2026 SPE Annual Conference: Catalyst for Exchange
Looking for a chapter event?
Past SPE Annual Conferences
exhibitions
Midwest Chapter Conference Schedule
print this pagePhotography to challenge the negative narrative of Africa
Vlademir Rodrigues
Friday, October 10 - 2:00PM to 2:35PM
College for Creative Studies
Popular narratives, perpetuated by global media coverage of the African continent, portray Africa as the most underdeveloped continent in the world. These depictions flatten the African experience into an oversimplified story to fit the comfort of Western society. My goal as a photographer is to use the project Movement Positive Africa to challenge these biases, which have real economic impacts on African nations and their citizens. My presentation invites viewers to reflect on the impact of photography as a tool of colonialism and how young African photographers have been using the same tool to confronting those negative narratives by highlighting a positive view of the African continent—one that celebrates its diverse cultures while raising questions about African identity, the Right to Opacity, and the exploitation of the Black body and identity.
This visual approach removes Black skin from portraits and street scenes, overlaying them with vibrant, colourful collages. This technique invites viewers to reflect on African identity and the concept of the "right to opacity"—a term coined by philosopher Édouard Glissant, which defends the unknowability and depth of the Black experience beyond simplistic representation.
The photographs are accompanied by Rodrigues's poem By Removing the Skin Colour, as well as quotes from influential thinkers such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Glissant. Together, the visual and textual elements challenge viewers to confront the historical and ongoing exploitation of Black bodies and to rethink dominant narratives around race, visibility, and representation.
speaker
Vlademir Rodrigues
About
- Board Reports, Letters, and Minutes
- History
- Staff
- Board Members
- Board Committees
- Board Elections
- SPE Code of Conduct
- Caucuses
Join
Members
Annual Conference
- About the Conference
- Overview
- Speakers
- Schedule
- Registration
- Volunteer
- Sponsors
- Exhibit
- Anti-Harassment Policy
- Hotel & Travel
- Location + Travel
- Hotel
- Schedule of Events
- Schedule
News & Events
Chapters
Exposure Journal
About this piece
Comments about this piece
Dialogue and critique are important to the SPE mission.
Please join the conversation.