Accidental College Graduation Photos

What makes this group of photos extra special was that I almost didn't have graduation photos. I was going to school full time AND student teaching, so I had no job. Abu's independent contracting business was in its infancy. We were living with my parents until I got my teaching license and hired somewhere. One thing my mother felt somewhat sad about was, in helping us out, my parents would not be able to afford graduation photos.

A few days before commencement, our African-American Studies advisor, Dr. Malachi Crawford, requested the graduating seniors to meet on campus to take group photos for the department. He also took a few individual shots of us. What I didn't expect? He emailed our photos to us.

And, they were AWESOME!

He told me his students, mostly Black and Latino (with a few working-class Whites and International students thousands of miles from home), are some of the most economically disadvantaged at the school. Many of their students were unable to pay for professional photos. This was a small gift to us from the department.

And, Ma got her wish!