MC1R: Photographer captures the beauty of redheads of colour
For whatever reason, many have strong reactions towards red-haired people. In 2005, an episode of “South Park” caused a controversy when kids at Wingfield Academy in Yorkshire were inspired to create “Kick a Ginger Day,” an event that was later pegged as discrimination based on hair colour. This week, the city of Cork, Ireland is hosting the annual Irish Redhead Convention, self-described as “a festival of ginger loving madness and a celebration of all things to do with having fabulous red hair.”
But when most people think of redheads, they think of caucasians.
Looking to highlight a different category of ginger, U.K.-based photographer Michelle Marshall created a photo series of subjects from mixed race background who had red hair. She named the project MC1R, which stands for melanocortin 1 receptor – one of the key proteins involved in creating red hair colour and freckles. The result is something both unusual and unique.
“To make sense of what’s around us we put people in boxes—it’s a natural reflex and is not intended in a malicious way,” Marshall tells Vice. “I’m hoping that with these pictures that reflex changes a bit.”
Check out some of Marshall’s images from MC1R above.
Instagram/iammichellemarshall
Instagram/iammichellemarshall
Instagram/iammichellemarshall
Instagram/iammichellemarshall
Instagram/iammichellemarshall
Instagram/iammichellemarshall
