Author(s): Eric Hart Jr (By (photographer)); Zun Lee (Text by); Chi Ossé (Text by); Kalen Allen (Interviewer)

Mens Photography

When I Think About Power is a black and white photo series showcasing over 70 portraits focusing on the notion of power as it relates to the Black queer experience. Started in 2019, this project investigates and nourishes modern-day's reimagining of man through themed chapters questioning the conflicting dynamics of the Black queer man's power. Hart's approach to this work is rooted in an examination of his own journey towards self-acceptance growing up in Macon, Georgia, as he states in the coinciding text, every day of my life I have been called my father. Through the process of visually exploring the differences and similarities between himself and the men who surround him, studying the words of Black queer icons, and even researching the visibility of power throughout history in societies like the Ming dynasty or ancient Egypt, Hart has created a poetically driven collection of images that unravel a power that plenty of queer individuals seek to find at some point in their life while simultaneously depicting the struggle that can often align itself with this power. From queerness, dress, to heritage, this series documents the journey of discovering the power within.

May 2023