On the Cover

Justin Case is the photographer behind our cover imagery. We talked a little about the design he chose for our black history issue.

What does this statue mean to you? 
When I look at the statue it reminds me that there is a lack of representation of African Americans’ contributions to RI and their tribulations. The slave population of Rhode Island was twice as high as any other New England colony, yet it is hardly acknowledged. 

What was the process of discovering it like? 

I have been in RI for 33 years. I used to use public transportation so I have seen the statue since I was in high school (the statue is located in Kennedy Plaza – ed.). There is a picture of me standing near the statue around that time floating around the internet somewhere. When Christopher Johnson asked me to be a part of this project, it was the first thing I thought of.

What is the significance of the colors on the cover?

They represent the three colors of the Pan-African flag, also known as the Afro-American flag. The red represents the blood of the people. The black represents the people. The green stands for the rich land. 

What inspires you in your work?

People. I love to capture people. I feel like my camera is a time capsule. I also love the reactions I get from my work. 

Where can readers see more of your work?
Iknowjustincase.smugmug.com and @iknowjustincase on Instagram