Aaron Banks, 38, and his son Aaron Banks Jr., 08, embrace at a local park on Saturday, May 22, 2021 in Cedar Park, Tx. “The image of the average gun enthusiast needs an update,” Mr Banks said. He is the President of Keep Firing LLC where he has made his son the CEO. Currently he is one of 24 Pistol Instructors certified by the National African American Gun Association.
Jamyce Brown, 29, right, embraces her husband Keon Brown, 27, outside of their home on Sunday, April 18, 2021 in Killeen, Tx. “In my hometown introducing a child to a gun may be potentially setting them up for failure,” Chicago native Jamyce said.
ARTIST STATEMENT:
This work is about my experiences living in Chicago, Illinois. A city that is often related to gun violence. When I look at the news I realized that I only saw people that looked like me around guns that were criminals, but people of other races were depicted as cowboys and farmers. I became curious as to why this injustice-inbalance existed. I set out to create a documentation of my unique experience and one that is rarely shown.
I am creating this archive to expand the image of Black American gun ownership. When we examine history, we see that when African Americans fight for gun rights, legislation is swiftly passed against it. In 1967, the Mulford Act was introduced to target members of the Black Panthers. The members had been conducting neighborhood armed patrols they said were meant to protect Black communities from police brutality.
I want to show how gun ownership, in urban communities are symptoms of bad policies and lack of resourcing rather than an obsession with guns. The Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence supports this claim. Its research concludes that the root cause of gun violence is poverty and lack of opportunity, among other factors.
"There is a higher crime rate when people cannot work and earn," says Chicago resident Angela Ross Williams. The 67-year-old became a gun owner out of necessity to protect herself from crime in the city. Angela says that she's experienced slow police response times, which has lowered her trust in local law enforcement to protect her against crime.
Damillah Lane, 26, is embraced by her daughtyer Skylar Lane, 8, as she holds her firearm outside of her home on Saturday, April 10, 2021 in Killeen, Tx. “Whenever my husband leaves I feel a need to protect my family,” Damillah said.
Brandon Antone, 37, stands outside of his apartment complex holding his firearm on Wednesday, May 26, 2021in Austin, TX.. Antone started a Facebook group with nearly 2,000 members in the Austin area with the goal of creating a safe space for African Americans to talk about firearms. “I noticed when I go to the range it wasn’t a lot of us there so I wanted to create a place we could talk about guns,” he said.
Justin Barlow, 34, left, gazes at wife Cha’von Barlow, 33, outside of their home on Saturday, June 18, 2021 in Round Rock, Tx. “I never want my family to feel powerless,” Justin said. He was introduced to guns at the age 14 through hunting. Later he introduced his wife to guns. “In my absence my wife and children will be safe,” he said.
“A Winchester rifle should have a place of honor in every black home, and it should be used for that protection which the law refuses to give”
Marvin West, 39, holds his dog outside of his home with his firearm positioned on his hip on Monday, April 06, 2021 in Killeen, Tx. “It’s more to the picture than what you see,” West said. People often judge him based on his appearance. He mentions that those people would be surprised to know that he’s an educated business owner that holds a Masters degree.
Kenneth Frazier, 35, left, and Tylissa Frazier, 38, are seen outside of their home holding their firearms on Saturday, April 03, 2021 in Temple, Tx. "We get pulled over a lot so having a license will show that we are law abiding citizens," Mrs Frazier said.
Trina’ Duncan, 39, foreground, postures her pistol outside a local gun range after training with her pastor Andrew Long, 46, on Saturday, May 16, 2021 in Killeen, Tx. According to the Pew Research Center Women are less likely to own a firearm compared to Men. “I have been in moments that would not have occurred if I was a guy,” Duncan said.
Lindberg Wilborn, 32, stands holding the target he used to qualify for his license to carry outside a local gun range on Saturday, March 27, 2021 in Killeen, TX. He has owned his firearm for about 3 months. “Society looks at black men as predators and scary people so most of us are scared to own a firearm in fear of fueling the fear that already exists,” Wilborn said.
Asia Wragg, 35, holds her firearm outside of her home on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 in Fort Hood, Tx. “As a single woman with children my priority is to protect and defend my family,” Wragg said.
David Butler, 55, grasps his hunting rifle near his home on July 24, 2021 in Manor, Tx. Leasing of hunting land serves as a financial barrier for many African Americans. “A year lease can be upwards of $1100 and you may only walk away with one deer that year,” Butler said. “I believe a lot of people would love to hunt if they had the opportunity,” he said.
Leta Harrison, 39, postures her firearm on Sunday, July 25, 2021 in Pflugerville, Tx. Harrison began training with her firearm after experiencing a Domestic Violent incident. “I never want to be that scared of anyone ever again,” she said. She explains that she does not want to be viewed as a victim therefore she is proactive with exercising her 2nd Amendment rights.
Alisa Coleman, 25, background, embraces Sharise Campbell, 26, after their date at a local gun range. “I’ve seen people get shot so I don’t like guns however we understand it’s for protection,” Coleman said. Although Coleman and Campbell are a couple their view of guns are different however they both agree that is necessary to protect their family. “I got to protect my family at all cost,” Campbell said.
Brittney Saunders, 28, holds her firearms outside of her home on Friday, March, 05, 2021 in Killeen, Tx. “Why can other races have assaut rifles and machine guns but if black people have a handgun we are considered a threat,” Saunders said.
William Wilson, 64, postures his rifle near a gun range in his friends backyard on Sunday, March 21, 2021 in Copperas Cove, Tx. Wilson has over 45 years of gun experience. He spent 21 years in the military, 22 years as a police officer and currently serves as a sales clerk at a local gun store. “The problem with big city policing is that a black man with a gun is a threat, they’ll probably shoot me before they find out I’m a retired police officer,” Wilson said.
Christopher Barnes, 26, is seen with his rifle outside a local gun range where he instructs new owners on Saturday, May 15, 2021 in Killeen, Tx. A week ago he earned his instructor license. Barnes also has aspirations of becoming a cop. He explains that it may be difficult for some to look at them positively when you see some of them doing negative things. “I want people to look at me and say that’s a good cop,” Barnes said.
Devin Meadows, 29, holds his firearm outside of his home on Tuesday, April 06, 2021 in Copperas Cove, Tx. “We as Africans Americans have been deprived of so many rights so why not take advantage of the ones we have,” Meadows said.
Krystal Smith, 34, is seen outside a local gun range after training with her firearm that she has owned for four months on Friday, May 21, 2021 in Killeen, Tx. “They look at us like we should’t have it just cause we are Black,” Smith said. She wants people to know that she is not dangerous.
Brothers Dorian Black, 20, from left, and Ashton Black, 13, postures their firearm as Datrelle Black, 46, is embraced by his wife Rohonda Black, 44, outside of their home on Sunday, April 18, 2021 in Killeen, Tx. “For my children I take the curiosity out of it, total avoidance of guns teaches fear we should inform our children of gun safety,” Datrelle said
Ron Harris, 32, postures his firearm in his backyard on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 in Killeen, Tx. “I own it to protect my family because I cant afford a loss,” Harris said.
“I dedicate this to my father: a man who truly knew how to survive and taught his family to do the same”
