Myles Loftin might not be a name that you know now, but you will. The 22 year old photographer and director hasn't even graduated The Parsons School with his BA yet, but he's been hired by heritage brands such as Adidas, Converse and Converse based on the success of his viral photography. 

He's made the Forbes 30 Under 30 list after gaining Internet notoriety over a photography project entitled 'HOODED' which explores the dangerous tropes around Black men and hoodies and, in fact, attempts to dismantle them. 

Loftin, who is an out gay man, credits his freedom in creativity to his upbringing in Prince George's County, Maryland which he describes as an "affluent Black community". He also reveals that his supportive parents helped him to solidify his identity and proudly pursue a creative career. They brought him his first camera, but most importantly, they accepted and loved him. 

Now, Loftin hopes that his work will be able to do that for others. 

His latest projects focus on breaking down the habitual effects that imagery can have on the collective consciousness. Loftin's site reads, "Society’s standards placed against black males need to be erased because they are extremely harmful and divisive. It contributes to the reason black males are targeted more by police, why we receive longer jail sentences than our white counterparts and the discrimination that we receive."

This Black History Month, we celebrate Loftin's success and his mission to uplift and support his community.