ALUMNI 2018

Underlying my work is the desire to learn more about empathy, sympathy and compassion, to coax and tease meaning from these human traits. I have found that seeking truth and honesty when telling stories achieves this ideal and the medium of photography allows me to be more observant and to think deeply about humanity. As a result, I am able to thoughtfully capture moments and emotions in a way that is relatable to diverse audiences. The more I practice photography and filmmaking, the sharper my instinct becomes allowing me to learn and grow with each body of work. My choice of subject is rooted from a place of intuition and is propelled by a reflective desire to understand myself as a young black woman. I seek teachable experiences and look for the light within the obscure, the stories that remain untold and those that should be cherished. I use photography and film to document black women in their environments because I’m intrigued by our similarities and differences, what lies beneath our smiles, where their strength comes from, what dreams they keep hidden. I am inspired by stories of black women who continue to be multifaceted while playing the role of sister, mother, friend, wife, and daughter. Mine is not to simply document black women and their struggles but rather, to tell our truths as honestly as possible, to be inclusive of our diverse realities and to expand on the narrative that currently characters the public image of “The Black Woman.”