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June 8, 2010

Martial Artist Canon EOS 7D | Canon 35mm f/1.4L | Avalable Light
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I've heard a variety of responses when I've told people about the project and asked to make their photo. The response from this local martial artist is the best by far.

"You ain't from the FBI, are you?"

I responded as any reasonable man would,

"Naw. Why? You got warrants?"

He said he didn't. I tend to believe him because he ultimately let me take his picture.

There was another guy that I asked a couple of weeks back. He entertained my spiel, but ultimately declined citing "certain previous situations."

Back to the young man above. He explained he was initially hesitant because last year his Iman was killed in the course of a FBI raid.

Some local Islamic and community leaders contend he was targeted for political reasons (though I don't remember seeing him on any lawn signs...).

The FBI contends the the Iman's organization was trafficking stolen goods.

A brief aside: In addition to writing and photography, engaging strangers in assuredly offensive conversations about race, politics and religion is another hobby of mine. I saw an opportunity to indulge my third hobby.

"Were they selling stolen shit?"

We never came to any firm answer on that question. We did, however, discuss how oppressed people are sometimes forced to bend the rules of an oppressive power structure in order to...

"Did he steal my hubcaps or not?!"

Ok. I didn't say that last part. But I think we both would have gotten a chuckle out of that if I did.

Truth be told me and ole boy had a pleasant conversation. We disagreed on a few things (ongoing global conspiracies orchestrated by clandestine families bent on world domination) and agreed on others (that no one in the U.S. is going to revolt against shit, because even our poorest people have 176 channels of digital cable).

A couple of frames after this shot - after a behind-the-camera quip on my part that he was obviously a bad brother but even bad brothers smile SOMETIMES - he broke out into uproarious laughter. All of those shots were out of focus however because of the fact my camera was in a mode  where it only focuses on static subjects.

Nevertheless, I thought this brother was generally open to reasonable arguments and we even managed to come to a common focus on one fact. After I mentioned a certain disgraced local politician we both agreed on the following:

Devils don't just come in white. Tafari said...

Your a good one. I love controversial conversations but if I get mad because someone says something totally out of line or a flat out lie, I tend to cuss them out or walk the hell away.

We may never know the truth about that Imam but the shoot out was suspect.

June 9, 2010 at 10:06 AM The People of Detroit said...

Tafari, yea. I definitely have/can lose it when someone makes irrational arguments.

But if someone disagrees, but is open to counterarguments, I'm all for it.

Well, like I told my man, I grew up a sunni muslim, and I remember people when I was a kid listening to the men at masjid Nur in Highland Park idolize the mujahedeen in afghanistan and how they fought the soviets. Alot of those folks imagined themselves as in a similar jihad against kafirs (non-muslims) and a wicked American culture.

Its only a small leap to using that Jihad to justify breaking the law or worse.

June 9, 2010 at 10:41 AM Maegan said...

i like his expression considering the whole FBI agent shpiel. fitting.

i think the reason i can't see the type is cuz its a small picture. when i click the photo itself it is bigger and clearer, which is good.

controversial conversations are good - i like to have them a lot myself. i've been talking a lot about race lately. a lot of my white friends get so freaked out by it. like rachel! when i mentioned something to a black person about me being a little white girl in detroit and all these black men talk to me, she was appalled. sometimes black men like white girls, what can i say? an intrigue of "the other" so to speak.

i think overall the background needs to have more contrast and be a bit darker, particularly the brick. not feeling that pinkish hue. if it were more of a deep red, cool. it just looks a little off to me. nit-pick nit-pick. not my fave shot here but i like the story.

June 10, 2010 at 12:47 AM