I created Flowerboy, a photo series capturing black men posing with flowers, to counter all of the toxic masculinity that black men are so accustomed to. The flower concept is a metaphor for the beautiful beings that we blossom into when we forget oppressive systems and just embrace all of our traits. When black men are as fragile as the flowers that we are posing with in the frames, I actually think we become stronger and more in tune with our emotions and the world around us. One of the reasons why Flowerboy was so liberating for me was that this photo series is a stepping stone to being comfortable with whatever feminine qualities that I may have and not losing or changing myself regardless of what space that I’m in. You can read more about the creation of Flowerboy here.
![A shirtless black man wearing a white skull cap and a necklace poses with his eyes closedand his left hand touching his head while his right hand holds a large pink flower](/sites/default/files/styles/large_840/public/2024-01/flowerboy1.jpg?itok=OXvH01X1)
![A shirtless black man with dreadlocks and two sunflowers tucked over his left ear smiles with his eyes closed](/sites/default/files/styles/large_840/public/2024-01/flowerboy2.jpg?itok=CVwln0sf)
![A shirtless black man with beard and moustache bows his head towards a large pink flower with his eyes closed](/sites/default/files/styles/large_840/public/2024-01/flowerboy3.jpg?itok=ZtvMS7U6)
![A shirtless black man laughs with his eyes closed and two red roses wrapped around his neck](/sites/default/files/styles/large_840/public/2024-01/flowerboy4.jpg?itok=BmvVMRAM)
![A shirtless black man stares at the camera while the bottom of is face is hidden behind four yellow sunflowers that he holds in his right hand](/sites/default/files/styles/large_840/public/2024-01/flowerboy5.jpg?itok=KiSdikf8)
![A shirtless black man wearing glasses looks down at two red roses with his eyes closed](/sites/default/files/styles/large_840/public/2024-01/flowerboy6.jpeg?itok=lQimR1cB)
![A shirtless black man looks at the camera while resting on his left elbow and with his right hand cupping the right side of his face, while a large pink flower rests on his left forearm](/sites/default/files/styles/large_840/public/2024-01/flowerboy7.jpg?itok=t5fisMdC)
![A shirtless black man looks to his left and smiles while holding two red roses in his right hand](/sites/default/files/styles/large_840/public/2024-01/flowerboy8.jpg?itok=2h0gY6fE)