“Sacrifice the Weak” was a sign that a protestor held in Nashville while they demanded Nashville “re-open”, and the words cut me to my core. “The Weak” is referring to those of us that are in the category the CDC calls “High Risk” — those of us who are most likely to be killed if we contract COVID-19.
I am “High Risk”. You wouldn’t be able to tell by looking at me, but with my Type 1 Diabetes being an autoimmune disease, I find myself on the list of potential casualties. People of all ages and backgrounds fall into this group — and largely through no fault of their own.
The goal of this photo series is to share the faces and stories of those of us who some people are currently deeming “expendable”. You and I used to pass each other daily on the street, and you were unaware of anything that made us different. We are your friends, your family, members of your community, and most importantly, we are humans.
Everyday battles just to exist has been the “High Risk” way of life long before COVID-19 came around. These people are incredibly strong because of that — and to refer to them as “Weak” is simply ridiculous. We’re going to change that narrative.
I wanted to start this project because, more so than anything else, I felt tragically alone. After weeks of capturing portraits of friends and new friends, I have come to realize that I am far from alone. Despite these terrifying times of isolation, humanity is very much intact and thriving.
If you’re reading this and you’re a “High Risk Human,” or love someone who is, you are not alone. Empathy is not gone from this Earth, in fact, it’s abundant. So share these stories, share the love, and do your best to be excellent to each other.
Yours kindly,
Madison Thorn
P.S. – If you’re a fellow “High Risk Human” in the Nashville area and are interested in being a part of this series, please fill out this form and I will reach out to you ASAP:
https://forms.gle/iuHC394jdZy5kCLJ9
Your story is worth telling, and I’m here to listen.