Ashley Minner, LUMBEE TRIBE OF NORTH CAROLINA, USA

I am inspired by the beauty of everyday people. I try to represent us in ways that are honest, in ways that we want to be seen, with honor and respect. These two portraits are from The Exquisite Lumbee Project 2011, a collaboration between myself, photographer Sean Scheidt, and 29 other members of the Baltimore Lumbee diaspora community. Those who participated were encouraged to wear what they liked best, and everyone chose the photograph they felt best represented them. Portrait text gives a glimpse into our hopes for one another and the depths of ourselves. Although we, as a people, run the gamut of skin colors, hair colors and hair textures, we do have a distinctive quality, character and style. We recognize each other. We are exquisite.