Birth of A Monster

For some, monsters are not myth but walking breathing entities who inspire fear and hatred for simply existing. As an African American male, I am perceived as a monster. Through my works of art, I reclaim the semblance of my humanity. Super Predator, is not merely a phrase coined by Hillary Clinton, it is an example of how People of Color are viewed to justify the adverse treatment and incarceration of them as individuals. These racist connotations are placed on children, who come to accept the negative factors that are attributed to them throughout popular media and the nightly news.

            Sculpture, printmaking, and digital media merge to create installations that immerse the viewer into the environments of my youth; providing alternative perspectives of social justice. Alternating between black light and white light, denotes a shift in cultural perspective, from the traditional western view to one highlighting the experiences of Blacks in America. What is unseen by some and plainly visible to the other. Utilizing printmaking and photography, I craft moments that embody a teleport into a familiar, simulacrum of a cinematic scene. My goal is to give the viewer a glimpse into the reality of these constant encounters as a Person of Color lives through them so that the viewer can better understand the divisions of race privilege.

            In this work I seek to address influences from a younger age. They manifest in the for of still of films in black cinematography and their influence during the developmental stage. The work also has a secondary purpose, defining black culture for those outside of it. If and when these films are viewed outside of their intended demographic, they reinforce expectations and stereotypes that are applied to all people of color. This assault on two fronts creates an acceptance on the individual young mind that is being projected onto. After being called a monster your entire life the prideful accept it and lean in. The children of black Frankenstein accept their role at an early age, even with the understanding that the hero always dies.