In My Skin

Growing up being called Token or Oreo always pointed me back to these questions. Is it offensive to my black brothers & sisters to become rich in culture and knowledge without losing my sense of foundation in cultural identity? Does my blackness denigrate the egos of non-people of color to the point that there needs to be a common identifier between us so that you feel included?

After reaching my thirties, I started to gain back the perspective of what was important to me. Being "digestible" for people is a concept that I'm learning to evolve. My identity is in what I believe to be consistent truths about myself. I want to be kind, proud, and full of grace while being confident in what I contribute. There is beauty in things that appear different. The differences connect us to what is familiar.

The visual mystery of black & white photos has been something that amazed me. Being a person of color in the south has taught me about my brown skin's "ancestral weight." This idea made me want to blend in.

My love for black & white photography sprouted from my wanting to appreciate each object's pure and raw beauty. For a bit of my life, the black & white self-portraits were the only photos I would share. There was somewhat of a feeling that this self-portrait shows a visual of myself without showing one of my biggest insecurities.

"Am I enough?" or "Is my blackness good enough?"