“AMERICA, AGAIN” | CHAPTER 3: AMERICAN DREAMS

“America, Again” is a year-long project by the photographers of VII, an exploration of some of the most important issues facing American voters as they head to the polls on November 3rd. This is Chapter 3: American Dreams, which includes an essay by author John Edwin Mason.

This chapter includes six photo stories by VII’s Ed Kashi, Christopher Lee, Maggie Steber, and guest photographers Endia Beal, Zun Lee, and Griselda San Martin.

Excerpted Introduction by John Edwin Mason.

“‘America, Again’ comes along at a difficult moment in our history. The essential divide is between those who desire a more open and expansive American democracy and those who defend an older, narrower vision. It’s a story that goes back a long way. Perhaps it starts with Thomas Jefferson, the slave owner who proclaimed, in his draft of the Declaration of Independence, that “all men are created equal… [and] from that equal creation they derive rights… among which are the preservation of life, liberty, & the pursuit of happiness.” He didn’t want to be taken literally. Rights, liberty, and equality were not for the enslaved people to whom he owed his wealth and status. Nor were they for Native Americans, on whose land he built his plantation, or for women of any color. They were not even for poor white men. Jefferson’s Virginia, like the new nation as a whole, was largely the preserve of a white male elite.”

View “America, Again” | Chapter 3: AMERICAN DREAMS here

“BOXING IS BADASS…AND IT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE”

Photographs and text by Ed Kashi

Mike Steadman, originally from Texas, founded IRONBOUND Boxing in Newark, New Jersey in 2016. Steadman is a former Marine Corps Infantry Officer, with deployments to Afghanistan, Japan, and the Philippines. An impressive boxer, he is a three-time National Collegiate Boxing Champion from the United States Naval Academy.

When he opened IRONBOUND Boxing, the intention was to bring much-needed support to local inner-city youth, specifically in Newark, New Jersey. His vision expands beyond the physical practice of boxing, working with both male and female youth, which in Newark means African Americans, LatinX and a large immigrant population. The Academy harnesses real-life discipline and communication skills, building a community of individuals with confidence in their own unique strengths. Steadman’s mission for the Academy is to spread love, passion, and appreciation for boxing within both larger companies and organizations as well as low-income communities. The humble beginnings of the Academy began with original boxing equipment donated by fellow veterans and Naval Academy classmates.

Watch the film FIGHTING CHANCE 

His introduction to boxing began in Annapolis after his mother suffered a stroke, offering him a way to channel his emotions and find his sense of purpose after serving in the Marines. Steadman is inspired to flip the script on the commonly held veteran narrative emphasizing PTSD in those who have returned from serving. This informs his desire to challenge the belittlingly low expectations he sees towards young men of color from Newark. Steadman believes in the power of community and unwavering support, which translates to the ethos of his academy and is embodied in his approach to his students. Inside the facility, the wall graffiti features inspiring quotes from Toni Morrison and Mark Twain.

Steadman became involved with St. Benedict’s Prep, where many of his boxing students attend, as the overseer of a residence hall. The renowned Newark high school has a 91% nonwhite student body with nearly 100% graduation rates, surpassing the citywide rate of 73.5%. In 2018, he left that position to start his own company and is now traversing the stressful and new reality of being a young entrepreneur in the New York, New Jersey area. Steadman now coaches some of his academy youth to work as personal trainers in his growing business of corporate and small business boxing and physical fitness training.

Listen to Mike Steadman’s podcast “Confessions of a Native Son”

IRONBOUND Boxing Academy is free, funded by the for-profit arm and donations raised from veterans and other donors all across the United States. Today, Steadman’s coaching clients include WeWork, Spotify, and Next Jump, taking him around New York City and Newark. Steadman’s remarkable drive propels the mission forward, widening the scope of boxing and in turn, supporting the original facility in Newark, NJ, where he still coaches dozens of youth two full days a week.

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