Photo essay: Ink

For Clarke Central High School students, tattoos have diverse meanings. For some, tattoos can represent their aspirations in life. Some choose to get tattoos in tribute of those close to them they have lost.

Senior Jarvis Clark is one. This summer he lost his cousin Tremell (Mello) Barnett, and every day since he has worn ‘Long Live Mello’ on his arm.

“He was my first cousin. We were very close. We always had dreams to make it out of Athens so that’s what I’m tryna do, just do it for him,” Clark said.

For others, tattoos serve as reminders of mindsets they wish to follow in their daily lives. Every time senior Kemontray Brown looks down upon his arm, he recites the words ‘trust, respect, honesty and loyalty’.

“I’m somebody that people trust. I respect people because I want the same for me. I don’t like to lie, I don’t like to be lied to. I just like to be honest. I’m loyal to people I raised up and people I’m friends with,” Brown said.

Some people get tattoos to be fashionable or expressive of their personal aesthetic. Senior Anthony Partida isn’t afraid to show his individuality through clothing and tattoos. In particular, the script inked on Partida’s side speaks to his mentality. ‘The devil whispered in my ear, ‘You’re not strong enough to withstand the storm.’ ‘Today I whispered in the devil’s ear, ‘I am the storm’.

No matter what tattoo someone has, there seems to be a common stigma surrounding those who decide to get them. Senior Sydney Gregg has witnessed this first hand through her parents who are tattooed head to toe.

“There is this stigma that comes with tattoo artists and people with tattoos, that they do a lot of drugs and they’re bad people. My parents are the most amazing people in my life and I wish other people would see that,” Gregg said.

Although there are an infinite number of reasons one could choose to get a tattoo, each person has their own unique motivation behind their individual tattoos. The one thing they all have in common: their tattoos speak for them without having to say a single word.

“In the fashion industry, mostly everyone is tattooed and that’s kind of a way to express yourself. I have multiple ways to express myself (through) tattoos and the way I dress.”

ANTHONY PARDITA
CCHS senior

“(Tremell) always told me, stay on the field. Don’t ever get back into the streets, so that’s why I try to keep my head on straight and do the right thing.”

JARVIS CLARK
CCHS senior

“My fourth (tattoo) is of my mother’s name. Growing up it was kinda hard, but my momma always had me. She didn’t ever put us in foster care even though she could have. She stayed strong for all of us.”
 
KEYMONTRAY BROWN
CCHS senior

“I have two (tattoos) on my biceps that say ‘Fear God,’ and that means a lot to me because that’s the only thing I fear in this world. He could take you out any day, any time.”

JONATHAN SEWELL
CCHS junior

“(My mom and I) both really bonded over (David Bowie) and we were
planning to go see him, but I guess we didn’t realize his new album was his goodbye.”

SYDNEY GREGG
CCHS senior

 
 
 
 
 
 
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