me.”

“It was cool seeing myself and my peers represented on the wall of our school.”