BELIEVE BLACK WOMXN
The visuals of Black women in media have long been fraught with disrespect and misrepresentation. Set against the evocative backdrop of Southern California, our photo project pays homage to the iconic 1991 film "Daughters of the Dust" and echoes the enduring spirit of Black women in cinematic history.
As we sculpted the imagery of Black women draped in metallic, breathable fabrics against the desert expanse, it became a poignant reflection of the multifaceted intersections of their identities. From the nostalgic aura of "Waiting To Exhale" to the timeless sisterhood portrayed on screen, we were compelled to confront the parallels of marginalization that Black women navigate from birth. In the words of Malcolm X, they are "the most disrespected person in America," yet our project seeks to weave a new narrative, positioning them as the resilient blueprint for empowerment and representation in visual media.
SHOUTOUT TO MY MOM, AUNT, & SIS for being in this!
Daughters in the Desert Collage, 2023
A.I. and the BLACK IMAGE
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize various so many industries and photography is no different. Its going to offer a lot in terms of efficiency, innovation, and advancement. And yet for those of us in marginalized communities, the intersection of AI presents a complex landscape of both promise and peril.
AI seems like it has the ability to pinpoint the visual narrative in a way that’s never before been seen.
There are substantial concerns regarding the discriminatory impact of AI systems on Black and Brown folks. From biased algorithms reinforcing existing inequalities to the potential for increased surveillance and privacy violations, the misuse of AI poses significant threats.
As the integration of AI accelerates, it's imperative to address these dualities confronting Black communities. By promoting ethical AI development, investing in diverse representation within the tech industry, and advocating for policies that mitigate algorithmic bias, we can strive to harness the potential benefits of AI for all while safeguarding against its adverse effects on Black livelihoods and rights.
Furthermore, I’m particularly concerned about the black image being shaped by the black mind. Black artist play a key role in fighting against the erasure of Black subjects. When creating my own AI photos (shared below) I’ll learning we’ll have to pay special attention to noting phenotypes like eye color, race, weight, hair texture, skin color. These are details that simplifying an ai prompt can overlook.
But…
I am a Dark-skinned black man and frankly, the connotation pissed me off. And I can’t help but think about how definitions of the word as an adjective and the noun have evolved (both consciously and subconsciously) into a conflated ball of confusion that drives the micro-aggressive nature of our “post-racial” society.
…darkness?
photos and visualizer by Wo Westone
So lets get into it…we tend to associate the word darkness with concepts like fear, loneliness, death, malice, evil (the list goes on and on). Think about “the Dark Side” and how this connotation has always been present since the earliest stories were whispered. “Black Magic” vs. “Light or White Magic”. Now we get it, the dark can represent the unknown because visually, we are obscured from everything but the dark, and this can trigger fear in us, so I get it. I really get it.
Growing up, I came to understand my dark skin as something the world percieved as a threat, as a danger, as something ugly. I was around 11 years old, when I realized that white people would no longer sit next to me on the bus because I had become “adult” enough in their eyes to evoke a fear within. I was around 13 the first time someone had referred to my dark skin as ugly, or at least thats the age it started to really sink in. I had to unlearn all the societal norms I grew up with and learn how to find the beauty in my dark skin. I came to realize that word “darkness” as an adjective is so much more than just the negative connotation. I can go on and on about this but it’s stuff we already know. So now how do we start to push the term ‘darkness’ into a worldview that associates it with positive things I asked myself?
Originally I pitched this photoshoot to my melanated sister Kalba with the intent of highlighting how gorgeous melanated skin can be. “Lets become Black Avatars and showcase our beauty”. Kalba created the avatar AminaB*tch.
Brainstorming for the shoot with her and another friend, brought to memory some recordings I took on my last visit to South Carolina…wait lets go to South Carolina for a second…
My grandmother’s home is really a place that you can feel breathing. The memories of the souls that existed there are in everything.
It’s actually here, where AmeriKen was born. AmeriKen - is an avatar that captures the ultimate belief that we can be and do anything mixed into the rich, viscous, paste of Americanisms (a Ken doll is so appropriate for that) that have seeped into my 21st century blood.
“600 Nanometers”
In hues of midnight's gentle grace,
A tapestry of beauty, a radiant embrace,
Dark skin, a treasure, a wondrous sight,
A canvas of strength, in the softest night.
Beneath the moon's enchanting glow,
Your melanin dances, a rhythmic flow,
Like ebony pearls, gleaming bright,
A testament to resilience, a beacon of light.
In shades of chocolate, deep and warm,
A history etched, a legacy, a form,
Of strength and courage, through the years,
A heritage of joy, dispelling fears.
Embracing the sun's tender kiss,
Your skin, a masterpiece, an abyss,
Of stories told, of dreams set free,
A testament to love and unity.
For in your darkness, beauty lies,
A celebration, under endless skies,
In every hue and every tone,
Dark skin, a treasure, forever known.
So let us cherish, let us adore,
The richness of your skin, evermore,
A symbol of strength, love, and pride,
In dark skin's beauty, we all confide.
“darkness is infinite. the universe is infinite. your mind is infinite. ”
Kalba often speaks of staying connected to the ancestors. The more generations you connect with, the stronger your connection stays to infinite things.
Staying in South Carolina, I could feel that connection growing. Tapping into that power meant tapping into a richest parts the “dark”. Looking at the shadows that hold memories. Making as much room for them as I did for the light.
All the while reminding myself that the same way my skin holds a history that’s sometimes painful. It holds a richness and resiliency that I don’t ever want to lose.
Also y’all I was doing a lot of shadow work during this period of my life. It was a hot ass mess, but necessary. The shadows, the “spooky” parts of your life are absolutely pivotal and can’t be ignored…otherwise Sheesh!!
Anyway this Eureka moment has given us a chance to become these Avatars that hold no space for the mindset that DARK in any sense of the word is bad. It’s every bit as necessary and relevant as Light. AminaB*tch and AmeriKen wouldn’t have it any other way.
Often I think about all the ways in which the Universe communicates with us. I think the majority of us are hoping to interpret that communication to direct our lives into some clear and concise order. Almost like a piece of prose that gives us the logic and clarity that we need to understand and respond. Then there are other times when the communication feels like chaotic, uncomfortable, like it will only breed negative thoughts that we don’t want to sit in. Funny enough my last trip to South Carolina, my Grandmother’s birthplace, brought both of these feelings.
american
black
gothic
dolls
…darkness visualizer: American Black Gothic Dolls - St. George, Spoken Earth & Beyond with Amina B*tch & AmeriKen
Photos By: Wo Westone
Audio:
“In & Out of Time” - Poem by Dr. Maya Angelou
“Denko” - song by Sweet Honey In The Rock
“600 Nanometers” - poem by Wo Westone
Creative Director - Alizae Gibson
“I got a sense of clarity about my heritage and history as family members would bring up memories. I felt a sense of security in learning this knowledge.”
“The Universe also communicated with chaos. .”
“Listen! Black people move differently in the night time. It’s nothing new. “
“Juxtapose traveling in the nightime vs the daytime. you have to be careful either way!”
Darkness is overall an concept we associate with discomfort but there’s so much about being in the dark that feels safe. That we can associate with being safe. Hell the term ‘Ignorance Is Bliss’ insinuates being left in the “dark” will bring us peace haha.
It’s for this reason learning more about the past was both a comfort and a discomfort. We are a weathered but resilient group of people.
In a world that says I shouldn’t love my dark skin, I do.
GG 2quared
I just wanna make it simple as fuck! The GGs are some of my favorite people to take photos of. I’d jump at the chance to take their pictures to be honest. Now I won’t blow up their gov’t names but Gina G. & Garrett G. are who I’m talking about. And really I’m going to shut up and just share their photos now. k thanks.
SOUTHWEST LOADING….
Okay so I’ve done a cross country road trip twice now. and under both circumstances it was a race against the clock. Didn’t make too much time to stop and take it in with my camera. It wasn’t until my friend joined me in the latter half of my second trip, that I could even manage to get my camera out and capture a little something.
Took these in Texas and Arizona. The Southwest is such a texturally rich landscape, I’m making it a goal to shoot in every state in this domain.
