MORE THAN AN #IMMIGRANT

STARRING…
+ Lari

Producer, Model Coach, Artistic, Casting & Creative Director…
+ Justice Kwesi Kwarteng, BFA, MFA

Stylist…
+ Iman

Hair…
+ Paola F.

Makeup…
+ Diana M.

Photographer…
+ Leslie Van Stelten for I/A/C: THE MAGAZINE

I AM AN ATHLETE…//
+
A Daughter
+
A Sister //

BUT I AM MORE THAN AN immigrant. I AM AN ATHLETE, A DAUGHTER, A SISTER AND HUMAN.

YOU ASK ME TO GO BACK TO MEXICO AND I SAY I AM MORE THAN AN IMMIGRANT.

YOU REMIND ME I DON’T BELONG HERE AND I SAY I AM AN ATHLETE.

YOU SAY GO BACK TO FROM WHENCE I CAME FROM

AND

I REMIND YOU THAT I AM A DAUGHTER

AND

A SISTER

AND HUMAN—BECAUSE NO HUMAN IS ILLEGAL.

I AM HERE BECAUSE YOU ARE AND YOU ARE BECAUSE I AM .

I AM NOT YOUR FOE, I AM SIMPLY HUMAN.
I AM LARI AND I AM
MORE
THAN AN IMMIGRANT /

I am more than an immigrant in the land of immigrants and so the hate you give cannot break me and would not break me.

I belong as much as you do and vice versa; and vice versa.

I AM BECAUSE YOU ARE and you are because I am: I am not your foe /

I AM LARI and LARI is who I am:

- let love reign.

- let hate loose.

- let me alone be.

I AM MORE THAN-AN-IMMIGRANT //

— By Justice Kwesi Kwarteng, BFA, MFA: EIC & Founder of I/A/C for I AM COLLAGE: MAGAZINE

— Written: 2017 for a PSA Editorial Campaign for the brave LARI’s professional portfolio campaign

JUST KNOW the name.
Just remember the the name.

Because I exist to defy any labels + boxes //

You can call me LARI:
+ a daughter
+ a sister
+ a human-kind //

WORDS By…
+ Justice Kwesi Kwarteng, MFA

===

STARRING…
+ Lari //

Producer, Artistic + Creative Director…
+ Justice Kwesi Kwarteng, MFA

Stylist…
+ Iman

Hair…
+ Paola F.

Makeup…
+ Diana M.

Photographer…
+ Leslie Van Stelten for Collageiam + Collage Affluent

I AM A BEAUTIFUL CHILD OF GOD.
I am a most Loved Daughter.
I am
I
am //

I AM A …
+
An Athlete
+
A Sister //

STARRING…

+ Lari //

Producer, Artistic + Creative Director…

+ Justice Kwesi Kwarteng, MFA

Stylist…

+ Iman

Hair…

+ Paola F.

Makeup…

+ Diana M.

Photographer…

+ Leslie Van Stelten for Collageiam + Collage Affluent