Oakland native documents forgotten communities
on March 11, 2016
When Brittani Sensabaugh walks down the streets of East Oakland, she notices a combination of characteristics among those who live there—strength, struggles and power. It is those features she wants to capture in her photography.
Sensabaugh, better known as “Britt Sense,” is a documentarian whose project “222ForgottenCities,” is currently exhibiting in New York. Last month, it exhibited in Oakland, where the project began.
Through it, the young photographer showcases communities where people with “melanin,” as she puts it, live, to show that no matter where they are, they and their neighborhoods share many commonalities. She has already documented people in Oakland, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Watts in Los Angeles and Brownsville in New York.
Sensabaugh, recently named one of Teen Vogue’s “10 Amazing Black Women” who is “Changing the Game,” will next document New Orleans, before traveling to Africa this year.
Oakland North caught up with Sensabaugh in Oakland, after wrapping up an exhibit here and opening one up in New York last week.
Video by Angelica Casas and Brad Bailey, text written by Angelica Casas.
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- Brittani Sensabaugh’s “Forgotten Cities” project documents African American communities in cities around the country. Photo by Angelica Casas.
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- Brittani Sensabaugh’s “222ForgottenCities” project documents African American communities in cities around the country. Photo by Angelica Casas.
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Oakland North is an online news service produced by students at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism and covering Oakland, California. Our goals are to improve local coverage, innovate with digital media, and listen to you–about the issues that concern you and the reporting you’d like to see in your community. Please send news tips to: oaklandnorthstaff@gmail.com.
I was born in Oakland, my Daddy lived there, and I spent a lot of my teen years there. I love her capturing the beauty in everyday life.
Thank you for sharing this..