The Haunting of Self

                An invisible cage is given to each person when added to society. The American cage, specifically, tells us how to look, where to work, and who to be to survive within its system. This system favors Euro- Americans. This creates a complication within multiple communities in this American society, creating a crippled reality to those who do not fit within it.

 My work admits the weight of finding individualism and self-love in Euro-society as a black woman. Through photographs I complicated the perception of a black woman to Euro-society versus who we are. It’s about the way Euro-society cages black women with their limited perceptions, constantly stuffing us in a cage far too small.  Although Euro-society is satisfied with their perception, we are haunted by our reflections when complacent. Thus, “The Haunting of Self.” The photographs acknowledge colorism, conformity, dependence, the male gaze, and finally self-ownership.

I captured subjects posed in intimate moments of shame and liberation. I used mirrors throughout the series to exemplify shame in instances of the male gaze, in conformity and when one compares itself to its kind. I give a sense of black culture conformity in the photograph entitled “For Le’Kulture,” where the subject appears exhausted by her black counterpart’s standards of the “hype beast” fashion. Finally, for an ageless impression, the photographs were shot in black and white.