The Masks We Wear

Artist Statement

“To always wear a mask, as a way of asserting masculine presence, is to always live the lie, to be perpetually deprived of an authentic sense of identity and well-being.” 

- Bell Hooks, The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love

By identifying tender moments of affection––the warm embrace between a father and child, a grandson’s delicate touch while visiting his elderly grandmother, or the exchange of smiles during a family dinner––The Mask We Wear breaks down the perceived masks of Black Masculinity and reveals spaces for vulnerability, care, and familial connection.

The photographic series takes place during a transition period in my life. A time when I am constantly being faced with questions about my next steps in both professional and personal contexts. However, the one question that stands out the most deals with my long-term relationship - Are you planning on proposing soon and starting a family? The many questions, while lighthearted, come with their fair share of weight and anxieties. And so, by photographing my family and members of my community, The Masks We Wear explores those feelings and helps me answer my own questions about black fatherhood and black masculinity.

Photo Series by Grayson McDaniel (2023)