Critical Exposure

Gentrification is a problem, and its goal is to erase Black culture.

Meet Sanai M., an 11th grader from DC, who captured this powerful moment through their lens as part of Critical Exposure’s Stories for Action, Spring 2026 program:

“UNTITLED”

“This photograph is a depiction of gentrification. Gentrification is a rapidly growing problem in Washington DC that displaces Black people from their homes (likely for many generations). I took this picture close to Benning Road station. Gentrification pours money from the taxes being taken from the inhabitants into building new, modernized homes or something useless. This spends people’s tax dollars. They should be attempting to fix the community like potholes, old homes, rugged fields, etc., versus erasing the original version and building on top. Gentrification leads to the erasure of Black DC culture and communities. Gentrification is helpful, but for who? If the goal was to help the city be better, then they’d do more for the Black community of DC. Especially since we are the original inhabitants, creating chocolate city.”

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At Critical Exposure, we believe DC youth deserve the tools to document their world, raise their voices, and spark real change. Photography is that tool. Students like Sanai are proof of what’s possible when young people are given the space to create.

📸 Follow along as our students share their DC, one frame at a time.

One…Two…Three…Shoot

“Sometimes, all it takes is a simple game to turn strangers into a community.

What appeared to be a simple game of rock, paper, scissors became the first step towards building a community. As youth laughed, competed, and encouraged one another, barriers began to disappear. Through Critical Exposure, we learned that meaningful storytelling starts with connection, and before we could document our communities. We first had to build one together.” - Saniyah M., Age 18, SYFI 2026 Documentarian

Documentarians hard at work on shotlisting for their Ida exhibit 💜🧡 oh, and zoom in, so you can see the Ida B. Wells quote 😉

See you June 16th, at the Ice Cream For Ida social 📍Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams