(upbeat music)
-: Peace.
I'm Adam Jabari, and this lesson
is called Separate Together.
We're going to use photography to share a message.
As with all photography, we need a source of light.
Where does your light come from?
You will need your camera.
A smartphone or a tablet with a camera app
is perfect for this practice.
And you will need pen and paper, like a notebook.
Let's start with three full breaths.
Sit nice and tall, heart forward, crown high,
and take a deep breath in through your nose.
(inhales)
And exhale slowly from your nose.
(exhales)
Take a hand and place it over your low belly
and another one over your heart.
Draw another deep breath in through your nose,
(inhales)
into your belly, into your heart.
And slow exhale from the nose.
(exhales)
Let's do that one more time, deep breath in and out
through the nose.
(inhales)
(exhales)
Now we're nice and grounded.
Today we are going to create a letter through images.
Think about the people who are most affected right now.
They can be the essential workers,
like grocery store clerks, delivery people,
cleaning staff, bus drivers, nurses,
doctors, think about people who may be underserved,
like people without houses, or without adequate
access to healthcare.
What kind of message would you like to write
to these essential or underserved people?
Take two to three minutes in your notebook
and write some words to those people in your life
or in your community.
(pen clicks)
(upbeat music)
Who did you think about?
What group or individual came to mind for you?
Refer back to the words that you wrote,
the feelings behind it.
We're going to use our cameras
to represent some of these ideas.
For example, healthcare is a human right.
That's something I wrote.
And with my camera, and my imagination,
I'm going to find a way to share that message
through an image.
I might think about masks, or gloves,
or maybe use props like a thermometer,
or maybe even a hot cup of tea, a BAND-AID.
What objects and props best represent
the message that you wanna share?
What spaces and environments best represents
that message that you wanna share?
Your challenge today is to take your camera,
find the props, find the spaces,
and share your voice, these love letters.
Express them through these images.
Photographer Carrie Mae Weems said,
"I'm so happy to be alive and to make my work.
"But I didn't do it alone.
"So many have paved the way for me,
"and for that I'm extraordinarily grateful."
Think about a community, individual, or group
that you'd like to send your message to.
How are they being affected by the coronavirus,
by social distancing, by quarantine?
Take some time to log on to your search engines,
and find out some specifics of the impact
for individuals and groups in different demographics.
Let these inform the message that you send,
to offer some support, or compassion,
or information that might be helpful.
While we are distant, remember that we are
all together in this.
We are all the same stardust, all live on the same planet,
all need the same resources.
Me and you, your momma, and your cousin too.
I'm Adam Jabari.
Thanks for being here today.
Peace.
(upbeat music)