Unfortunately we live in a world in which racism continues to be an issue. People are always searching for ways to elevate their sense of self worth and value in the world and often do so at the expense of others, skin color has become a simple way for one group of people to declare their superiority to others. But this flies in the face of Judeo-Christian teaching which makes it clear that all of humanity is created in the image of God. 

I've spent a lot time reflecting on the rising level of racial tension in America and wanted to find a way to convey people of different skin color coming together. All my initial ideas felt too much like the cover page of most college catalogues! My desire was portray unity, love, intimacy, and a sense of "togetherness."  

Last October I officiated at the wedding of Amy and Juvitus and I thought they'd make the perfect couple for this project. When I approached them about participating they thought it was a wonderful idea and following the shoot we grabbed a couple of drinks and chatted about some of the racial issues we face in our society.

I liked how the silhouettes obscure the color of their skin, revealing only the reality of two people connecting with one another.

The next couple of images portray a sense of reaching out to engage with the other person, recognizing that at times skin color creates false barriers between people. However, when we have the courage to reach out to people who may appear different to us, we will discover the truth that we are all part of the human race, we all share very similar concerns about life, we are all created in the image of God and have an inherent sense of dignity and worth that comes with that reality. 
 

Ultimately love is at the center of this relationship, two people who decided to give their lives to one another and the truth is we are all stronger together. Together we must learn to stand up to the injustice of racism in our world.