Let’s Talk About Privilege
But first, let me tell you who I am: I’m an anti-racist, a queer person, and a feminist.
The energy of the pack. Capturing these raw moments on the course made me realize the power of who gets the spotlight in sports media.
I grew up in South Carolina surrounded by people that I now recognize as racist. I cringe at the thought of things my father used to say to me, about me, and about others.
As an adult, I have been able to frame and understand my own privilege, and it has helped me navigate the world in a completely different way. I look at some of the things I see and hear today and wonder how people can be so cruel.
I have always wanted to help people in one way or another. When I was in high school, I wanted to be a teacher. But my grades weren't great, and my family wasn't going to send me to college, so I eventually just gave up on the idea of the classroom. The drive to help, however, never went away—it just took a different shape when I finally picked up a camera and pointed it towards people.
Representation matters. It’s about ensuring the diversity of our community is actually reflected in the images I share.
When I started taking photos at cross-country and track events, I intentionally prioritized Black and brown athletes, along with the girls' teams. If you find yourself getting annoyed reading that—that is privilege speaking. I know this because learning to recognize my own initial defensiveness was a massive part of unlearning the biases I grew up with in the South.
Shifting the narrative means showing up for the girls' teams with the same energy and equipment usually reserved for the boys.
If you can recognize your own privilege as you navigate the world, you will be in a much better position to understand exactly what marginalized communities are up against. The statistics do not lie, and they are staggering. In the United States, the system is heavily favored toward white people and men, offering systemic advantages in income, employment, and professional advancement.
I recently wrote an editorial on "The 15% Rule," highlighting the reality that girls in sports receive only 15% of sports media coverage. That glaring imbalance is exactly why I put a priority on covering marginalized communities.
When I recently made a request on Reddit offering a free commercial shoot to local businesses, I received a response I wasn't entirely ready for, though I can't say I didn't expect it. The comment read: "So basically, anyone but white males. Got it." And yes, that was exactly right.
The pushback is always expected. But framing equity as exclusion completely misses the point of the work.
The issue wasn't the reality of what they were saying; it was the framing. People view it as exclusion, when the reality is that it is a necessary correction to a preexisting imbalance.
This is exactly why my studio operates on an Equitable Access model. In practice, this means I offer "Pay-What-You-Can" or entirely free sessions to BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ community members and business owners. If I can lend my skills and use the momentum of my commercial work to give underrepresented people a way to feel more confident in their visual representation, that means the world to me.
Mari from Tender Velvet Rebel Oven. Using my commercial skillset to elevate incredible local businesses like hers is exactly why the Equitable Access model exists.
If you come from a place of privilege, I encourage you to take a hard look at your life and your situation. Whether it is through the lens of a camera, the way you structure your business, or simply extending a helping hand—if you can do something to uplift others, do it. You will be part of the change the world needs.
