Today, I had the honor of interviewing documentary photographer Jamel Shabazz. In my opinion, Brother Shabazz is the Gordon Parks of my generation, and I have admired his work for a long time. We met up in Dr. Ronald McNair Park in Brooklyn to discuss various topics, including his experience growing up in Brooklyn, self-publishing versus traditional publishing, his military service, the summer of 1980, striving to capture images with profound meaning, the importance of empathy, the crack era, and giving back to the community.
I highly recommend checking out Jamel's Instagram, website, or one of his photography books as you listen to our conversation. It will serve as an excellent reference to what we discuss.
We recorded outside in Brooklyn, so there were occasional sirens and interruptions, but that's what you get when you record in New York City. During our conversation, we talked about various topics, including the West Indian Parade, Eastern Parkway, the Brooklyn Museum, the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, Powerhouse Books, Alex Haley's Playboy Interviews, and much more.
Jamel's work is truly inspiring, and it was a pleasure to chat with him about his experiences and insights.
Press play to listen to the actual conversation I'm referring to in this writing.
