theBLKGZE Manifesto
Champion Black Photographers
At theBLKGZE, we believe photography is more than art. It’s a force, shaping culture, shifting perception, telling truths where words fall short.
This manifesto is more than a declaration.
It’s a call. A commitment.
To centre Black photographers.
To celebrate their vision.
To build the future they deserve.
- Celebrate the Spectrum of Black Creativity
Black creativity is expansive, essential, and without limits. Black photographers are storytellers of every kind; bold, experimental, intimate, tender. We honour this richness. It doesn’t just contribute to photography. It transforms it. - Spotlight Emerging Talent
Greatness often begins quietly. We seek out and uplift emerging Black photographers, making space for new voices to rise, be seen, and reshape the visual world. - Honour the Legends Who Paved the Way
Progress isn't accidental. It’s the result of vision, courage, and persistence. We walk in the footsteps of Black photographers who created in defiance of erasure, carving out space where there was none. Their legacy lights our path. - Destroy Stereotypes, One Image at a Time
We reject the single story. We reject the gaze that flattens, exoticises, or distorts. We demand images that are layered, complex, and fully human. Photography that dismantles stereotypes, and reclaims truth. - Build a Truly Inclusive Community
Our work begins with Black photographers. But our vision is broader. We welcome all who believe in equity, creativity, and a visual culture that reflects the world as it truly is, diverse, complex, and interconnected. - Empower Through Mentorship
Wisdom should not be gatekept. We champion mentorship, a passing of knowledge, care, and creativity across generations. Together, we build a legacy of collaboration and innovation. - Celebrate the Beauty of Intersectionality
Blackness is not a monolith. We embrace its intersections of gender, sexuality, disability, class, and culture, knowing they deepen our stories, sharpen our perspectives, and reveal a truer picture of the world. - Capture Injustice, Inspire Change
Photography can ignite movements. We stand with those who use their lens to witness injustice, speak truth to power, and push us toward justice, empathy, and equity. - Foster Bold Conversations
Great photography provokes. It asks. It unsettles. It expands what we think is possible. We create space for critical dialogue about representation, power, beauty, and the future we want to frame. - Reclaim the Narrative
For too long, Black stories have been shaped by those outside them. No more. We believe in the power of Black photographers to own the narrative to document, define, and disrupt. To make images that don’t just reflect who we are, but who we’ve always been.
Carry the vision
Carry this with you into your practice, your projects, your communities.
Let it shape how you see and how you shoot. Let it remind you: we’ve always been here. And we’re just getting started.