CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – A year after the nationwide protests following the death of George Floyd, images of those moments in history are still alive today. But through these photos, one photographer hopes it will continue to spark action for even more social justice.

Go back to the same time last year and E. Mackey recalls being filled with emotion and a desire to do something about it.

“Just devastated – overwhelmed,” Mackey said. “How could I make a difference – and I realized I had my camera and just went out and documented.”

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His initial plan to go to Minneapolis and photograph the Black Lives Matter protests for a few days quickly grew into something much more. The work of his photographic activism quickly caught the attention of strangers willing to donate thousands of dollars to the cause. It was an opportunity that allowed Mackey to spend the next three months traveling across the country documenting the BLM movement in 11 different cities.

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“I thought I would stay on the road until I ran out of money, but I never ran out of money because people kept giving,” Mackey said.

He adds that his inspiration comes from Gordon Parks, who once said his camera was his weapon. It’s that same idea that hopes Mackey inspires others to find their weapon as well.

“Every day people can choose whatever they have at their disposal as a weapon against injustice,” he said.

The “Choose Your Weapon” exhibit will open at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts and Culture on Friday, June 4 and will remain on display until early October.

Contact Briana Harper at bharper@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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