Religious Sign Series - Springfield, TN find…
Sign found in Springfield, TN - Photograph taken by photographer Ricky Davis of TRD Photography on Kodak Tri X Film
As I’ve posted about previously I’ve been working on a religious sign series since last year. I stop at various signs I come across while traveling and take the photos in hopes that stopping and looking at how some of these come across, we think about the way we go about things.
I can’t remember if I took this shot early this year or late last year. I was up in Nashville and was out exploring. I was eating at Taco John’s in White House, TN and saw some signs about some antique stores in Springfield, TN, so I decided to go check them out. As I was driving over there I drove past a church that had this giant cross and signs about abortion out front. To be honest it kind of shocked me. Just the wording and terminology used. I had cars behind me and wasn’t able to pull over then and I wanted to kind of digest it a little bit to be honest. I took the photo on the way back from Springfield. As I did, apparently the church had a school or day care and I was being passed by carloads of young kids and families as I was taking this photo.
This sign I’ve been wondering ever since what to say about it. It’s not the typical bizarre religious sign. It’s definitely not one of the funny ones that makes you roll your eyes. A little about me, I grew up in a strict religious GOP home. As a kid I constantly heard religious radio talk show hosts talking about the horrors of abortion and it being made that basically people are out having unprotected sex and then just using abortions to get rid of the results of their behavior. Do I personally like the idea of babies being aborted? I don’t because I believe life is valuable HOWEVER abortion is way more complex than what is brainwashed in the Christian republican community. There is so many aspects of women’s health, rape, incest, and other issues that come into play. It’s very rarely I believe used as just a “get out of a kid free card” that we were taught to believe.
This sign really bothers me because I think of the women who pass it and may have had an abortion at one time. It already takes a mental toll and I know people whom have felt so ashamed because of what they are taught in Christian churches. Using such language as executed and such and then later seeing that many kids pass by this everyday. It just kind of hit me. I think it’s so incredibly important to think about the way we affect people with our words.
Native American Portrait Series - Aspen Yahola - TRD Photography
Native American Portrait Series - Aspen Yahola - TRD Photography
Native American Portrait Series - Aspen Yahola
I met this amazing young lady at the Mt. Juliet Pow Wow this year. It's so inspiring when you see the younger generation taking pride in the heritage and culture.
Ricky - What nation do you belong to?
Aspen - Mvskoke (Muscogee) Creek Nation
Ricky - Growing up in this society, have you had any challenges because of your culture?
Aspen - Yes, especially at school.
Ricky - How long have you been dancing? What style of dance do you do?
Aspen - I have been dancing since I was 4 years old. The style of dance I do is the jingle dress dance.
Ricky - What's does dancing mean to you personally?
Aspen - Dancing is my happy place. I love to go out to Powwows and dance also because I can share my culture.
Native American Portrait Series - Aspen Yahola - TRD Photography
Ricky - What is it like growing up and trying to stay true to your culture and fit into your surroundings?
Aspen - Growing up hasn’t been the best for me especially in the society we live in today. I get picked on and made fun of daily and get bullied all the time. Yet, I make sure it doesn’t get to me because I want to stay true and stay with my culture and my family proud. I also want to be part of the generation that stands out and brings people together and let everyone know that us Native Americans are still here.
Ricky - How important is connecting to your culture to you?
Aspen - Very important. I want to show that I am who I am and be proud of it!
Ricky - What needs to happen in our country for better relations between First Nations people, and mainstream America?
Aspen - What needs to happen is for people not to be racist and for people to be nice to each other.
Ricky - What would you like to see in 10 years that has happened to better those relations?
Aspen - In 10 years I want to see the world a better place and for us as Native Americans to be safe again and not have people invade our reservations and for us all to have fun and for people not to bully and make fun of Natives as little kids and I want everyone to be the true them!
Native American Portrait Series - Aspen Yahola - TRD Photography
I want to give a special thank you to Cindy Yahola, Aspen's mom, for allowing her to be part of this series. I sent Aspen's questions to her through Cindy and she answered them. Cindy is the organizer for the Mt. Juliet Pow Wow which allowed me to come up and setup a spot to do the Native American Portrait Series this year. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity!