In 2014, Sarah Huny Young heard whispers from her eight-year-old self who used to produce photo shoots with friends. Heeding the call, Young exited her career in tech and left New York for Pittsburgh, a city with many arts grants.
Young applied for, and won, a grant with Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh. She immediately put on her photographer’s hat and tilted it hard to the left.
Pre- “Me Too”, Tarana Burke reached out to be in the project. Burke wanted to put a twist on iconic Breakfast at Tiffany’s imagery. Instead of Tiffany’s, they shot breakfast at Jimbo’s, a diner in Harlem. She kicked off the kitten heels for Timberlands and replaced Hepburn’s cigarette holder with a Black& Mild cigar. Young says, “We wanted to it to be mad Black, very New York, but also delicate and gorgeous; taking that power and possessing it, her way.”
To date, Young has photographed and video documented over 60 women for this series—all American, Black and unforgettable.
View more of Young’s series at americanwoman.co
