PROOF
Valerie (top) feels a special bond with her great-uncle Lecky. Both were Army medics.
THE BACKSTORY
A PHOTOGRAPHER TRAINS HIS LENS ON FAMILY TO ILLUSTRATE
THE COMPLEX HISTORY OF BLACK MILITARY SERVICE.
AS PART OF HIS My America project
highlighting Black people’s experiences,
photographer Rashod Taylor focused
on a subject that had influenced his life:
Black military service. Though Taylor
himself never joined the armed forces,
members of his family did. And he lis-
tened intently to their stories.
“I really found this new apprecia-
tion for what kind of sacrifices they’ve
made,” Taylor says. “Not only in the
military in general but just being Black
in the military and still having to go
through those extra layers of life liv-
ing as a person of color in the United
States.” Although Black Americans
have fought for their country sincethe 1770s, many of them dealt—and
still deal—with unequal treatment.
Taylor’s relatives have benefited from
opportunities that the military offers.
At the same time, they’ve faced hostil-
ity and discrimination while on active
duty and as citizens.
Taylor chose tintype photography,
using metal plates in a process that
was popular from the mid-1800s to
the early 1900s, as a way to bridge the
gap between former and current ser-
vice members. Despite being decades
apart, their similar experiences unite
them. The images reflect a compli-
cated legacy, one of disparity, pride,
and endurance. —TUCKER C. TOOLE