Black Women Create: An Exploration of Black Women’s Self-Preservation through the Art of Self-Expression

Lecture Center 19

The colonization of women’s bodies and lives on a global scale has been a major factor of the perpetuation of continued racism, sexism, policing and exploitation of Black women. The histories of women of color are deeply embedded in our bones, stories, families, art and everything we touch. The unique or unconventional ways women of color have celebrated their identities and life during times of relentless work of activism, social justice and realities of oppressions can be seen through different forms of art and expressions. We have seen our mothers carry the world on her back, but how often do we see her living for herself? Most may say they barely see their strong mothers, activists and healers doing for themselves and living their passions and life through love, but with changing the lens, it is seen that Black women have also showed their resilience and strength in multifaceted ways. I have examined what some of these different methods of self-preservation through art are, and how this feminist work challenges the racism, sexism, exploitation and stereotypes perpetuated throughout society, through in-depth interviews. My project, inspired by Alice Walker's "In Search of Our Mothers' Garden", closely explores the artistry of Black womanhood, the generational connections of these passions, how it shifts a life of surviving to living and how it is expressed as both a form of self-resilience and social justice. Results of this analysis of Black artistry is presented through photography and self-narratives and of each participant.