Collection consists of 20 13x19 inch color inkjet photographic collages featuring portraits of young African American men, taken by McFadden, paired with reproduction color portraits of their fathers when they were younger, and handwritten personal narratives, one to three paragraphs long, by each youth about what it means to be an African American man in the 21st century. One print is of McFadden and his father, and includes a reproduction of his father's Selective Service card.
Topics expressed in the personal narratives include stereotypes as well as new definitions of black masculinity; the construction of and attitudes of others as well as themselves towards race, gender, and sexuality; generational issues; and relationships with fathers. Many of the fathers served in the Armed Forces, and appear in their portraits in military uniforms.
From the artist's statement: "How does one begin to challenge the misguided perceptions that decrease the quality of living for young African American men? Furthermore, how does the African American man position himself in a society that does not acknowledge his true identity? African American men and stories of their intersecting identities unrecognized in forums that allow these positive images to become a part of the dominant narrative of African American men. As a photographic artist, I chose to use contemporary portraiture, the vernacular image, qualitative data, and positioning to expose this narrative with Come to Selfhood."
"Come to Selfhood explores African American male identity, masculinity, notions about the father figure, and the photographic archive by providing a frame of reference that visually articulates the diverse identities of young Black men. By delving into ideas of history, role models, and varied experiences, Come to Selfhood makes the previously invisible Black man, accurately and meaningfully visible."
For this body of work, McFadden received the 2017 Duke University Archive of Documentary Arts Award for Documentarians of Color.
Acquired as part of the Archive of Documentary Arts at Duke University.
Joshua Rashaad McFadden, artist and author, is originally from Rochester, New York. During his undergraduate years at Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina, he began to make photographs as a fine art practice. McFadden attended Savannah College of Art and Design where he obtained his Master of Fine Art.
In response to recent incidents of police brutality and the murders of African American men and women, McFadden created the photographic series "After Selma." Since its release in April 2015, McFadden was named one of the top emerging talents in the world by LensCulture and received the first place International Photography Award (IPA, 2015) for "After Selma." He won the first place IPA award again in 2016 for his series and book Come to Selfhood.
McFadden has since been published in EyesOpen Magazine, Slate Magazine, and the New York Times. In 2017 McFadden was recognized by Time Magazine as one of "12 African American Photographers You Should Follow Right Now."
McFadden is the winner of the 2017 Duke University Archive of Documentary Arts Award for Documentarians of Color.
