Jon Henry will speak about his series Stranger Fruit, an ongoing body of work centering Black mothers in classical pietà poses with their sons. Henry began the series in 2014—the year we lost Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Tamir Rice at the hands of police. “I set out to photograph mothers with their sons in their environment, reenacting what it must feel like to endure this pain,” says Henry. “The mothers in the photographs have not lost their sons, but understand the reality that this could happen to their family.” Through the portraits of women in intimate gestures of cradling, holding, and embracing their sons, Henry aims to capture the visceral fear and vulnerable emotional landscape of Black mothers. Henry will be in conversation with photography-focused interdisciplinary artist and writer Qiana Mestrich who recently wrote about Stranger Fruit for Photograph Magazine. Special guest Monifa Bandele, who has worked with MomsRising to advocate for economic security and justice for mothers, women, and families, will offer remarks. The conversation will be hosted by Grace Aneiza Ali, curator of On Protest and Mourning. 

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