“Men of color are human, like everyone else. We experience the full spectrum of emotions. We come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and personalities. We feel, hurt, love, and smile, too. And here’s a new campaign that proves it.” – Keith, creator of The Pillow Talk Project
Have you ever thought about how powerful the messages are that we receive on a daily basis? TV, social media, magazines, even advertisements bombard us with ideals and beliefs that ultimately shape how we see the world around us, and even feel about ourselves. This has never been more true for men of color.
Rarely represented, when we do grace the screen or airwaves, we’re stuffed into a box that either reads sex symbol, athlete, and/or brute. There’s no mention of our character. Our personalities. How we feel. That we care. That we love.
But there’s an important truth I want the world to realize: men of color are human, like everyone else. We experience the full spectrum of emotions. We come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and personalities. Our talents include, but aren’t limited to, sports, business, and the arts. We feel, hurt, love, and smile, too.
Instead of waiting for the world to catch up, I’ve partnered with New York City photographer Gioncarlo Valentine to produce a campaign that pushes us all to see men of color for who we really are, instead of the limited, convenient, stereotypes.
World, meet #WESMILETOO, a social media marketing campaign, showcasing the beauty, joy, camaraderie, and unity of men of color. Here, you’ll find breathtaking photography and firsthand reflections of why these men think it’s so important for the world to realize men of color are more than the stereotypes that portray us. It’s time the world realizes that men of color smile, too.
Below is a peek at some of the photos of the campaign for your viewing pleasure. For the full experience, including awesome images and quotes, check out the campaign page.
In 2019, Keith F. Miller, Jr., observed something remarkable while running creative writing after school programs in Savannah, GA: Students from all backgrounds didn’t just step outside their comfort zones—they learned, led, and thrived with unmistakable joy. Despite this, Keith heard from students and families that school, even for the high-achievers, was a place they survived, not thrived. This led Keith, through his studies in Educational Psychology, to explore why young people felt empowered to learn, lead, and heal in some spaces but not in others.
Through a qualitative research study involving interviews with high schoolers, fellow teaching artists over a year, in addition to examining creative works from youth journals and performances, Keith found that when young people engage in arts-based healing practices with trusted others (peers and adults), they don’t just cope with their struggles—they transform them, becoming vibrant leaders in the process.
Drawing inspiration from the process of rainbow formation—reflection, refraction, and dispersion—and building off of groundbreaking research from scholars like David Kirkland, Gholdy Muhammad, Bettina Love, Bianca Baldridge, and Shawn Ginwright, Keith developed the Healing Literacy Framework, illustrating how arts-based, community programs are vital in supporting young people as they overcome educational trauma, and, in doing so, can result in transformative partnerships in school and beyond that prove healing is possible for everyone.
Enter, HEALIT
In 2019, Keith F. Miller, Jr., observed something remarkable while running creative writing after school programs in Savannah, GA: Students from all backgrounds didn’t just step outside their comfort zones—they learned, led, and thrived with unmistakable joy. Despite this, Keith heard from students and families that school, even for the high-achievers, was a place they survived, not thrived. This led Keith, through his studies in Educational Psychology, to explore why young people felt empowered to learn, lead, and heal in some spaces but not in others.
Through a qualitative research study involving interviews with high schoolers, fellow teaching artists over a year, in addition to examining creative works from youth journals and performances, Keith found that when young people engage in arts-based healing practices with trusted others (peers and adults), they don’t just cope with their struggles—they transform them, becoming vibrant leaders in the process.
Drawing inspiration from the process of rainbow formation—reflection, refraction, and dispersion—and building off of groundbreaking research from scholars like David Kirkland, Gholdy Muhammad, Bettina Love, Bianca Baldridge, and Shawn Ginwright, Keith developed the Healing Literacy Framework, illustrating how arts-based, community programs are vital in supporting young people as they overcome educational trauma, and, in doing so, can result in transformative partnerships in school and beyond that prove healing is possible for everyone.
Keith F. Miller, Jr.
