Rashod Taylor

Photographer

NatGeo: Old-fashioned images Evoke the complicated history of Black military service

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Location: Springfield, MO

Nationality: American

Biography: Rashod Taylor attended Murray State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in art with a specialization in Fine Art Photography in 2007. Taylor favors traditional and lost format practice of photography silver prints and wet plate... MORE

November 19, 2020 Staff Sergean...he 48th bergaide as a mechanic.

November 19, 2020 Staff Sergeant Vanessa Lewis WIlliams for the Georgia Army National Guard sits under a tree for a tintype portrait at the Georgia Army National Guard Readiness Center in Macon, GA. She is part of the 48th bergaide as a mechanic.

November 18, 2020 A tintype ima...y of Ernest and Modester Lewis.

November 18, 2020 A tintype image of a tire swing on the property of Ernest and Modester Lewis.

November 19, 2020 Staff Sergeant Vanessa Lewis WIlliams of the Georgia Army National Guard sits for a tintype portrait at the Georgia Army National Guard Readiness Center in Macon, GA. She is part of the 48th bergaide as a mechanic.

November 17, 2020 A tintype ima...in World War II is buried here.

November 17, 2020 A tintype image of the Marietta National Cemetary. Army Veteran Sgt. Lecky Taylor who served in World War II is buried here.

November 18, 2020 A tintype ima...s and great grandfathers rifle.

November 18, 2020 A tintype image of Army Combat Veteran Valerie E. Lewis on her families property holding her granfather's and great grandfathers rifle.

November 21, 2020 pictured from...n Thomas Kelsey III all served.

November 21, 2020 pictured from left to right Eric B. Kelsey jr. and his sister Ania N. Kelsey sit for a tintype portrait with their father's military hats at the home of their grandparents Ernest and Modester Lewis. Their father Navy Combat Veteran Eric B. Kelsey comes from a military family as his father Retired Army Combat Veteran Thomas Kelsey jr. and brother Navy Combat Veteran Thomas Kelsey III all served.

November 17, 2020 Army Combat V...litary just as I was."

November 17, 2020 Army Combat Veteran Valerie E. Lewis sits at the gravesite of her Great Uncle, Army Veteran Sgt. Lecky Taylor who served in World War II. Lecky Taylor was Valerie's mothers uncle. Lewis says "I was overcome with a sense of pride when my graddaddy (Shelly Taylor) told me about uncle Lecky. He had always told me how proud he was of me, but it wasnt until after my deployments when grandaddy and I were talking on his last trip to Georgia that i truly found out how proud and why. The reason why was because uncle Lecky was a medic in the military just as I was."

November 16, 2020. Griffin, GA....ungest daughter Melissa Kelsey.

November 16, 2020. Griffin, GA. This is the front driveway of Ernest and Modester Lewis. Their family is being photographed for a project documenting black military families in the USA. While Ernest or Modester Lewis did not serve in the military two of their children served (Army Combat Veteran Valerie E. Lewis and Georgia Army National Guard Staff Sgt Vanessa Lewis Williams) Their son-In-law Navy Combat Veteran Eric B. Kelsey served in the Navy. He is married to their youngest daughter Melissa Kelsey.

November 19, 2020 Staff Sergeant Vanessa Lewis WIlliams of the Georgia Army National Guard sits for a close up tintype portrait at the Georgia Army National Guard Readiness Center in Macon, GA. She is part of the 48th bergaide as a mechanic.

November 21, 2020 Pictured Erne...20 years then retire."

November 21, 2020 Pictured Ernest Lewis his wife Modester Lewis daughter Army Combat Veteran Valerie E. Lewis sit for a tintype portrait at their home in Griffin, GA. Valerie says "My time in service was quite stressful on my parents due primarly to my combat deployments. My dad coped better than my mother. My dad also seemd to have a sense of pride in me, because he had wanted to go into the military and be a lifer and do 20 years then retire."

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Public Story

NatGeo: Old-fashioned images Evoke the complicated history of Black military service

Copyright Rashod Taylor 2024

Updated Jun 2022

Location Griffin, GA

Topics Media

Summary

For Black Americans, the military can offer opportunities and the chance to serve but a legacy of inequality remains. Photographed for National Geographic online. Another version of this story appears in the February 2022 issue of National Geographic magazine.