I have photographed and documented some of the most tragic places in our world. I have walked the beaches of Normandy, served in the worst slum areas of Brazil and Kenya, roamed the killing fields of Cambodia, crept through the jungles of Vietnam, and participated in tsunami relief in Thailand. All of these places carry with them a reminder of a tragic human condition. However, the Sudanese live in the worst human condition I have ever photographed.

The uncensored lens of a camera is able to speak out for those who can no longer speak for themselves. Images force us to deal with the reality of a moment in time. We cannot ignore the human beings who stare from the pictures and then dismiss the image as a ploy to push a political agenda. Images do not distract with abstract numbers; instead they force us to wrestle with the captured human condition. Sometimes images speak out with laughter or joy, sometimes they speak out with courage and strength, and at other times they cry out for help. As we interact with the photographs of the Sudanese, we are left with two choices: either we ignore the voices, thus returning them to their current condition, or we help restore the power of their voices, by choosing to do something.

    When I returned from my six weeks in Africa, I sat in the JFK airport and watched the news headlines filled with Anna Nicole Smith’s death and Britney Spears’ new tattoo. I was furious. Innocent people are starving and being slaughtered, and we muffle their cries for help with pop culture gossip. Endless political debate and mindless chatter may momentarily distract us, but I am confident that when one is forced to view the images of the Sudanese he or she will be moved to help.  All I can offer are my photographs, and I know that even though these images are unable to physically speak, they tell a story, and they will force the viewer to respond. I missed my connecting flight from New York to Charlotte, so I had an evening in the terminal to brainstorm how I would respond to what I witnessed in Sudan. I told myself,  “I must do something with these photographs,” and that something turned into this book. I pray that this book helps to restore a voice to the Sudanese by causing two things to happen: people will be informed and hearts will be provoked to reach out and help the Sudanese.   

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