American photographer Devin Allen releases his first book A Beautiful Ghetto this Saturday. Devin Allen had made himself known after seeing his photo on the cover of Time of a protester running to escape the charge of the police of Baltimore, in the margins of demonstrations following the murder of Freddie Gray in April 2015 by the police.
Convinced of the need to give a positive image of his city, at least contrasted and distinctly different from that unanimously proposed by the American media, Devin Allen has not ceased to portray his city and its inhabitants for two years . This photograph had become a viral movement, symbolizing the emerging Black Lives Matter movement and more broadly a new episode of the civil rights struggle in the united states, equal opportunities and living conditions.
In addition to his artistic commitment, Devin Allen is committed to the democratization of photography in the city of Baltimore. Supported by the Under Armor program, he worked to collect old cameras donated in exchange for digital cameras given to the youth of Baltimore.
His book A Beautiful Ghetto includes an essay by D. Watkins, author of the American bestseller The Beast Side: Living and Dying While Black In America and a poem by Tariq Toure. The whole book is superb.
For visitors and residents of Baltimore, Devin Allen will give a signing session at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum at noon this Saturday.
Devin Allen – A Beautiful Ghetto
Haymarket Books
