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MORDidyouthinkofyourselfasaprofessionalWWNoImstillinhighschool.IstartphotographingthosefirstreunionsandIhavephotographsofthose.LateronIrememberjustmymotherandIwespecificallytookatriptovisitfamilymembersforthepurposethatIcouldphotographthem.AndsotherewasthisbeginningbutIthinkIwasatapointwithphotographyandartwhereitwasalljustopportunitiestomakepictures.IwasntthinkingabouthowwouldIusethis.WhatwouldthatbelikeAndIhadntyetbeenexposedtoakindofacademicenvironmentthatwouldleadmetothinkingaboutthephotographicimageinthatway.AssolidastheteacherswerethatIhadatMontclairandIwasonlythereforashorttimebutIcontinuedtogetalotofsupportatmysecondhighschoolinNewJerseybuttheywereallstillteachersofatypethatwerehappythatstudentsweredoinggoodworkandwereinterested.Someofthemtherewereacoupleofteachersthatwereactiveasartistsatthetimeandremainedactive.MORWeretheyexposingyoutotheworkofotherphotographersWWAlittlebit.ButIthinkthattheproblemwasthatnoneofthemwasreallyItwasrightatthatmomentIwasgoingwithmyfriendsintoNewYorkandvisitingtheoneortwogalleriesthatcoveredphotography.AndIverydistinctlyrememberLeeWitkinsgallerythatwasinhisapartmentuptowninthe60sbeforeopeningthegallerydowntown.Iremembergoingupandwalkingthroughtheselittleroomslookingatphotographyonthewallsandhavingthatexperience.TherejustwasntquiteenoughtogetmuchexposurethroughtheworldthatIwascomingthrough.TheyweretheseartiststeachersbuttheydidnthaveallthatmuchtooffertosayThisiswhatisgoingoninphotography.ButIgotbooksfrommyuncleandacoupleofdifferentpeoplesawthatIhadthisinterest.Iwasbeingencouraged.SomebodygavemeacopyandIstillhaveitofBruceDavidsonsEast100thStreet.AndofcourseGordonParkswastheothermodel.MymotherwaskindaofIknowGordonParksbuttheproblemforherwasbuttheresonlyGordonParkstheresnobodyelse.MORTheresonlyonesowhydoweneedanotherone.WWRightrightWhatarethechancesoffillinginanotherspotSothatwasthebeginning.ThenIwentontotheSchoolofVisualArtsandIhadsomegreatteachersandpeopleIvekeptincontactwithovertheyearsbutwhenIwentthroughtherewerenoartistsofcolorteachingphotography.MORWhatyearwasthisWWSeventy-fourseventy-fivetoeighty.Therewereacoupleofstaffpeopleandsometeachinginotherareasbutnotinphotography.AlthoughtheacademicadvisorwhowastheacademicadvisorforeverybodywasAfricanAmerican.OfcoursethestudentbodywasdiversebutIcannotrecallanyoneofcolor.MysenioradvisorwasJulioMitchellaLatinoartistandthatwastheclosestIcametoanybodyotherthanapredominatelywhitepredominatelymaletherewerejustahandfulofwomen.Thechairofthedepartmentwasawoman.IdontthinkIactuallyhadanyphotographyclasseswithanyofthefemalefaculty.ButIknewthatAliceBeck-Odettetaughtphotographyandacoupleofotherwomenwereteachingphotography.AndcertainlyIhadfemaleteachersinareaslikearthistoryandotherclassesbutphotographywasstillthiswhitemalebastionmoresothantheotherdisciplines.IlearnedalotbuttherewerenodiscussionsthatIrecalldealingwithcultureandtheideaofthehistoricalframeworkforimagery.MORWasitmoretechnicalorfocusedonaestheticsThefoundationsthatmanyofushaveearlyinourartmakingcareersWWExactlyexactly.MORTheideaofwhatyouwerephotographingwasnotdiscussedWWRight.