Fatherhood

Join Dr. Cheers for a panel discussion with photographers Michael Young and Russell Frederick about the often underappreciated beauty found within seeing Black men as individuals, fathers, role models, and community members, and the inspiring visions of these photographers.

Imani M. Cheers (@drimcheers) is an associate professor of digital storytelling at The George Washington University. She is also the Director of Academic Adventures for Planet Forward. Dr. Cheers received her B.F.A from Washington University in St. Louis and an M.A. in African Studies and a Ph.D. in mass communication and media studies from Howard University. Dr. Cheers is an award-winning digital storyteller, director, producer, and filmmaker. As a professor of practice, she uses a variety of mediums including video, photography, television, and film to document and discuss issues impacting and involving people of the African Diaspora.

Russell Frederick (@rfrederickphoto) is a Brooklyn-born self-taught visual activist of Afro-Panamanian heritage who has been photographing for thirty years. He is best known for his visual narratives of the African diaspora, and his documentation of his hometown—Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. 

Michael Young (@myoungphotography) is a street and documentary photographer born and raised in Brooklyn, who currently resides in the Bronx, New York. with his wife Kenya and Daughter Nya. His love of light and shadow fuels his passion for creating his imagery. His work has been featured in The New York Times and exhibited at The Bronx Documentary Center. Michael is also a curator and contributing photographer for the Instagram feed Everyday Black America.