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While Jermaine is a gifted photographer, his passion for helping others and utilizing his talents to better the confidence of children is what truly sets him apart. He has helped spread awareness against discrimination time and time again by embracing these young people’s uniqueness and allowing them to have an outlet to express themselves. His recent work includes a campaign in South Dakota with teen Braxton Shafer who was forced to leave high school for his hair.

Who is Jermaine Horton outside of your bio?

Jermaine is a passionate person that is dedicated to fatherhood and his fandom of his Chicago Bears, Bulls, and White Sox. Someone that came from humble beginnings to finally earning peace in his life. Laid back, silly at times but extremely driven.

Can you tell us more about the Art of Confidence Project?

The Art of Confidence Project started as my passion project that grew to become a non-profit so that I could help children of color restore their confidence and empower them. We have helped children that have been bullied, dealing with medical issues and deformities to children not allowed to graduate because of their locs or natural hair.

We have helped many children get to better schools in other states, others get scholarships, some as brand ambassadors and most importantly their confidence back.

What motivated you to become a photographer?

To be honest I became a photographer because I got tired of chasing a photographer to take my money and photograph my daughter. I went to best Buy and bought a camera and started studying on YouTube how to photograph. The rest has been history.

 

What would you say to someone looking to start photography but having second thoughts?

I would say get into it for the reasons you love … whether it’s to capture moments of family, a love of nature … whatever it may be, jump out there and give it a shot. The world always needs more creativity.

 

What does it mean to help spread awareness against discrimination, especially hair discrimination?

It truly means a great deal doing what I do. There are so many children taking their own lives these days because of lack of confidence and feeling like they don’t have a safe space. Many people tend to think that our mission is hair discrimination but it’s with any child that is battling not having the confidence to know their self-worth, or knowing they have support… but the most pressing issue has been schools and sports programs telling children they can’t graduate because of their locs, or length of their hair. Being able to partner with The Crown Act to help these amazing children has been everything and their support has been monumental.

 

What do you hope our readers gain from this interview?

I’m hoping people will look at what we do and support it. Whether it’s donating on our site, to sharing stories so others can be aware and help take action. The pain and injustice these children experience can be extremely emotional and have significant damage in the long run. I’m just trying to give back to the world with my talents and heart.

 

What are you looking forward to most in 2023?

I’m looking forward to doing personalized projects like ways to bring back our missing girls. Listed as runaways but many are taken and trafficked. Being a beacon of hope and light for my community means everything so in this Jordan year 2023, I plan on working hard to secure higher donations to continue the work we do and help even more amazing children throughout the US!

 

Photo Credits: Jermaine Horton