Voices of Race in Portrait

“Takuna El Shabazz” detail of a portrait by Casey Harman 2019.

“Voices of Race in Portrait” was on view at Acadiana Center for the Arts from February 8 to 29, 2020 in the Coca Cola Studio.

Twenty subjects tell compelling stories about the role race has played in their lives to over a dozen trained facilitators/story collectors.

Conversation Starters created “Voices of Race in Portrait” as an exhibition of portraits and interviews collected across the region. Photographers from the Acadiana region captured these subjects in portrait form, using their unique styles and approaches. Transcribed interviews were presented in full alongside these portraits. Nonprofit newsroom The Current partnered with AcA and Conversation Starters highlight selected stories.

Photographers:

Toni Riales
Drake LeBlanc
April Courville
Casey Harmon
Jon DeRise
Gwen Aucoin
Melissa Butler
Leslie Westbrook
Lynn Musumeche
Philip Gould
Carrie Cox Pennison
Cheri Soileau
Cheryl Dubois
Elsa Dimitriadis
Kim Boustany

Selected Portraits and Stories

‘My mission is to uncover that hidden history’ — Phebe Hayes

Historically people have tried to weaken the image of black men and women. Phebe Hayes wants to fix that.

‘Not talking about it will not make it go away’ — Marja Broussard

The president of the Lafayette NAACP chapter says racism is still reality. Pretending it doesn’t exist won’t fix it.

‘We weren’t wanted there, and the teachers made it known’ — Chris Williams

The former councilman reflects on racism during the school integration era.

‘No, you see color’ — Marcelle Fontenot

The veteran newswoman reflects on her experience as a black woman in Acadiana.

Image Gallery