JPHazyLens Photography

The Beginning

March 2017

August 2015 I moved to Washington, D.C. from Dover, DE to attend Howard University, School of Social Work to pursue my Master’s of Social Work. Howard’s program is special due to it’s “Black Perspective”. According to Howard “The Black Perspective guides our approach to social work education and reflects the core values of our institution”. Additionally, it is made up of six guiding principles:

  1. Affirmation
  2. Strengths
  3. Diversity
  4. Internationalization
  5. Vivification
  6. Social Justice

I wouldn’t know then that these six principles would become the guiding light that I use throughout my storytelling journey.

So in the Spring of 2017, I was accepted into the international service program. The goal of the program was for rising Howard social work practitioners on all levels (micro, mezzo, and macro) to learn about the social work profession outside the traditional Anglo Saxon, American, cis-gendered female lens.

Before I left, I asked family and friends if there was anything they wanted me to bring back. Folks said waist beads, jewelry, clothes, but my dad said “I just want pictures. I want to see what you experience.” My father was trained at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York and by trade is an artist. He specializes in various mediums from acrylic and oil paint to photography and calligraphy, to textile and sewing. However, he chose a different path for himself and worked as a correctional officer for 25+ years in the New York State prison system.

So that spring I and 20 other students went out the country and returned home. So with a suitcase, a Sony a330 camera and zero expectations I went out of the country for the first time. 

Me at the hostel chilling on the terrace.
Protesters at the University of the Western Cape. School employees were advocating for better working conditions.
Protesters at the University of the Western Cape. School employees were advocating for better working conditions.
Local women in the Khayelitsha township in Cape Town, South Africa doing daily chores.
Khayelitsha township in Cape Town, South Africa
Khayelitsha township in Cape Town, South Africa
Construction taking place in township.
Construction taking place in township.
Khayelitsha township in Cape Town, South Africa
Local women in the Khayelitsha township in Cape Town, South Africa
Me and Barrington with local sells woman in the Khayelitsha.
Local women in the Khayelitsha township in Cape Town, South Africa doing daily chores.
Woman in Khayelitsha township in Cape Town, South Africa cooking sheep’s head.
Women in Khayelitsha township in Cape Town, South Africa cooking sheep’s head.
Graffiti on wall in Cape Town, South Africa. Wall says ” Jesus Loves The Hell Out of You” & “Wake Up World”.
A grandmother and grandchild.
Howard University School of Social Work MSW candidates/students.
Students of Pinocchio Crèche with Howard University School of Social Work student.
Student of Pinocchio Crèche with Howard University School of Social Work student.
Entrance to Robben Island
Welcome to Robben Island.
Entry walkway to Robben Island
Nelson Mandela jail cell.
Dormitory Quarters at Robben Island.
Jail hallway at Robben Island. This is the hallway that Nelson Mandela would be in for over 27 years.
Lime quarry on Robben Island. This would be the meeting ground for political leaders, like Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, and Harry Gwala. In 1993, former political prisoners commemorated their time at Robben Island by creating a pile of lime stone.
Map of the District 6 community at the District 6 museum.
Instruction written on wall of the shower at Robben Island. Afrikaans is one of the many spoken languages in South Africa. The sign translates to: “Take note when you have finished washing, dry the area thoroughly”.
Nelson Mandela jail cell.
Courtyard of Robben Island
open field where prisoners worked out on Robben Island.
Jama Mbatyoti was a political prisoner that was arrested in 1976 for planning a political protest in Port Elizabeth. Unfortunately, he never got to exercise his rights and was arrested before the protest. He was sentenced to Robben Island from 1977 until 1981 at the age of 19 years old. Robben Island was known as one of the most notorious prisons in South Africa. The prison was a former military base and was designed to be far away from civilization, requiring a 2–3-hour boat ride to reach its coast. Robben Island is where notable civil rights figures like Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Achmed Kathrada, Andrew Mlangeni, Elias Motsoaledi, Govan Mbeki, and Raymond Mhlaba were held for decades. Political prisoners were purposefully isolated on the island in order to maintain control and stop the spread of knowledge. Robben Island also housed prisoners that committed crimes like robbery, murder, and rape. However, these prisoners were given better food, recreation, clothes and jobs in comparison to political prisoners. Unlike most museums that show history, Robben Island allows its visitors to get a firsthand account of what the prison was like through the eyes of former political prisoners serving as tour guides. Check out the Robben Island Museum webpage for more detail.
Me & Jama Mbatyoti
Jamila in the Nelson Mandela’s garden at Robben Island in Cape Town, South Africa
Downtown beach strip in Cape Town, South Africa.
Top of Table Mountain. Table Mountain one of the seven wonders of the natural world. The aptly named Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain that overlooks Cape Town in South Africa. You’ve probably seen it in Black Panther.
Top of Table Mountain. Table Mountain one of the seven wonders of the natural world. The aptly named Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain that overlooks Cape Town in South Africa. You’ve probably seen it in Black Panther.
Top of Table Mountain. Table Mountain one of the seven wonders of the natural world. The aptly named Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain that overlooks Cape Town in South Africa. You’ve probably seen it in Black Panther.
The coastline of Robben Island. across from the coastline of Cape Town, South Africa. It takes roughly 2 – 3 hours by boat to go from shore to shore.
Howard University students visiting an NGO’s community garden.
Digital Photo | Arcylic Black Light Paint | Color Pencil Jama Mbatyoti was a political prisoner that was arrested in 1976 for planning a political protest in Port Elizabeth. Unfortunately, he never got to exercise his rights and was arrested before the protest. He was sentenced to Robben Island from 1977 until 1981 at the age of 19 years old. Robben Island was known as one of the most notorious prisons in South Africa. The prison was a former military base and was designed to be far away from civilization, requiring a 2–3-hour boat ride to reach its coast. Robben Island is where notable civil rights figures like Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Achmed Kathrada, Andrew Mlangeni, Elias Motsoaledi, Govan Mbeki, and Raymond Mhlaba were held for decades. Political prisoners were purposefully isolated on the island in order to maintain control and stop the spread of knowledge. Robben Island also housed prisoners that committed crimes like robbery, murder, and rape. However, these prisoners were given better food, recreation, clothes and jobs in comparison to political prisoners. Unlike most museums that show history, Robben Island allows its visitors to get a firsthand account of what the prison was like through the eyes of former political prisoners serving as tour guides. Check out the Robben Island Museum webpage for more detail.
Could you tell it was my first time on a Yacht
Digital Photo | Arcylic Black Light Paint | Color Pencil Jama Mbatyoti was a political prisoner that was arrested in 1976 for planning a political protest in Port Elizabeth. Unfortunately, he never got to exercise his rights and was arrested before the protest. He was sentenced to Robben Island from 1977 until 1981 at the age of 19 years old. Robben Island was known as one of the most notorious prisons in South Africa. The prison was a former military base and was designed to be far away from civilization, requiring a 2–3-hour boat ride to reach its coast. Robben Island is where notable civil rights figures like Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Achmed Kathrada, Andrew Mlangeni, Elias Motsoaledi, Govan Mbeki, and Raymond Mhlaba were held for decades. Political prisoners were purposefully isolated on the island in order to maintain control and stop the spread of knowledge. Robben Island also housed prisoners that committed crimes like robbery, murder, and rape. However, these prisoners were given better food, recreation, clothes and jobs in comparison to political prisoners. Unlike most museums that show history, Robben Island allows its visitors to get a firsthand account of what the prison was like through the eyes of former political prisoners serving as tour guides. Check out the Robben Island Museum webpage for more detail.
Digital Photo | Blacklight Acrylic Paint | Acrylic Paint | Markers | Chalk Pictured is a woman that was in the township cooking sheep head. Written out is the Proverbs 31: 13-22 13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. 14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. 15 She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. 16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. 18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. 19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. 20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. 21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. 22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. This scripture was chosen because this is my interpretation of Proverbs 31 woman. Granted I don’t know her name or her life story or even her life’s purpose, but I felt a spiritual connection to the her.
Collage of Digital Photo | Blacklight Acrylic Paint | Acrylic Paint | Markers | Chalk Pictured are a collage of women that were protestign worker rights at the Univeristy of the Western Cape. Behind is the story ofo Esther. Esther is known for her fight against injustices of her people and how she was able to pursuade the king at the time to not wipe out her own cirtizens. These women reminded me of Esther as they fight for their people and those that will come after. The text reads: Esther 4: 12-17 12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” 17 Mordecai did everything Esther told him to do.
My sis Britt posing on Table Mountain.
Jamila on top of Table Mountain.
My sis Adrienne on top of Table Mountain.
Me in the shop trying on custom made skirt.
Barrington, Fatima, Britt, Mama T (she made our dresses), me, Adrienne, and Aaliyah.
Mama T.