Milwaukee photographer taking 1,000 pictures of Black people to promote solidarity for Juneteenth

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A local photographer is using his gift to capture the beauty of Black people.

He’s created a unique campaign featuring faces in the Milwaukee-area.

As outrage continues to build over police brutality against the Black community, Terrance Sims said he wanted to find a way to help bring people together, starting on social media.

With a click of his camera, Sims is capturing a moment in Black life.

“I want to just spread some happiness and love amidst everything that’s going," Sims said.

Each picture, a powerful bond between the living and the dead.

“And on the side you’ll see people from the Black community who’ve lost their lives to unfortunate events, whether it be police brutality or racism that went far, far left," he added.

Sims’ goal is to take 1,000 pictures for people to post on social media on Juneteenth.

The day, which falls on Friday, June 19 this year, is the celebration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

“Taking Juneteenth, a holiday for, by, and about Black people, and taking the opportunity to connect it to historical roots to the current movement is an opportunity we shouldn’t ever pass up," explained Dr. Monique Liston, chief strategist of Ubuntu Research & Evaluation.

“I just think it’s so much beauty in our culture, from newborn all the way up to the last few steps of your life," Sims said.

Though he is launching this campaign on social media, he sees it going far beyond online.

And as he pays homage to all Black lives, he said there is power is melanin.

“It doesn’t matter what aspect of Black you affiliate with your life matters," he said.

Sims is taking photographs for this campaign completely free of charge.

If you’d like to get your own, he’s having an open house on Tuesday, June 16, at Skybox Sports Bar from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

To contact Sims, you can message him on Facebook.