Who is Zion Bedlow?

I met Zion as my former coworker‘s young son long ago at an elementary school in which we both worked in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Zion was also one of the 300 students attending the school’s Spanish Immersion program. Over the years, he has grown into one of the most mature, respectful, and focused teenagers that one could ever know. A few of you know that he periodically joins me on various clients’ photo shoots. Usually, if you see any “behind the scenes” footage of me photographing- Zion is the awesome talent that captures it all as he begins to learn the craft of photography himself. Today, however, allow me to present this young man as the next King in “The Unspoken Kings Project,” Zion Bedlow.

My name is Zion Bedlow and I am a 15-year-old African American student. I grew up in a Christian home with my (now) 11 yr old brother and 4-year-old sister. Growing up without a father and my mother being a single mom, was something I didn’t really think about much. I grew up with two moms, one is my guardian who I call, “Mom.” The other is my biological mother. 

While growing up, one thing that I loved to do was to sing. It was something I was always around and started singing as soon as I could talk. I first started singing in my elementary school during special events. Today, I sing in my church choir and I enjoy spreading the word of God to people through praise and worship.

This is my first year of high school and being a freshman through virtual learning wasn’t so bad; but it wasn’t so great either. I am a very introverted person and was hoping that I could open up more this year and finally get out of my shell. Unfortunately, since Covid-19 happened, it was kind of difficult to do that. Some things I have experienced are being called “fat” or that I was “very dark” in school or even in public. I usually ignored comments like that because people like that are wasting their time judging someone else instead of worrying about themselves. .

My dreams of the future are to become a Biochemist or an Aerospace Engineer. I wanted to be a biochemist because they help with manufacturing medicine and can help with curing diseases like Cancer, HIV, Aids, and Diabetes. My biological mother has breast cancer and I don’t want anyone going through the same thing that she is going through. I wanted to be an Aerospace Engineer because building things was always so cool to me during my youth and I loved astronomy because in my mind as a young kid, the planets were so cool to me. Things I love to do in my spare time are to spend time with my family and to play video games.

During these times, I feel like I’ve gotten closer to God and was more open to listening to things. In life,  my parents and other wise people like them, have made me a better person. I was taught to look presentable, always try my best, and be kind to others. These lessons that I have learned helped me to be successful in life. I believe they have also made me a better person. Someone once said “You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.” I truly believe this because you realize the value of something after you lose it. Schools shut down, unemployment rates have increased, hanging out with your friends are gone, and many individuals are now going outside in fear. It seems as if Covid-19  was a blessing and a curse because of how much our eyes as a society have opened. The “Black Lives Matter” movement was undeniably something that helped cause Black people to find unity and a voice to stand up for what they believe in. This world can be a wonderful place but only if you make it that way.  To my fellow Black men, stand strong in your beliefs no matter what someone tells you. Make yourself and your family proud wherever you go.  You have a legacy to leave.