Being introduced to methods of taking pictures and using them to exhibit different ideas has helped me expand my voice and open myself to new opportunities.
Gallery
Janay
"I joined Critical Exposure to show people the racial discrimination in my school and to change some of the racial challenges people face everyday. I mostly see [racism] in my AP and Honors courses. There's mostly white students there, not a lot people of other races and colors.
"I want an ethnic studies class in Wilson because I am tired of learning about the 'dominant race.' I want to learn about my people and their history not somebody else's. This can help strengthen my people as a group, because we are struggling. We face daily challenges that we shouldn't have to, including low test scores, higher jail rates, and gentrification.
"I see gentrification in D.C. in my old neighorbhoodand the neighborhood that I live in now. Back in 2007 it was about 80% black in my old neighborhood, and now if you go back it's about 90% white. I see diversit in the way that people travel, depending on metro, trains and lines. I see racial profiling in restaurants and different places of leisure."