Project

How many rivers do we have to cross?

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Driven by a personal need to confront the pressing realities of race and equality, I delve into historical research and set out on a journey across the U.S., particularly to regions of the Black Belt(1), where Black populations outnumber White ones. My goal was to connect unrelated events, people, and histories. My rule was to foster a deeper human connection without presenting my political views and to introduce myself everywhere, regardless of distance or atmosphere.
During the journey, I encountered a few rejections from white individuals because of my brown skin; however, living in rural white areas of the USA was something I had anticipated. Yet I was welcomed by Black communities who saw a shared history in my Indigenous features. These encounters led to powerful conversations and friendships. Photography became a bridge, and we exchanged stories, understood each other’s backgrounds, and shared moments of connection.

The stories I gathered revealed how capitalism continues to reinforce segregation and inequality. Even after emancipation in 1865, the wealthy—primarily white—elite have worked to keep Black communities marginalised and undereducated, widening the racial wealth gap. Meanwhile, U.S. state governments have actively erased Black history from school curricula, trying to obscure the struggles and horrors of the past.
As I continued my journey, I reviewed my images daily, learning from the events I witnessed and the people I met. Interestingly, the photographs embodied a duality, functioning both as a representational medium and a vessel for historical truth. While they construct a visual narrative shaped by perspective and context, they simultaneously bear the weight of historical memory, embedding layers of meaning that transcend mere representation.

The title of this project: How Many Rivers Do We Have to Cross? It is partly inspired by Bob Marley's words, who speaks to the long struggle for freedom, from the transatlantic slave trade to the present day. As I develop this project, I keep returning to the symbolism of water: it represents borders, immigration, separation, illusions, and danger. The history of the rivers, which played a crucial role during the plantation era, involved transporting cotton to ports for export to Europe. Those symbolisms and their histories mirror the ongoing fight for racial equality, which still demands time, effort, and resilience.

(1)As far as I can determine, the term was initially used to describe a region distinguished by the colour of its soil. This area, known for its thick, dark, and naturally rich earth, was home to plantations where enslaved people were most profitable. Over time, the term has evolved to refer to counties where Black populations outnumber white populations.

JORGE LUIS DIEGUEZ