Marcus Miles has been taking photos since high school. He got his first paying gig shooting an Urban League of Greater Madison annual banquet in the 1990s and has been shooting ever since. In addition to weddings and senior photos, he also shoots community events and leaders, civil rights leaders and celebrities.
Rank your top five MCs. Well when you talk about MCs you can’t forget the DJ et al., so as follows…
- J. Dilla
- Phonte (Little Brother/Foreign Exchange)
- Q-Tip (TCQ/Q-Tip)
- King Britt
- DJ Quick
Which motivates you more: doubters or supporters? In terms of setting my own goals and challenges and pursuing my passion, I’d have to say I am self-motivated. But if I were to consider external motivators, I would have to say supporters because positive energy is infectious! Doubters/haters will come and go, they’ll even hate on you for the very fact that you ARE doing good, so they don’t play a role in my world so much. But supporters, those who feel your good energy and share that collaborative spirit and know that it is coming from a good place? That’s what really energizes and motivates me!
What does it mean to be black in Madison? It means, going to Warner Park for Rhythm and Booms as a teen and being called a nigger by someone I never met, nor had any beef with, solely based on how I looked. That is a stain in my memory that remains with me to this day.
It means once upon a time having to search far and wide and being willing to travel the entire weekend just to find venues and entertainment that spoke to your culture, music and art.
It means having that “talk” with your sons and daughters and explaining to them the way things are and the alternate reality that we as black people have to live and operate in.
For me, it also means seeing the city go from zero, and I mean absolute zero racial diversity, i.e getting fired up when you saw that one other brother on the street lack of racial diversity; to seeing the diversity we have now in business, culture, art, entrepreneurship, political leadership and entertainment. There are a number of things we can celebrate being black in Madison, also.
What three leaders in Madison under 50 have impressed you the most? There are so many, but three under 50…
Nia Trammel
Sabrina Madison
Lisa Caire
Because their unassuming excellence is so interwoven with their compassion and personalities you can’t help but admire that.
Then there are different types of leaders, in innovation, entrepreneurship, business, community, social justice.
And since Kaleem Caire, Michael Johnson, Dr. Nestor Rodriquez, Andre Johnson, Mayra Madrano, Annette Miller, Fabiola Hamdan, Corinda-Rainey Moore, my neighbor and official South Side hype man; Hedi Rudd, Lilada Gee, Mark Richardson, David Dahmer, Will Green, Karen Menendez Coller, Shiva Bidar, Henry Sanders Jr., Alison Helland, Brandi Grayson, Leslie Orrantia, and Jessica Cavazos are all way over 50 I can’t count them.
What’s the biggest stumbling block in Madison to turning the corner on our racial disparities? Complacency, believing that because you have carved out a relatively comfortable life, or enjoy healthy relationships with Madison’s influentials, that things are not so bad from a racial and social economic standpoint. I have lived in Madison for over 35 years, and I see that there exists a false sense of progress and change simply because we discuss the problems. We do that a lot. I feel there is a need to take people a lot more outside of their comfort zones within the current dialog (even our friends), and back that up with specific action steps and accountability to see a marked change at this point. For some, it means having first to admit there is a problem despite the illusion of imperturbability and that self-examination and introspection are not a vulnerability or something to resist or feel defensive about.
I like the many places and spaces in which we are having true dialogue about equity and I think they are one facet of the type of things that have to happen also in all areas, workplace, justice system, law enforcement, education and other areas. But along with fundamental efforts as this, real accountability in whatever form that takes has to be acquiesced by our governmental authorities and all parties.
I think Madison’s “leadership” of color is at a point of hybridization or crossroads. I appreciate and have respect for the established leadership that has been at the vanguard and on the front lines for many years, but I am also excited to see new leadership and alternative approaches to these long-standing problems. I would love to somehow see an effective melding of the two if possible as we push forward.
And, of course, infighting, competing priorities, egos and competition for financial resources/benefactors etc. So much momentum, effective people and good energy is lost on that.
What are your top three priorities at this point in your life?
Spirituality
Family and Relationships
Entrepreneurship
You attended the all black men photo shoot hosted by Kaleem Caire and you also attended the inBusiness Black in Business photo shoot hosted by Sabrina “HeyMiss Progress” Madison. What would you want people to know about both events?
In terms of the Black in Business photo shoot, I would want people to know that in Madison there is a plethora of black talented, professionals, who are hardworking and creative entrepreneurs in every field and that are on par with any of their peers in the dominant society, and you should patronize them!
Obviously, I love connecting people, I do it all the time, whether non-profit, cross-culturally, community or business. I want to see others do well and our community thrives by working together. I really mean that.
Along with that, it is also important to build Black Economic Wealth which is in direct correlation to having the power to influence significant quality of life decisions, and I’m talking about political power. Who we elect, can directly relate to where we live, how our businesses operate, the schools our children go to. That’s just how it is, and we as black people I think for the most part have been left out of that power dynamic of the political process because of the corresponding disparity of economic power.
Government and the programs that benefit those without affluence that exist simply for altruistic reasons or because it’s the right thing to do, are slowly going away.
In regards to the Black Male Photo shoot, I respect Kaleem Caire for many reasons, and one of the goals with the shoot is to support One City Early Learning’s “Ready by 5” campaign. The turnout and support for this event were overwhelming and we have had hundreds of orders coming in for the calendars (which we are working on the layout this week), which will support that effort.
For me personally I think it is incredibly important for people to understand that there are so many good hard working Black men, professionals, and nonprofessionals who are single fathers, uncles, brothers, that are quietly handling their business and going about taking care of their families. I wanted to help portray these men in a positive light and help dispel many of the negative stereotypes of black men, particularly as fathers. I mean a lot of brothers have to navigate quite frankly a Family Court system and a society that is not very friendly to dads who insist on being a positive influence part of their children’s lives. For some, the deck is stacked against them. Yet despite the indignities, biases, and various institutional obstacles, still fight to be a healthy and essential part of their children’s lives, that’s what’s up. So I felt very humbled and grateful to be part of that message and this is something I’d like to help some understand.
Why did you decide to start your business, Marcus Miles Photography? Because IT IS MY PASSION, I love it. Photography is definitely an extension of my extrovert personality, One or two people might not get it, or think it’s fake, that’s their issue, but the ones that do I really enjoy having as clients and creative collaborative partners and it shows in the work.
My father also worked in the Forensic Lab of the Chicago Police Department, and at home he was always taking photos of our family. He had the dark room and everything set up at home, so I have to say I got my love of photography from my dad. One stark memory I have of my dad and photography is during the 1968 riots in Chicago and Mayor Daley’s shoot-to-kill order was in effect at the time. I remember my father taking a picture of an Illinois National Guardsman on a tank, and the soldier drawing down on my father until he realized it was a camera. It was a crazy time for a kid with military vehicles rollin’ down your street and I was too young to realize how in that infinitesimal moment my life could have been so different.
I’ve been taking community pictures in Madison for many years. I started with the Urban League of Greater Madison under then President and CEO Johnny Mickler. I worked very closely for some time with the Urban League of Greater Madison and then NAACP, The Charles Hamilton Houston Institute, 100 Black Men of Madison, Inc., and it just expanded to other communities and organizations from there. I took a break for a few years raising my first child, then digital photography became more or less affordable and I was back in the game. In my photo career, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and photograph some celebrities and civil rights giants such as Oscar Palmer Robertson (The Big O), Kweisi Mfume, former President/CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Ben Jealous, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Myrlie Louise Evers author, Civil Rights activist and widow of Medgar Evers, Ed Gordon of B.E.T. (Google it), Dr. Julianne Malveaux, Julian Bond, actor Richard Roundtree, Gregory Alan Williams of Baywatch fame and numerous state and local officials. When I retire maybe I’ll put together a coffee table book, but, alas, I have no photos with any of those notables as I am behind the camera always and getting the shot is my first priority. But I treasure the insightful conversations and memories that I have.
My kids are older now and I can now spend more time in the community, growing my business and pursuing my passion. I also want my children to appreciate that money comes from hard work and understand where and how mom and dad get that money. So I have always involved them in the business to hopefully pass on a desire for them having their own business one day. And with 3 kids, one in college, of course, a little extra cash is good also. So, that’s why I started Marcus Miles Photography.
What three tips would you give someone who wanted to become and entrepreneur?
- Be willing to really, really, really, really work hard.
- Be creative. Find your niche or brand and run with it.
- Do something that you naturally enjoy or that is an extension of yourself, not just to make money. Your enthusiasm will last longer, you’ll enjoy it more AND you’ll make money.
With all the data about Madison not being a good place to live in Madison for Blacks, why are you still in Madison? My children are rooted here. They’re at the center of my world, so I am here for now. And also as I said before there are things to celebrate here Madison if you have as long a perspective as I do.
I for one also enjoy the community spirit, giving of oneself, the collaboration and mutual support between the different communities, that’s my thing. People are so committed to and act on their beliefs here; I don’t think I have found that in too many other cities.
In addition, everything is local and so laid back, you can see the Mayor, County Exec. Governor anywhere and it’s no big deal. In Chicago where I grew up, you only saw people in those positions on TV, granted I was young but City Hall was this building far away, and the Capitol Building? To this day I have never been there (Springfield, Illinois). There is at least more access to decision makers for regular people, what happens or should happen with that access is a different conversation.
You are respected in the Latino Community and the black community. What two things can we do to get both communities together more? Wow. Look for business opportunities. Business is universal, man, everyone speaks that language. I mean the community connection is wonderful, I love it! Look for ways to cross-promote and support each other, build partnerships whether for business or from a nonprofit or community standpoint, but whatever the connection, do it for the right reasons, and from your heart, to help others, and the rest will take care of itself. There will be some knuckleheads, of course, but whatever. “Never surrender your hopes and dreams to the fateful limitations others have placed on their own lives.: I don’t know who said this but I like the flow.
Prince or Michael Jackson? Definitely Prince, can’t say enough good about that brother. Although I have come to appreciate MJ more for his breaking down some racial barriers in popular music and the audience it reaches. Also his dedication to his craft, and learning just how much of a professional he was, you should check out Spike Lee’s “Michael Jackson’s Journey From Motown to Off the Wall documentary.”
