I remember all the ways I tried to make myself visible and tolerated by the yt gaze. I begged my Dad for the latest clothing brands to fit in with my wealthy friends at the private school my parents struggled to keep me in. According to my trusted older sister, when I started working in law, my accent became crisp and posh. By trying to be seen, I was disappearing myself and it caused so much pain in my body.
The complexity in this iconic pose epitomises the balancing act of beauty, mastery and a striving towards authentic expression that Black womxn navigate everyday. Grace Jones reminds me to focus my power into being my truest self and to f***k r@ci@l c@pit@!ism and the p@tri@rchy! And that is why I’m sharing my art with you today.