A Picture Paints Three Words:
Black Lives Matter
SF native Charleston Pierce taps into his skills as a fashion show producer and model to support BLM
By: Gail Goldberg
Sheltering in place has forced most of us to slow down, take a beat and reflect. This is certainly the case for Bayview resident Charleston Pierce, a go-getter of the highest order with his own business as a fashion show producer, talent scout, model coach and mentor. The idea to create a visual representation of Black America, as a way to stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter, came to him at the start of the pandemic. It was realized in August.
Feast your eyes on the powerful images of "Bay Area Models for Black Lives."
Shot at various locations in downtown Oakland, the photoshoot is a quintessential Charleston Pierce Presents production. The models are from the classes he teaches, the photographers and makeup artists are friends and colleagues, and the clothes were pulled from local, Black-owned stores (Proper Fashions and Oxford Way Tailored Men's Clothing).
No doubt, Bay Area Models for Black Lives is a child of the quarantine life. Pierce, also a model by trade, explains: "Sheltering immediately put the world on pause. I was forced to slow down and listen to the cries. We're all moving so fast that we never really make time to look at our neighbors. When I did, I was exposed to the pain and suffering of Black lives. I thought—I am Black in America, my life matters, what could I do to give a voice to the unheard? To the best of my ability, I am using my life and platforms to make the world a better place."
At its essence, the project is about expressing love and compassion to support the Black community. "I believe the final images show the exquisite beauty of Black lives through many shapes and shades. They depict Blackness as strength, excellence and unity," he says.
Logistically speaking, Pierce credits extreme preparation (plus prayer) for the ease with which the photoshoot came together. Of course, he had much help executing it. From the models and the behind-the-scenes team to the retailers, everyone involved was eager to participate and make her/his/their own unique contributions.
Along with running the show, literally and figuratively, Pierce was in the show. "It was important for me to be in the shoot as I wanted to showcase in a positive light that we are all united. In my position of leadership, it's imperative for me to be involved in my projects. It’s my way of giving a thumbs up," says Pierce.
What about the fashions themselves? Is there a method to Pierce's sartorial choices?
Obviously.
"I was extremely thoughtful about the fashions. Contrary to the macabre images we see in the media surrounding African American men and women, I wanted the clothes and the poses to exude peace, confidence and class. If there's going to be a change, it needs to start with us first—and how we see ourselves. I wanted to highlight our many hues with bursts of color, specifically for the women. The message behind their colorful fashions is that they are beautiful, hopeful, loving, bold, sunshine. They represent a celebration of life!," says Pierce.
As for dressing the "men in black," that, too, was a deliberate choice. "I wanted the world to see Black men from my eyes and experience…as strong, stable, sophisticated, non-threatening, non-violent, classy and excellent," he adds.
It took a quartet of photographers shooting at various downtown spots only a few hours to complete the entire shoot (see aforementioned preparation and prayer). Fun fact: the BLM street photos—some of the strongest of the bunch—were not part of the original shot list. They were born of a spontaneous suggestion from a photographer on the day of the shoot followed by some fierce, on-the-spot Charleston Pierce choreography. Can you say happy accident?
