Photographer Marc Bushelle and his wife, Janine Harper, were looking for a way to teach their 5-year-old daughter about important black women in history ... when they realized that they might already have the tools they needed: his camera and her creativity.
The photo series that resulted from their collective brainstorming, aptly titled "The Heroines Project,” was inspired by the work of Jaime Moore, another photographer.
Bushelle and his wife, who live in Brooklyn, New York, went through thrift shops for props; then, they dressed up their daughter Lily like different historically important women.
"We hope that by making these associations early we will instill a strong pride in her that will fortify her against any discrimination she may face in the future," Harper told NPR.
Topics like injustice and racism aren’t easy to talk about with kids, but these parents seem to be making it work.
“It is always challenging when trying to explain complex things to a child. I feel that turning a history lesson into a dress-up game is a good way to approach it.”
Check out some of our favorite photos from Bushelle's project below, and see more on his website.