Karl B. 1990-1996 chromogenic print 30" x 40"
Bridget B. 1993. chromogenic print 30" x 40"
"Yesterday was my Junior Prom which I did not attend. Ever since I was in the 9th grade, I’ve been thinking about the Junior Prom. What if I don’t get asked? And in the end I didn’t get asked. So I decided I was going to go anyway. Lots of people go without dates. I made myself believe I didn’t want a date. I had my dress, I had everything all ready to go and the second I woke up, I started crying. I cried all day. I was too humiliated to go by myself. My mom said I can take the dress back. Most of my friends went. I’m waiting for them to call and tell me how it was. The thing is I did have someone I could have asked but my parents wouldn’t let me because he’s black. My parents say I don’t need that kind of date. He’s just a friend but I talk to him every night. He’s the only black kid in his school and he hangs around all white people, so he’s just like me except for his color. I get so frustrated. I wish I could explain to my parents that despite what they believe— I believe something different. And I couldn’t tell him that my parents are prejudiced. He would have felt like crap. Because it isn’t his fault. So I just told him that I didn’t feel like going."
http://www.reframingphotography.com/content/adrienne-salinger