Kings, designers, freedom fighters: students of color reimagine their future

An art program is helping Milwaukee teens see themselves in their own light, rather than the narratives that surround them

Amir Williams pictured himself as an African king, supported by his family's ancestors. Miguel Rivera imagined holding a Rubik's cube, layered with infinite possibilities. DeMarcus Staples saw himself as a hero, confident and steady while saving lives.

The students, all 16, recently completed a year-long art program that helps students in Milwaukee explore their identity through video, photography and oral histories. The project, which is run by New York based non-profit Art Start, culminates with the youths staging a portrait that represents how they see themselves.