There are two sides to Misan Harriman. The self-taught photographer who rose to become one of the world’s most sought-after chroniclers of fashion and celebrity; the first black man to shoot a Vogue cover; friend and photographer to the stars, including Harry and Meghan, Tom Cruise, Rihanna and Stormzy; and since 2021, the chair of London’s Southbank Centre. That’s one side.
Then there’s the social activist whose prolific Instagram posts decrying the ceaseless destruction of Gaza following the October 7 massacre of Israelis by Hamas have been viewed by tens of millions and which have cast him at the centre of a global protest movement that remains largely unreported by mainstream media.
The Nigerian-born, London-based Brit has spent the past five years chronicling grassroots protests around the world, beginning with the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. The images on the following pages are a selection from thousands he has taken across both the UK and US.
“The world is currently experiencing a level of change that many of us have never seen before,” Harriman says. “None of us can predict what the future holds, so it is essential for me to document history as it unfolds. I want to remember the everyday people who have strived to build bridges and maintain a sense of humanity in challenging times.”
