This weekend was my first time attending AFRAM, and as soon as I set foot on the grounds, I was abuzz with energy. The music, the food, the dress, the atmosphere—everything combined in one powerful celebration of Black culture. Being up on stage with my camera, feeling the joy and unity of the people, one question continuously rang through my head: What does Black culture mean to you?
AFRAM, Baltimore’s yearly African American festival, is more than a summer festival—it’s a site of Black identity expressed in all its forms. From the closely braided hairstyles to the multiple heritages and assertive personalities, Black culture pervades in ways too numerous to enumerate. It’s something you hear in the music, you taste in the food, and feel in the manner in which people adore one another.
Even in the middle of the day, there was a sense of warmth—no, not just from the sun, but from the people. I saw how all of them—from the DJs to the performers to the families in the crowd—were welcoming, inclusive, and proud. There was laughter, dancing, and a sense of safety that may not always be found at large gatherings. But AFRAM was different. It was home…