Before even looking at the list I knew this concept was one I wanted to explore this year through photography. The main words that come to mind when posed with this question are racism, sexism, prejudice, and discrimination. Although in history class we learn about slavery being abolished all the way back in 1895, and the civil rights movement in the 1960’s, both racism and discrimination are far too present today in 2017.

My mind went to how people are judged and assumptions are made solely based off of someones skin color. There are many stories in the media about innocent high schoolers being murdered because they are black, and the police officers responsible for these crimes are let off the hook with no consequences. With my photo I showed two sides of my friend Nate. On the left half he is wearing his normal clothes which he wears every day, with his headphones. Just by looking at him you would not know how incredibly smart and talented he is. He is in a biotechnology class at the ARL, and he has an internship. He is excelling in his academics and has a bright future ahead of him.

The message I am expressing through my photo is that it is ridiculous that racism and discrimination still exist. No one would judge a white boy by the way he looks so why judge anyone by the way they look? Everyone is capable of amazing things, and opportunities are taken away from them because of rash judgments and assumptions.