"Showing Black People the Way That We Actually Are" — Vashon Jordan Jr.

Vashon Jordan Jr. spent summer 2020 photographing the uprisings in Chicago's streets after the murder of George Floyd. His photo book, Chicago Protests: A Joyful Revolution, documents Black joy during demonstrations in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vashon's work is bright and saturated with color. We talk about why he snaps pictures from within crowds rather than on the edges and the near-death experience that became a cornerstone of his work ethic (the dude is 21 and took 17,000 photos at dozens of events this summer!).

Listen to the full episode, including the community college graduation Vashon would choose to relive and his unique perspective on the deaths of others, at patreon.com/davemaher.

Follow Vashon (@vashon_photo) on Instagram and Twitter, and buy his book: Chicago Protests: A Joyful Revolution.

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