Now more than ever, the world is taking a stand against racism, Agora photographers included. The #StopRacism initiative was launched to give the Agora platform over those up to express themselves in this time and those who want to show support to the movement. 'I can't breathe' by Kenyan photographer @onyangodennis has been voted by the global community as the photo which best reflects the urgent need to #StopRacism.
With it being such an overwhelming time for many in racialized communities, photo app Agora postponed the launch of its #Smile2020 contest to launch the #StopRacism initiative and keep the crucial anti-racist momentum going. Because black lives matter every day, not just when it's trending.
Agora launched the #StopRacism initiative through its free-to-use mobile app on June 5th. Unlike the regular contests, the global community of photographers had only one week to participate and unite their points of view in this worldwide manifesto against racism. In total, 2,120 photos have been submitted from all corners of the world, and 48 were selected to make it to the final voting rounds. Thereafter, the Agora userbase had the power to cast their votes and pick the photo which best reflected the urgent need to #StopRacism.
What would usually be a $1000 prize for the most-voted finalist photo will be donated equally to Black Lives Matter, The Bail Project, NAACP, and @reclaimtheblock organizations.
Agora is a mobile app where photographers, whether amateur or professional, can participate in photo contests for a chance to win international recognition and cash prizes (from $1,000 to $25,000). The app’s global system enables its global audience to vote and pick the best images from each competition, making the process more inclusive and democratic than any other traditional photography contest.
"A massive thank you to everyone involved in this exceptional contest, photographers and voters alike - for using their voices to speak out against racial injustice and for supporting creators around the world. Together we support Humanity's talent regardless of race or all markers of identity and make a difference through photography. Racism has no place in our society. Power to the people worldwide," - Octavi Royo, Agora's CEO & Co-Founder.
More info: agoraimages.com
#1 Amigas
Location: Gijón, Spain
"My daughter met her best friend on her first day at school. Since then, they've been inseparable. Children aren't born racist, they are taught hate."
@mariafcabaleiro (Spain)
100points
#2 Black Lives Matter Demonstration
Location: Utrecht, Netherlands
@melaniemarsman (Netherlands)
83points
#3 The Human Race Is The Only Race That Should Exist
Location: Cape Coast, Ghana
"I wanted to show that despite our physical appearance or race, we can still love each other regardless... and that regardless of our genders, we can love freely."
@theblvckcreator (Ghana)
77points
#4 New Friend
Location: Rimini, Italy
"We came to the beach in the evening and saw a group of young people dancing to the music. My son Yegor was getting very curious, so one of the guys invited him to teach him how to dance. Yegor was so delighted to have made a new friend!"
@fonats (Ukraine)
76points
#5 On Ne Naît Pas Raciste, On Le Devient
Location: Rennes, France
"People aren't born racist. Racism is something that is learned. Educate your children from an early age about tolerance, respect for others, equality."
@cicikaro (France)
71points
#6 May It Be
Location: Cape Coast, Ghana
The idea was to send out a plea as a form of prayer from two souls from different ethnicities and cultures. We wanted to get the audience to feel the connection between two humans.
@thedallasexperience (Ghana)
62points
#7 Humans
Location: A Coruña, Spain
"Neither black nor white: we are humans."
@adelagarcia (Spain)
60points
#8 Winner: I Can't Breathe
Location: Dandora, Nairobi, Kenya
"Racism is the belief that a particular race is superior or inferior to another, that a person’s social and moral traits are predetermined by his or her inborn biological characteristics. It may be defined as the hatred of one person by another — or the belief that another person is less than human — because of skin color, language, customs, place of birth or any factor that supposedly reveals the basic nature of that person. It has influenced wars, slavery, the formation of nations, and legal codes. It needs to stop now: we all are humans, so let's show humanity."
@onyangodennis (Kenya)
58points
#9 Love Has No Borders
Location: Tours, France
"Here are my sister, her husband, and their beautiful son. It was such a pleasant shooting session with no pretense. I wanted to show the beauty of their mixed family."
@inthpeck (France)
56points
#10 Black Lives Matter
Location: Recife, Brazil
"I would like this photo to be shown to everyone as a promise that better days are ahead of us: I'm confident that future generations will be stronger than we are today. I asked Naldinho, the boy in the photo if he knew what did the raised fist symbolize, and he said no. I had the honor to explain to him that when we raise our fists in the air, this gesture symbolizes our fighting spirits in resistance and unity. I told him how important it was to raise his fist for the next generations of Blacks in Brazil, and that he never should bow his head to racism because Black Lives Matter."
@oronaldsantos (Brazil)
51points
#11 Allyship
Location: Ottawa, Canada
"Ottawa, as with many places, has seen unacceptable actions by police. My shots of this event sought to hide identities for protection, but here I wanted to convey that those of us who aren't black don't need to have our egos or identities proclaimed here. Thousands of us were there in support of the black community to show our leaders that this may be a minority affected, but this is not a minority value. This should not be surprising, but this was an entirely peaceful event with thousands in attendance and strong support for our black community. Nearly everyone I saw wore a mask to protect each other amid a pandemic."
@truthfunctional (Canada)
50points
#12 The Love We Give
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
"I wanted to convey a feeling of calmness and love."
@spaarts (Kenya)
48points
#13 Bond
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
"On a Monday evening, my brother, our neighbors, and I gathered to play football in my compound. After playing, I observed such a strong bond between my neighbors that it inspired me to pick up my camera to capture that moment."
@anjolawilliams27 (Nigeria)
42points
#14 Friendship
Location: Los Angeles, USA
"Two close friends, just after graduating high school. True friendships last through college and beyond..."
@maralypa (Greece)
42points
#15 When Cultures Come Together
Location: Leuven, Belgium
"Here's a Belgian mother, an Afghan father, and their newborn son. Despite their different cultural background, they express the same feelings for each other and their baby: tenderness & respect."
@knarfphoto (Belgium)
40points
#16 Stop Racism
Location: Kermanshah, Iran
"No race is superior or inferior to another. We're all the same."
@raminahmadinik (Iran)
38points
#17 Black Lives Matter
Location: Paris, France
"Thousands of people joined the banned protest over George Floyd's death in the US, Adama Traoré's death in France, racial injustice, and police violence."
@hyproziks (France)
36points
#18 One Humanity
Location: Egypt
@banudiker (Egypt)
36points
#19 Take-A-Knee
Location: Police Station, San Francisco, USA
@jassensf (USA)
34points
#20 Together We Are Stronger Than Ever
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
"We should unite because there is only one race, the human race."
@kevinochieng (Kenya)
34points