The Deep End is a visual celebration of fears conquered. The photos are a collection of moments from my time in an adult swim class in Boston. The trepidation in the pool was palpable at the beginning of our first lesson. When asked to state our goals, phrases like “I don’t want to die” and “I just want to survive” swirled around. Whether the terror stemmed from the water itself or the act of drowning, we were all starting from our unique ground zeros; I hadn’t put my head underwater in over 14 years. It was awe-inspiring: a true convergence of black and brown men and women who, for one reason or another, never had the opportunity to learn how to thrive in the water. On our last day, an inherent sense of wonder overcame me as I watched fellow students dive face-first into the water, legs paddling behind them.
Historically, people of color, specifically black Americans, have been barred from gaining proficiency in the water, either through active threats of violence or systemic removal of access. Learning how to swim isn’t only treated as a privilege, it is a mark of racial and socio-economic status. I aimed to showcase this historical context through treatment and subject. The abstract crops paired with raw portraits illustrate the nuanced circumstances that brought them to the pool and the bravery I witnessed in every individual week after week. Every class was bigger than us. I can’t be any prouder of myself or every swimmer who decided to overcome the deep end.