Director of Photography for Wade In The Water

To say that “all lives matter” as a reply to black lives matter is a REAL manifestation of the systemic racism that still exists 400 years after the first slaves were brought up the James River to be auctioned off to the highest bidder in Richmond Virginia. At one time it was the epicenter of the slave trade for what eventually became the United States. The Shockoe Bottom district of Richmond is now a mixed use, residential/commercial/arts district that literally sits on the mass grave of the slaves who built the city.

The city I was raised in was the capitol of the Confederacy during the Civil War. For many years the monuments in and around the city have been considered reminders of its glorious heritage. However, the heritage that’s memorialized is one of forced servitude, slavery, and hate. Systemic racism is insidious. I grew up thinking I was not effected by or influenced by racism, and I have been working for years to reverse it’s effects. Something that has helped put it in perspective for me (and I hope for others) is that out of the 400 years that our culture and eventually our nation has existed, it has only been illegal to segregate and discriminate based on race, creed, gender, and religion for 56 years.

I say this not to blame or judge, but to view the society in which I live, through a different lens and to have as much understanding of race in America as a privileged white man can have (one who was born in 1962, when it was still legal to have “WHITES ONLY” bathrooms and water fountains). It’s important to be of service and to be active in social awareness and change, two things I find difficult.

As an artist, I can contribute to, and be of service to my community by bringing into sight the human experience. To quote Nina Simone, “An artist’s duty…is to reflect the times.”

The interview above, was done on set of Wade In The Water, a spoken word short film I was asked to collaborate on and shoot with my friend David Bianchi. Little did either of us know that 3 days before production was to begin, George Floyd would be murdered in another senseless act of racist violence.

Wade In The Water

The film premiers on MYM: Million Youth Media YouTube channel October 30, 2020.

Directed by David Bianchi

Written By and Starring: David Bianchi, Joivan Wade, Llewellyn C Radford II

Featuring and Vocals by: ONYI LOVE

Cinematographer: Dave Perry

Co-Producer: Wall of Productions

Executive Producers: Taf Makopa, Percelle Ascott