Unrevealed Paladins

I often find myself reflecting deeply on the intricate tapestry woven by the threads of my past, the spirit of my ancestors, and the purpose that guides my present actions, laying the groundwork for my future as an artist. This painting captures a split narrative: on one side, Reverend Jacob H. Hooker surveys the rubble of Tulsa's Greenwood district in 1921, an affluent Black neighborhood obliterated by a white mob. This story is all too common in our country, where bustling Black communities and their successes were frequently destroyed in mere moments. Despite attempts to bury history under man-made lakes, extravagant highways, and institutions, the energy of our ancestors permeates the very fabric of our nation. Yet, their stories often remain untold and overshadowed.
Contrasting this, I’ve reimagined Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus" from the 1400s, a painting that has been fantasized and appreciated for centuries. Here, Venus is depicted as a regal Black woman, embodying a narrative that has been historically marginalized and undervalued. She is not carried by the breath of man but stands strong on her oyster, led and carried by countless souls with unique stories, lost since the first group of human cargo was brought to Virginia in 1619. The exact number of lives lost during and after enslavement—whether through the Middle Passage or those like the Igbo warriors who chose death over bondage—remains unknown. This historical void underscores the extraordinary nature of our ancestors' stories. These narratives are not merely chronicles of suffering but are imbued with tales of resilience, intellectual prowess, and the courage to think independently and effectuate change.
Using art as a tool to share these untold stories and parts of history is vital. Just as a tree, or any plant, cannot thrive with dead roots, our collective growth is stunted without a true connection to our historical legacy and an acknowledgment of the untold heroism that built this nation.

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