Artist Statement

In 2020, I made the transition of shifting my creative focus from videography to photography. This collection of photography was my first project that came from my creative transition. When I was in elementary school I began to see the differences between my features as a black woman and the features of the non-black students that I was surrounded by. In often receiving micro-aggressive comments about my wider nose, thicker hair, and darker skin, I was persuaded to feel nothing less than disgust for my natural features. The making of the Black Beauty photo essay forced me to find the beauty in the underappreciated features of myself and my people. Photographing my brother was a remarkable experience in highlighting his big and beautiful black facial features.